Arrhythmia, or dysrhythmia, is a condition where the heartbeat becomes abnormal. This can happen in various parts of the heart and causes the heart to beat irregularly, too slowly, or too quickly. Usually, the heart beats in a synchronized and orderly way. However, when different parts of the heart or blood pumps are dysfunctional, it can affect the heart’s rhythm. A regular heart rhythm ensures enough oxygen supply to the body.
Symptoms
Arrhythmia may not cause any symptoms or signs. Your healthcare expert may notice the irregularities in the heartbeat while examining you for any other health condition. Generally, arrhythmia symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fluttering in the chest
- Slow heartbeat or bradycardia
- Tachycardia or a racing heartbeat
Other arrhythmia symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Near fainting or fainting
Causes
You may have arrhythmia even when your heart is healthy. Or it may happen because of the below-listed causes:
- Intense emotions, surprise, or stress
- Heart disease
- Wrong electrolyte balance, such as potassium or sodium in the blood
- Fever or infection
- The healing process from a heart surgery
Some prescription treatments
- Caffeine
- Exercise
- Issues with the heart’s electrical signals
- Heart injury
- Changes such as stiff heart tissue or reduced blood flow
Risk factors
Some things can aggravate your risk of developing arrhythmia. These include:
- Genes – You may have a greater risk of developing arrhythmia if your close relative had it. Some heart diseases also run in the family.
- Age – Your susceptibility amplifies as you grow older.
- Environment – Some things around you, such as air pollution, can also increase your risk.
- Health condition – Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, autoimmune conditions, and low blood sugar amplify your risk.
Treatment options
In some cases, arrhythmia does not need any specific treatment, but you must get medically evaluated. Your health expert will examine whether your arrhythmia can inflict severe complications or symptoms to determine treatment options.
You must maintain a healthy meal regime, exercise, and control cholesterol and blood pressure. It can minimize complications like a stroke or a heart attack. If someone has a fast heart rate without any other symptoms, they may require vagal maneuvers and vagus nerve stimulation to decrease their heart rate. Other arrhythmia treatments comprise surgery and prescription treatments.
Prescribed treatment options
Your doctor may recommend some options to manage your arrhythmia and avoid complications like a heart attack. These may either be in intravenous, intranasal, or pill form. The suggested options depend on the arrhythmia type and the other accompanying conditions.
Surgery
You may undergo a minor operation or surgery if any other treatment does not help with arrhythmia. Several implantable devices and procedures can help with arrhythmia. These include:
- Catheter ablation
- Pacemaker
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- Maze procedure
- Surgery can also help in severe arrhythmia cases, such as atrial fibrillation.
Home remedies
Incorporating lifestyle changes at home, such as eating healthy and exercising regularly, can help better your heart health and manage arrhythmia. A few complementary treatments can also help. Studies suggest that yoga can lower the arrhythmia burden, benefit heart rate, and reduce blood pressure. Acupuncture can also be a beneficial treatment for arrhythmia. Further, Vitamin C and magnesium supplements can also prevent or lower atrial fibrillation following heart surgery.
