We might not pay much attention to our heartbeats a lot, because we often assume that as long as it’s still beating, we’re okay. However, the rhythm of your heart is an important indicator of how healthy you are.
If you notice that there are inconsistencies in your heart beat, it might be a potential health risk called cardiac arrhythmia. The Mayo Clinic defines this condition as irregular heartbeats caused by improper electrical signals. “A heart arrhythmia may feel like a fluttering, pounding or racing heartbeat. Some heart arrhythmias are harmless. Others may cause life-threatening symptoms.”
The above clinic mentions that this illness has several types, including tachycardia and bradycardia, “Tachycardia is a fast heartbeat. The heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute. Bradycardia is a slow heartbeat. The heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.”
The other types of this illness according to the Heart organisation include:
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Conduction Disorders
- Premature Contraction
- Ventricular Fibrillation
Heart arrhythmia symptoms include heart palpitations, dizziness, fainting episodes, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and weakness, mentions the Cleveland Clinic.
Causes are said to include coronary artery disease, irritable heart tissue, high blood pressure, heart muscle changes, valve disorders, electrolyte imbalances, heart attack injuries, and other medical conditions. “Risk factors for arrhythmia include using tobacco products, drinking alcohol, consuming drinks and foods that have caffeine, taking stimulants like cold medicines or herbal supplements, having high blood pressure, having a BMI (body mass index) higher than 30, having high blood sugar and having sleep apnea.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, heart arrhythmia treatment depends on the type of irregular heartbeat and potential complications. It is said to include medicines, vagal manoeuvres, procedures, or surgery.
It is stated that medicines control the heart rate and rhythm, while vagal manoeuvres slow the heart rate. “Cardioversion is typically used when vagal manoeuvres and medicines don’t work. Your healthcare team may recommend this treatment if you have a certain type of arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation.”
