Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. Each
heartbeat starts with an electrical impulse from the sinus node, which is the
normal pacemaker of the body. The impulse travels along the other parts of the
electrical system to activate the atria and the ventricles, thereby completing a
single heartbeat. Damage to any part of the heart's electrical system can result
in an abnormally slow heart rate, called bradycardia, or an abnormally fast
heart rate, called tachycardia.
Symptoms of arrhythmia
Symptoms of bradycardia (a slow heart rate) may include:
- Fatigue
- Poor exercise tolerance
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Rarely, it may lead to death.
Symptoms of tachycardia (a fast heart rate) may include:
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Serious forms can lead to sudden
death.
Treatment for
arrhythmia
Bradycardia (slow heart rate) may be improved or prevented with the
surgical insertion of a permanent pacemaker. This mechanical device provides an
electrical trigger for a heart beat when and where it is needed.
Tachycardia (fast heart rate) may be treated with:
- Medications
- Electrical therapy, which involves delivering
electrical impulses directly to the atrial or ventricular tissue.
- Radio-frequency ablation, which is generally
performed in the cardiac catheterization lab, usually with the patient under
general anesthesia. Catheters or wires are placed into the patient's
heart by way of large veins in the legs and neck. The cardiologist then
"maps" the heart's electrical system to locate the electrical short-circuit or
over-active cells. Once found, this small amount of abnormal tissue can
be destroyed by direct heating of the tip of a catheter using radio-frequency current.
- Heart surgery