Restoring Heart Rhythm: Treatment Options For Arrhythmia

Restoring Heart Rhythm: Treatment Options For Arrhythmia

The Dangers Of Heart Arrhythmia

A heart arrhythmia is a medical condition that may cause life-threatening complications. An arrhythmia is an unusual heart rhythm that beats too fast or too slow. A fast heartbeat is called a tachycardia, and a slow one is a bradycardia. Tachycardia occurs at a rate of 100 heartbeats or more per minute. Bradycardia heart rate is less than 60 pulses per minute. Tachycardia is broken down into five groups: atrial fibrillation (AFib), atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia.

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What is a normal heart rate?

A person’s heart rate is the number of times the heart beats within a single minute. A person’s heart rate fluctuates depending on physical activity. When an adult over the age of 18 rests, the average heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). Adults should aim for a heart rate of 120-160 bpm during physical activity. These numbers will vary based on different factors, but this is considered a target heart rate.

Symptoms of a heart arrhythmia

Patients can feel irregular heartbeats in the chest. An abnormal heartbeat can feel like a pounding or fluttering sensation in the body. Other arrhythmia symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, dizziness, anxiety, and fainting. Patients experiencing any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

Diagnosing heart arrhythmia

Physicians will perform diagnostic testing on patients exhibiting heart arrhythmia symptoms. First, doctors perform a physical examination by listening to the patient’s heart and checking the person’s pulse. Next, doctors order diagnostic tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, or a cardiac catheterization. An EKG test tracks the electrical signals the heart sends and receives. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that captures images of the heart’s chambers and valves.

Treatment options for irregular heartbeats

Doctors create treatment plans based on the cause and severity of the heart arrhythmia. Every situation is different, so some patients may benefit from medication and lifestyle changes while others may need special devices or surgery. The types of medications prescribed will be antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant medications. Antiarrhythmic drugs are separated into 4 classes. Class I blocks sodium from entering the cells, while class II blocks adrenaline hormones. Class III medications stop potassium from entering the cells, and class IV prevents calcium from entering the heart.

What are anticoagulant medications?

Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications prevent blood clots and dissolve existing ones. Blood clotting is normal and helps to stop blood loss. However, excessive clotting is dangerous because the clot can get stuck in a blood vessel, leading to a stroke, pulmonary embolism, or a heart attack. Anticoagulant medications are delivered through IVs, injections, or taken orally. Aspirin is a popular anticoagulant drug.

Devices and surgery for heart arrhythmia

A pacemaker device transmits electrical signals to the heart to keep the muscle beating normally. Another device called an implantable cardiac defibrillator analyzes the heart to detect abnormal rhythms. When the device notices an abnormality, energy is delivered straight to the heart muscle to correct the irregular heartbeat. Coronary artery bypass surgery moves a blood vessel from one area of the body to bypass the affected coronary artery. The new artery is a detour allowing the blood to bypass a clogged artery to improve heart function.

Speak to a physician

Patients dealing with an abnormal heart rate should speak to a physician. The physician can refer patients to specialists like a cardiologist that will conduct specialized testing and create a treatment plan that meets the person’s needs.

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