Symptoms and Causes of Heart Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia or Cardiac arrhythmia, also known simply as Heart rhythm problems are abnormalities that arise out of uncoordinated electrical impulses that interfere with the heartbeats. Under such circumstances, the heart either beats too fast, or too slow. Not commonly detected in people leading a healthy lifestyle, heart arrhythmia can, however, prove to be alarming to those with pre-existing health conditions and / or unhealthy habits such as drug abuse. 

Although heart arrhythmias can most of the time be harmless, they can sometimes lead to life-threatening diseases.

Here are a few causes of fatal heart arrhythmias: 

- Any external intervention to the electrical impulses 

- Heart rates beyond 60 - 100 bpm when resting

- Diabetes

- Alcohol abuse

- Excessive coffee consumption

- Heart disease like congestive heart failure

- Structural changes of the heart

- Some herbal treatments

- Some dietary supplements

- Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland)

- Scarring of the heart, often the result of a heart attack

- Mental stress

- Certain medications

- Hypertension (high blood pressure)

- Drug abuse

- Smoking 

Long-term arrhythmia is generally seen in people leading an unhealthy lifestyle that serves as a trigger.

However, there are some notable symptoms which must prompt one to go visit the doctor. However, not all symptoms may lead to a life-threatening arrhythmia. 

There are majorly two kinds of arrhythmia - Supraventricular Tachycardia and

Sinus Bradycardia. While Supraventricular Tachycardia is a condition where the patient may experience a faster heartbeat than usual,

a Sinus Bradycardia is when the heartbeats are slow. 

Symptoms for Supraventricular Tachycardia:  

- Breathlessness (dyspnea)

- Dizziness

- Syncope (fainting, or nearly fainting)

- Fluttering in the chest

- Chest pain

- Light-headedness

- Sudden weakness

Treatments for Supraventricular Tachycardia:

- Vagal maneuvers – this majorly relies on a self-help process where the patient needs to perform certain movements that may help stop the arrhythmias. 

- Medications – these medications won’t cure but will help in bringing the episode count of tachycardia down.

- Cardioversion – resetting the heartbeat using electric shock 

- Ablation therapy

- ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator)

- Maze procedure

- Ventricular aneurysm surgery

- Coronary bypass surgery 

Symptoms for Sinus Bradycardia: 

- Angina (chest pain)

- Trouble concentrating

- Confusion

- Difficulties when exercising

- Dizziness

- Fatigue (tiredness)

- Light-headedness

- Palpitations

- Shortness of breath

- Syncope (fainting or nearly fainting)

- Diaphoresis, or sweating

Treatment for Sinus Bradycardia: 

If the patient shows any signs of underlying abnormality, the doctor must treat the abnormality first.

However, if there is no underlying issue, the doctor will straightaway recommend a pacemaker.

Pacemakers use electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal minimum rate.