Definition of "Arrhythmia"
Last modified: about 1 year
It's where there's some issue with the heart beat. It also includes being too fast or too slow.
Often, there's no problemo. But you can feel that the heart is racing, or skipping beats, depending on what the beat exactly is. If it affects the amount of oxygen your body's getting, you can also feel light headed, short of breath, and even feel pain in the chest.
It can be a slow rhythm. Or just random extra beats. The problems can be an electrical conduction type issue, which can originate with problems in the top part of the heart (the atrium), or the bottom part (the ventrical). Because the bottom part is responsible for pumping heart throughout the body, problems there are a lot more serious. You can also have some sort of obstruction in the electrical conduction system.
An ECG, which measures the electrical signals the heart gives up. And a Holter monitor, which is the same as an ECG, but just that you can carry it around with ya.
You can give drugs. And do surgery. There's also stuff you can do that's electrical. You can use a pacemaker, which gives off electrical pulses, to replace the heart's own conduction system. This can be done if the beat's not fast enough, or there's some sort of blockage going on. You can also jump start the heart using a single jolt, which is called cardioversion or defibrillation.
[Cardiac] arrhythmia (aka irregular heartbeat) is where the heartbeat is irregular, or alternatively, too fast or too slow.
Patient information
What is an arrhythmia?It's where there's some issue with the heart beat. It also includes being too fast or too slow.
Sx
- Asymptomatic, oftenly
- Palpitations
- Feeling a pause between heartbeats
- Presyncope (lightheadednesss)
- SOB
- Chest pain
Patient information
What happens if there's problem with the heart beat?Often, there's no problemo. But you can feel that the heart is racing, or skipping beats, depending on what the beat exactly is. If it affects the amount of oxygen your body's getting, you can also feel light headed, short of breath, and even feel pain in the chest.
Classification
- Premature heart beat (extra beats)
- Atrial:
- Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT), including:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
- Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT), including:
- Ventricular:
- Ventricular arrhythmias, including:
- Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT) (HR>100bpm)
- Ventricular arrhythmias, including:
- Heart block:
- First degree heart block
- Second degree heart block
- Third degree heart block (aka complete heart block)
- Bradyarrhythmias (HR<60bpm)
Patient information
What sort of problems with the heart rhythm can happen?It can be a slow rhythm. Or just random extra beats. The problems can be an electrical conduction type issue, which can originate with problems in the top part of the heart (the atrium), or the bottom part (the ventrical). Because the bottom part is responsible for pumping heart throughout the body, problems there are a lot more serious. You can also have some sort of obstruction in the electrical conduction system.
Pathophysiology
- Due to problems with the electrical condition system of the heart
Dx
- ECG (electrocardiogram)
- Holter monitor
Patient information
How can you check out an abnormal heart rhythm?An ECG, which measures the electrical signals the heart gives up. And a Holter monitor, which is the same as an ECG, but just that you can carry it around with ya.
Tx
- Drugs, including:
- Beta blockers
- Antiarrhythmic agent (drugs that attempt to restore a normal HR), e.g. procainamide, but can have significant side effects especially if taken for long periods
- Pacemaker, which are often used for slow HR's to reduce risk of complications
- Cardioversion or defibrillation, is emergency Tx w/ a jolt of electricity, in those who have severe Sx from an arrhythmia
- Surgery
Patient information
What can you do about an abnormal heart rythm?You can give drugs. And do surgery. There's also stuff you can do that's electrical. You can use a pacemaker, which gives off electrical pulses, to replace the heart's own conduction system. This can be done if the beat's not fast enough, or there's some sort of blockage going on. You can also jump start the heart using a single jolt, which is called cardioversion or defibrillation.
Drugs. What sorts can you use?
Antiarrhythmics, are drugs that try to restore a normal heart rate. They do this by blocking abnormal rhythms, by affecting various electrolyte channels. You can also use beta blockers.
What, I thought beta blockers are used for high blood pressure? Why use them here?
They are. But the way that they work to do this, is to reduce heart rate. That's why they can be useful.
Prognosis
- Most arrhythmias are not serious
- Most can be effectively Tx
Epidemiology
- May occur in kids, but the normal range for the HR is different and depends on age
- Can occur at any age but are more common in older Pt's
- Affects 2.5% of the population in Europe and North America
- Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter resulted in 112k deaths annually, up from 29k in the 1990's
- Sudden cardiac death is the cause of about 50% of deaths due to cardiovascular disease, or about 15% of all deaths globally
- 80% of sudden cardiac death is caused by ventricular arrhythmias
Complications
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Cardiac arrest
Synonyms:
Abnormal cardiac rhythm
Abnormal heart rhythm
Abnormal heartbeat
Beat skipped
Beats skipped
Cardiac arrhythmia
Cardiac dysrhythmia
Dysrhythmia
Heart rhythm abnormalities
Heart rhythm abnormality
Irregular heart rate
Irregular heart rhythm
Irregular heartbeat
Rhythm abnormalities
Rhythm abnormality
Sinus arrhythmia
Skipped beat
Skipping beat
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Amanda Gordon
Female PsychologistArmchair Psychology - Edgecliff NSW
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