Systems AffectedArrhythmia affects the heart and the circulatory system. It can be completely harmless, or it can be life-threatening.
Normally the heart pulses blood through arteries of the circulatory system at a steady rate that is often determined by physical activity and strength. This disease causes irregular beating of the heart, which affects blood flow and distribution to the body. This can affect the entire body, since everything relies on the circulatory system. When the heart's ability to work is reduced for a prolonged time, a life-threatening situation can arise. This may result from an extremely fast, chaotic rhythm during which the lower chambers quiver and the heart can't pump any blood, causing cardiac arrest. Blood clots can form in the heart's upper chambers because of atrial fibrillation, a disorder in which the atria quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood that isn't pumped completely out of the atria when the heart beats may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria breaks free, it can enter into the circulation and flow within the bloodstream until it lodges in a narrowed artery leading to or within the brain, causing a stroke. Such clots can also damage other organs. Symptoms
DiagnosisElectrocardiogram: A test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart by showing heart's electrical activity as line tracings on paper. Irregular line tracings indicate a murmur in the heart which is associated with Arrhythmia.
Holter monitor: Similar to the electrocardiogram, but small and portable. Records from 24 hours to 48 hours or a bit longer. Measures with electrodes attacked to the skin. Stress test: Involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. Echocardiogram: A type of ultrasound that records the sound waves as they bounce off different parts of your heart. Electrophysiology study (EPS): Tests the electrical activity of your heart to determine where the heart abnormality is coming from. Done by inserting a small tube into a blood vessel and traveling up to the heart where the heart activity will be recorded. Head-up tilt table test: Done by laying the person down on a flat table for 15 minutes, then flipping it up to a standing position for 45 minutes while the heart rate and blood pressure are monitored. |
TreatmentsThere are many different drugs that can be taken to help slow down a heart rate that is too fast. However, there are no reliable medicines that can speed up a slow heart. The only thing to help with that is a pacemaker. A pacemaker is placed inside the chest and sends electrical pulses to the heart to change it's pace. Other types of Arrhythmias can be treated with a blood thinner to prevent blood clots.
Life ExpectancySome heart Arrhythmias can be completely harmless while others might be life-threatening. Some people will need to take medicines to help them relieve their heart problem, and for a slower heart beat a pacemaker will be needed. Sometimes a pacemaker will need to be replaced.
Case Study60 year old Caucasian male.
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