ABOUT THE DISEASE

Arrythmia is the change / irregularity in heart beats. It can be fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), irregular, skipping of a beat or an extra beat.

Some of the types are-
- Atrial Flutter/Fibrillation
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular tachycardia
- Ectopic beats
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Wolf Parkinson White syndrome

SYMPTOMS

In mild cases, it may be asymptomatic. Others may have:

• • Palpitations
• • Paleness
• • Feeling tired or light-headed
• • Shortness of breath
• • Chest pain
• • Fainting

CAUSES

The contractions in the heart walls which push the blood are controlled by an electrical signal that begins in the heart`s sinoatrial node, its natural "pacemaker. The signal leaves the SA node and travels through the heart along a set electrical pathway. These nerve impulses and hormones in the blood influence the rate of the contractions. A problem in any of these or the conducting pathway can cause an arrhythmia.

Some common causes of arrhythmia are:
- Abnormal levels of potassium or alcohol , caffeine or other stimulants
- Heart attack, or a damaged heart muscle from a previous heart attack
- Congenital heart diseases
- An enlarged heart
- Overactive thyroid gland

DIAGNOSIS

• ECG
• Echocardiogram
• Holter Monitoring
• Coronary Angiography
• EPS study

TREATMENT METHODS

- Medications called anti-arrhythmic drugs

- Cardiac defibrillation (very brief electric shock

- Pacemaker Implant.

- Cardiac ablation / Radiofrequency ablation.

You may also like to learn about:

Atrial Fibrillation
Ectopic Heartbeat
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Palpitation