Symptoms and causes of arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a violation of frequency, rhythm, as well as disruptions in the sequence of contraction of the most important organ of the human body - the heart muscle. Normally, a person's heart should contract at equal intervals, and the frequency of these contractions should fluctuate from 60 to 80 times per minute. If the body needs it, the heart can contract rapidly or slowly (rest or vigorous physical work). In pathology (arrhythmias), the heart rhythm differs sharply from normal.

Arrhythmia causes

Disruption of the harmonious work of the heart can be disruptions in the conduct of electrical signals or any disturbances in the formation of these signals.

The reasons for such pathological phenomena can be:

• heart attack;
• ischemia;
• cardiomyopathy;
• atherosclerotic changes in the vessels of the heart;
• myocarditis;
• dystrophic changes in the myocardium;
• heart defects;
• pulmonary heart;
• congenital anomalies.

The provoking factors are:

• pathology in the work of the endocrine system;
• diseases of internal organs;
• ailments of the nervous system;
• cerebral circulation disorders;
• disruptions of a hormonal nature;
• stress and psycho-emotional trauma;
• intoxication processes;
• drug intolerance or overdose;
• violation of metabolic processes;
• blood diseases.

In some cases, alcohol, electric shock, anesthesia, drug use, and surgery can provoke arrhythmia.

At risk people:

• alcohol abusers;
• smokers;
• engaged in hard physical labor;
• abusing cofin-containing drinks;
• uncontrolled taking medications;
• having a hereditary predisposition.

Types of arrhythmias

Pathology falls into the following categories:

1. Arrhythmias that provoke malfunctions when an electrical impulse occurs - sinus-type tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, sinus-type bradycardia.
2. Arrhythmias that occur as a result of a violation during the work of the atria - paroxysmal tachycardia, extrasystole.
3. Arrhythmias that are caused by a malfunction of the conduction of an electrical impulse - atrioventricular and intra-atrial block.
4. Mixed arrhythmias - ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation.

With sinus-type tachycardia, heartbeats are accelerated and can reach 100 beats per minute. The causes of this pathology can be emotional experiences, overstrain of both mental and physical nature, the use of caffeine, alcoholic beverages, medications that cause spasms of blood vessels.

Sinus bradycardia is a condition in which the pulse slows down to 40 beats per minute. This phenomenon can be observed in athletes who have a well-developed vascular and heart system. The causes of sinus bradycardia can be diseases of an infectious etiology, a decrease in the functionality of the thyroid gland, and increased intracranial pressure.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most dangerous types of arrhythmias, while the heart contracts chaotically, the pulse in this case can go off scale for 300 beats per minute. An arrhythmic attack of a ciliary nature is life-threatening, therefore, the victim needs urgent medical attention.

Extrasystole is an untimely (early) contraction of the heart muscle. Perhaps this type of arrhythmia occurs most often. The reasons provoking this pathology lie in the wrong lifestyle - smoking, drinking alcohol, caffeine. The pulse in this case can reach 250 beats per minute.

Paroxysmal tachycardia is a dangerous ailment in which the heart suddenly begins to beat faster. The causes of this arrhythmia are chronic ailments and pathological conditions of the heart.

Heart block develops with poor cardiac impulse conduction. The causes of this pathology are dystrophic disorders in the walls of the myocardium or inflammatory processes in the body.

Ventricular fibrillation is a very dangerous type of arrhythmia, in which the heart rate can exceed 400 beats per minute. In this case, only resuscitation measures can save the patient.

Arrhythmia symptoms

The clinical manifestations of the disease can be different, and depend on the frequency with which the heart contracts, as well as on the effect of contraction on myocardial function, on renal, cerebral and intracardiac hemodynamics. There are forms of the disease that do not manifest themselves in any way, and are detected during random diagnostic measures.

The main signs of arrhythmia are:

• increased or decreased heart rate;
• interruptions in the functionality of the heart;
• inhibition of cardiac activity;
• asthma attacks;
• angina pectoris;
• loss of consciousness;
• cardiogenic shock.

If the patient has attacks of dizziness, palpitations and loss of consciousness, most often this is due to tachycardia or sinus-type bradycardia. When arrhythmia develops in a sinus type, the patient notes periodic "cardiac arrest" and discomfort in the cardiac zone.

Patients with extrasystole complain of fading ("stopping") of the heart, the organ works intermittently and jerks. With paroxysmal tachycardia, the heart contracts up to 200 times per minute, and with the ciliated type, the patient feels an accelerated and irregular heartbeat.

Arrhythmia treatment

Before treating a disease, doctors advise to conduct courses of therapy that are aimed at eliminating the cause of the onset of the disease. Most often, after eliminating the cause of the arrhythmia, the disease recedes, but in some cases, antiarrhythmic drug therapy is necessary. There are medications that accelerate the heartbeat, they are prescribed for bradycardia, and there are drugs that inhibit their frequency, they are prescribed for tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.

For the treatment of pathology, the following are most often prescribed:

• Diltiazem, Verapamil;
• Atenolol, Metoprolol, Bisoprolol;
• Sotogeksal, Kordaron;
• Lidocaine, Novocainomide.

In addition, glycosides are used in therapy, and for emergency care, the following can be used:

• Dopamine, Adrenaline, Atropine;
• ATP;
• Cordaron, Lidocaine.

With an attack of sinus-type arrhythmia or paroxysmal arrhythmia, the patient's condition can be stabilized using reflex action. But before carrying out such events, you need to be sure that the patient has exactly these types of arrhythmias, that is, they must be identified by a competent specialist:

• pressing on the eyeballs;
• active neck massage;
• pressure on the abdominal press and fixing the pressure for several minutes;
• deep breathing;
• provocation of vomiting.

By such actions, you can achieve a switch of the central nervous system from the heart to other organs.

It is important to remember that such actions should in no case be applied to people over 60 years old, as well as with heart attacks, angina pectoris or cerebral atherosclerosis.

As for folk remedies, the most popular of them are tinctures:

• lumbago;
• cornflower;
• valerian;
• calendula;
• asparagus.

Arrhythmia treatment will not be successful until the patient changes his lifestyle, it is necessary:

• stabilize weight and get rid of obesity;
• exclude excessive mental and physical exertion, however, walking and exercise should not be canceled;
• learn to avoid or deal with stress, if necessary, you can take sedatives;
• get rid of bad habits.

Prevention of arrhythmia

Prevention of heart ailments consists in correct and balanced nutrition, a moderately active lifestyle, in giving up bad habits, in the timely treatment of all existing diseases, in regular examinations by a cardiologist. To prevent arrhythmias, you can do yoga, auto-training, take funds based on natural herbs - mint, motherwort, hawthorn, calendula, yarrow. It is important to consult your doctor before taking any traditional medicine. Arrhythmia is a rather serious pathology that requires careful examination and treatment.