The heart is a complex organ that relies on proper coordination between the entries and exits. This is controlled by electrical signals running throughout your heart, like a small machine. Unfortunately, there are many ways this can go wrong, from physical damage to the heart to improper regulation of the electrical signals that control the hearts beats. When this happens, it’s called an arrhythmia. Heart arrhythmia describes various conditions that cause a heartbeat that is too slow, too fast, or irregular.
This group of conditions can also be surprisingly deadly, estimated to cause at least 11 percent of deaths worldwide. As you can imagine, it’s also quite widespread, with an estimated three to four percent of the population having an arrhythmia. A study concluded that even in a group of healthy elderly subjects, arrhythmia had a “substantial prevalence".
The truth is that not all arrhythmia conditions are the same; some are far more severe than others. Some even recommend no treatment in a majority of cases. Because of its prevalence, it’s an important group of conditions to understand, and as always, if you believe you have one of these conditions, consult your doctor first. These are some of the most common arrhythmias.
1. Atrial fibrillation
How is it caused?
Changes in the heart due to infections, heart disease, genetics, and various other factors like inflammation can lead to atrial fibrillation. Changes in the heart’s electrical system can do it, too. This can be due to varying factors such as patches of abnormal tissues, or irregular stimulation of different parts of the heart.
What are the symptoms?
- A feeling of an irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Low blood pressure
- Feeling dizzy
How does one treat it?
Always consult a professional when treating atrial fibrillation. Often it will involve cutting out smoking, alcohol, and drugs first if the patient is taking them. Then, they might suggest medicines that treat the cause of the atrial fibrillation or medications that attempt to make the heart rate more even. If it’s more severe, surgery may be required, such as removing harmful parts of the heart or inserting a pacemaker.
2. Heart block
Heart block has three degrees, with the first degree being the mildest. Although the first may never present with symptoms, the third requires immediate medical attention.
How is it caused?
Heart block can be a side effect of several different medicines, such as beta-blockers. Heart attacks and heart diseases can cause damage to the heart, which may lead to heart block. Some infections and heart surgeries can cause heart block. It’s also possible to be born with it.
What are the symptoms?
In second- or third-degree heart block, the symptoms are:
- Chest pain
- Lightheadedness
- Feeling weary
- A racing or irregular heartbeat
How does one treat it?
If it’s mild, it doesn’t need any treatment besides regular checkups with your doctor and keeping track of your pulse in case symptoms change. For second or third-degree heart block, a pacemaker may be needed. If it’s caused by medicine, although changing what medicine you take may fix the problem, changing medicine without a doctor’s recommendation is a bad idea.
3. Multifocal atrial tachycardia
How is it caused?
MAT is most common in people with low blood oxygen; thus, conditions like lung cancer and lung failure can lead to MAT. Coronary heart disease, diabetes, and recent surgery are also risk factors for the condition.
What are the symptoms?
Although it may present with no symptoms, when it does have symptoms, they can include:
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- The feeling of irregular or quickened heartbeat
- Short breath
- Weight loss
How does one treat it?
Improving your body’s blood oxygen is often the first step that is taken, as well as supplementing magnesium or potassium. Certain medicines that increase heart rate may be stopped and replaced with medications that slow your heart rate. As always, consult your doctor first, as attempting to repair heart conditions by yourself may worsen your symptoms.
4. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
How is it caused?
PSVT has specific causes, like doses of a particular medicine being too high or a condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. However, it does have risk factors, such as drug use, alcohol consumption, smoking, and caffeine. These are generally risk factors for several arrhythmia conditions.
What are the symptoms?
This condition often has temporary symptoms that start and stop suddenly because of its episodic nature. However, they can sometimes last up to hours. Typical symptoms include:
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- The feeling of irregular or quickened heartbeat
- Short breath
- Anxiety
How does one treat it?
If it occurs irregularly, with few symptoms, and no other problems, it may not require treatment (although you should still consult your doctor). To stop a fast heartbeat during an episode, you can try these things:
- Splashing cold water on your face.
- While sitting down, cough while bent forward
- Something called a Valsalva maneuver, which involves forcefully exhaling while closing your airways.
If someone has many repeat episodes or other heart conditions, long-term solutions may be recommended. These can include daily medicines, a pacemaker, or surgery.
5. Sick sinus syndrome
How is it caused?
It most often occurs in older individuals over 50, and it’s not known exactly what causes it. However, it often seems to be due to heart scarring and/or damage in electrical pathways, which can be caused by certain diseases and conditions. In addition, some medicines can make it worse.
What are the symptoms?
Usually, there aren’t symptoms, but if there are, they may resemble other disorders:
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Weariness
- Lightheadedness
- Short breath
- Mental change
How does one treat it?
If there are no symptoms it does not need to be treated. Your doctor can prescribe medicines if you do have symptoms. If your heart rate becomes too slow, you may need a pacemaker.
6. Ventricular fibrillation
How is it caused?
The most common causes are either a heart attack or a lack of oxygen to the heart. Congenital diseases, electrocution, surgery, a blow to the heart, and certain medicines can all lead to this condition. Smoking and diabetes are also risk factors.
What are the symptoms?
Someone who has an episode will become unconscious as their body is no longer receiving blood from the heart. However, within an hour before doing so, they may have symptoms like chest pain, lightheadedness, nausea, or shortness of breath.
How does one treat it?
To treat it, one must immediately call 911. While waiting, they should put the victim's head in line with the rest of their body and start performing CPR with compressions of about 100 to 120 beats per minute. After that, it is usually treated using a defibrillator, sending quick electric shocks through the chest. Later, medicines may be administered to help control the heart. Also, a defibrillator may be inserted into their chest. It can detect when there is a danger of an episode and send a shock to correct it.
7. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW)
How is it caused?
The extra pathway in WPW is present at birth and is thus a congenital condition.
What are the symptoms?
For some, there may be no symptoms, while the frequency of episodes may increase depending on the person. If it is frequent, it may occur once or twice a week. When this occurs, the symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- A feeling of irregular or quickened heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
How does one treat it?
If one has symptoms, a doctor may recommend various medicines to control the heartbeat. If those don’t work, a type of therapy that involves electrical shocks may be used. For long term treatment, destroying the problematic part of the heart can be done.
Sources & Links
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth
- www.nhs.uk/conditions/arrhythmia/
- www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/cardiac-arrhythmias-a-to-z
- www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369215338265
- www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002207360700667X?via%3Dihub
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001101.htm
- www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation
- www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/atrial-fibrillation-common-serious-treatable
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007658.htm
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000186.htm
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000183.htm
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000161.htm
- www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/sick-sinus-syndrome-a-to-z
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007200.htm
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000151.htm