The activity of the heart is possible thanks to the sinus node, which regulates the frequency of its contractions. In addition, it is able to generate rhythmically electrical impulses propagating through the myocardium of the ventricles and atria.
A healthy person is characterized by wide limits on the change in pulse frequency. It all depends on the requirements of the body. For example, at rest (in particular, at night) with a relatively small demand for blood flow of organs, the frequency of impulses from the sinus node and, accordingly, heart contractions decreases to sixty-fifty (sometimes even forty-five) times per minute. In this day, in the presence of emotional and physical stress, heart rate increases. In the case of physical overstrain, the frequency of contractions can reach 130, sometimes 150-160 beats per minute.
With the development of pathological situations, a malfunction of the sinus node is noted. In different areas of the myocardium, new foci of electrical activation can form, competing with it and, in some cases, suppressing its functions. It is possible to block the wave propagation itself. All these unpleasant phenomena accompany heart failure - arrhythmia. This condition is characterized by deviations in the frequency, strength and regularity of contractions. Heart rhythm disturbances can occur both with a favorable prognosis and with a danger to life.
All arrhythmias are characterized by similar symptoms. The main signs are a feeling of fading of the heart, an uneven pulse, and a heartbeat. In some cases, weakness, fainting, dizziness may occur.
Disruptions in the work of the heart can occur against the background of cardiovascular pathologies, nervous system disorders, endocrine diseases, physical exertion, taking certain dosage forms, severe stress, depression, hypothermia, excessive drinking of alcohol, energy drinks, and smoking. All these factors are the most common causes of arrhythmias.
Heart failure can be of various types.
Extrasystole is characterized by extraordinary, irregular contractions relative to the normal frequency.
Tachycardia is a condition of rapid heartbeat.
Bradycardia is a slow rhythm.
Atrial fibrillation refers to inferior irregular heartbeat.
It should be noted that during the day, every healthy person has heart failure in the form of several tens of supraventricular and several units of ventricular extrasystoles. Such conditions do not threaten health and do not provoke transformation into more serious rhythm disorders. Most people do not feel such extrasystoles. They are detected by chance during a regular ECG.
However, there are especially sensitive people who feel heart failure, being completely healthy. For many patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia, it seems that the organ “stops”, “freezes”, and then “starts again”. In most cases, “sensations” fail them.
Of course, cardiac abnormalities in patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia can occur. At the same time, functional failures of the phenomenon are normal and natural.
The selection of treatment tactics is in many cases a difficult task. This is due to the fact that all antiarrhythmic drugs have a sufficiently large number of side effects, in particular, the ability to provoke a new, in many cases, more severe, arrhythmia. Nevertheless, when acute failures occur, they try to stop them. This is possible when using both drugs and non-drug methods of exposure. However, in any case, self-medication is unacceptable. Specialist consultation required.