The answer to the question: "What is a normal sinus rhythm?" most people begin to torment when making a specific diagnosis. Up to this point, the functional features of the heart are not of particular interest. In this article, sinus rhythm will be examined in detail.
The normal functioning of the heart is ensured by three functions: excitation, automatism, and conduction. Any deviations from the normal operation of these functions lead to the development of various kinds of arrhythmias. Normal heart rhythm is formed in the sinus node and is called the sinus rhythm. When making a diagnosis, cardiologists take into account the fact that the sinus rhythm does not always serve as an indicator of the correct functioning of the heart, some cardiovascular diseases occur without disturbing the heart rhythm. In newborns, an accelerated sinus rhythm of up to 150 beats is considered normal.
Cardiologist making a record on a cardiogram: “sinus rhythm. Norma "means the following:
- The QRS complex has a P wave of constant shape;
- Heart rate has a frequency of 60-80 beats;
- The distance P – P or R – R is the same.
The term "sinus rhythm disturbance" refers to arrhythmias and blockages. Any dissonance in the frequency, systematicity and sequence of cardiac activity is called arrhythmia. Cardiac blockade is caused if the excitation is disturbed from the centers directly to the heart muscle.
Arrhythmias at the site of impulse dissonance are divided into those arising in the ventricles and arising above the ventricles. Among physicians, the following classification is adopted, reflecting an unstable sinus rhythm:
1. Dissonance of impulse formation
- Dissonance associated with a violation of automatism, which include sinus tachycardia, bradycardia, arrhythmias;
- The dissonance associated with the dominance of automatism: slow or accelerated rhythms, or an intermediate option, when the heart rhythm slows down and accelerates (violation of the pacemaker);
- Dissonance associated with the re-occurrence of arousal.
2. Dissonance of conductivity: blockades of various kinds are related to this type of violation.
3. Combined violations
To make a diagnosis, the doctor needs to find out the patient’s history, to obtain data from instrumental and clinical studies. When collecting an anamnesis, a cardiologist will try to obtain information about the presence of bad habits, heredity and past illnesses. The doctor will definitely ask when the patient first felt that the sinus rhythm was broken, what sensations he experienced at the same time. These data will help determine the nature of the disorders: accelerated sinus rhythm in a patient or vice versa, slowed down. Very often, patients complain of discomfort in the heart region, subjective or objective sensations of interruptions in the work of the heart (acceleration or deceleration). Sometimes the development of arrhythmia can pass unnoticed by the patient, and can lead to loss of consciousness. Arrhythmias are often accompanied by shortness of breath, a feeling of nausea, weakness. Depressed cardiac activity affects the normal functioning of the respiratory system, which leads to a lack of oxygen.
ECG helps in diagnosing arrhythmias, and drug therapy will help reduce the negative manifestations of the disease. If the course of arrhythmia is asymptomatic, then drug therapy is not required, provided that the normal size of the heart is preserved and its contractile function is preserved. If rhythm disturbances affect normal life, then the main treatment is aimed at creating an optimal electrolyte background with the appointment of special drugs. If arrhythmia can lead to the death of the patient, cardiac surgeons use electro-pulse therapy. Some types of arrhythmias are treated with surgery.