Very often people are faced with various diseases, and recently, pathologies of the cardiovascular system have become the most common, including atrial extrasystole (on an ECG it is determined in most cases). Experts attribute this directly to constant stressful situations, disturbed diet and rest, untimely therapy of other pathologies that develop in the body. Treatment is required without fail and is based on the results of the examination. To eliminate this violation, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures.
ECG atrial extrasystole: what does it mean?
PE (atrial extrasystole) is a heart disease that is expressed in a disturbed rhythm. It is diagnosed in patients of different age groups. This organ pathology is characterized by premature contraction that occurs due to electrical signals in the atria.
PE is not a malignant condition, can be diagnosed in healthy patients and not be accompanied by any symptoms. In this situation, a person is not prescribed significant therapy. But there are cases when the diagnosis of atrial extrasystole is the first sign of diseases of the cardiac or vascular system. If you refuse treatment, then there is a high probability of developing complications, for example, atrial fibrillation and flutter.
At the first symptomatology, it is recommended to seek additional advice from a narrowly specialized specialist - a cardiologist. Further, based on a patient survey, various examination methods are prescribed.
Types of violation
ECG atrial extrasystole can be of several types, on which future therapy may depend. Only a specialist is able to determine the type of pathology, therefore it is not recommended to engage in self-diagnosis and especially treatment, in order to exclude negative health consequences.
Depending on what has been reduced ahead of time, an extrasystole of a type such as:
- Atrial (also called "supraventricular").
- Nodal
- Ventricular.
Also, depending on the sequence of extraordinary excitations of the heart, experts distinguish:
- bigeminia (every second organ excitation occurs prematurely);
- trigeminia (every third rhythm disturbance occurs ahead of time);
- quadrigeminia (every fourth excitation).
This pathology has a different classification. Extrasystoles, depending on the source, can be monotopic or polytopic.
Provocative factors
The causes of atrial extrasystole by experts are still not exactly established, they adhere to several options. In most cases, this disorder is diagnosed in patients without pathologies of the cardiac system. But it is worth remembering that atrial extrasystole can occur as a result of:
- Significant and frequent consumption of foods and drinks with a high content of caffeine.
- Tobacco and alcohol abuse.
- Constant stressful situations.
- Disturbed mode of rest and work, insomnia.
- Taking medications, the instructions of which indicate side effects associated with impaired heart rhythm.
Atrial extrasystole on an ECG may also indicate the fact that in a patient in the conduction system of the heart additional pathways of the propagation of an electrical impulse are noted. This provoking factor can provoke other disorders in the system. Do not forget that pathology can also be associated with diseases such as:
- Persistent high blood pressure.
- Valvular heart disease.
- Congenital organ pathology.
- Infectious diseases that affect the functionality of the heart.
- Myocardial infarction.
Very often, any type of disease, including blocked atrial extrasystole on the ECG, occurs in patients who have an impaired level of potassium, magnesium, as well as poisoning of the body with cardiac glycosides. In addition, pathologies can also be contributed by such factors as the older age category of the patient (from 50-55 years), high growth, impaired cholesterol, and the formation of cholesterol plaques in the blood.
Symptomatology
In significant cases, there are no signs of atrial extrasystole, which only further complicates the situation and, in the future, treatment. If the patient does not conduct regular preventive examinations and does not monitor his condition, then this can lead to serious complications and negative consequences.
The most common symptoms of atrial extrasystole:
- A distinct sensation of a jolt in the heart, which occurs less often 4-6 times per minute. This occurs as a result of solitary extrasystoles.
- Increased weakness, shortness of breath, fever and angina pectoris. This symptom is noted due to frequent or group atrial extrasystole, which provokes the development of moderate hemodynamic disturbances, as a result, the number of cardiovascular contractions increases.
- Impaired vision. The patient may notice a darkening in the eyes or the appearance of a “film”.
- Panic attack, which is associated with severe tremors of the heart. As a result, the nervous system is disrupted, the patient is constantly in a state of stress.
- In patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction or are diagnosed with coronary heart disease, the symptoms will be expressed in the following: pain in the chest and in the organ, lack of oxygen, cold upper limbs and their numbness, the skin becomes pale. In this situation, urgent hospitalization and a thorough examination are required, since there is a risk of death.
The violation is severely tolerated by those patients who suffer from vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD).
Diagnosis
To accurately determine the pathology of the heart rhythm, it is necessary to undergo an electrocardiographic study. Also, a specialist can recommend additional Holter monitoring.
What are the signs of atrial extrasystole on an ECG?
First of all, the specialist draws attention to the abnormal tooth R. Its changes will depend on which part of the atrium extrasystole comes from. It is smoothed or abnormal. This tooth is always noted in front of the QRS ventricular complex, which remains unchanged. The doctor also focuses on a full compensatory pause, although there are exceptions.
Therapy
Treatment of atrial extrasystole is based on the results of studies. It is appointed and adjusted exclusively by a specialist. Therapy involves an integrated approach. A positive result can only be achieved as a result of activities such as:
- proper and balanced nutrition;
- adjusted mode of work and rest;
- frequent walks in the fresh air, moderate physical activity;
- refusal of smoking, drinking alcohol;
- complete rejection or moderate consumption of foods and drinks with a high content of caffeine.
Do not forget about diseases that can provoke this violation in the work of the heart. It is recommended that attention be paid to the treatment of pathologies associated with the nervous system. Treatment of blocked atrial extrasystole is also prescribed by a specialist and does not differ much from the main stages listed earlier.
Drug action
In addition to a healthy lifestyle and giving up various bad habits, you need to start taking medications. First of all, a specialist can recommend starting to drink valerian, tincture of motherwort or other herbal preparations with a sedative effect.
If a patient is diagnosed with severe and neglected signs of atrial extrasystole on an ECG, then it is necessary to start taking medicines such as Verapamil, Diltiazem, and Cordanon as soon as possible. After each use of medicines, the patient should be calm, relax. If one of the prescribed medications is not suitable, then it is worth informing your doctor about it and not engage in self-adjustment of therapy.
The duration of the course of use of drugs for the treatment of atrial extrasystole will depend on the patient's condition, as well as changes in the ECG. If improvements are noted, then it is advised to reduce the intake of antiarrhythmic drugs.
What is the emergency care for this violation?
At the first signs of atrial extrasystole on an ECG, it is recommended to immediately resort to action. Experts say that it is better to start taking calcium antagonists (isoptin, finoptin), beta blockers. If the patient is diagnosed with heart failure, then it is advisable to use dropping. It is necessary to be careful with these glycosides, since they are contraindicated in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. It is preliminarily recommended to go through an electrocardiogram.
It is also worth starting taking medications that contain potassium, for example, Pananagin. Any means with this component have a number of contraindications and side effects, therefore, they should be taken with caution and under the supervision of a doctor. Self-treatment in this case is completely excluded, even a slight adjustment in dose or duration of administration.
Pathology in children
There are cases when the atrial extrasystole on the ECG is noted even in young children. Provoking factors can be a variety of diseases and disorders, such as heart disease, cardiomyopathy, cholecystitis, gastrointestinal tract pathologies, increased mental or physical activity, constant stressful situations, and fever.
Very often, specialists in identifying this disorder associate it with respiratory diseases. The rhythm can normalize after recovery, therefore, additional therapy or any other intervention is not required. As a result, serious disorders of the cardiovascular system are completely ruled out.
In patients of an early age category, there are no complaints about the general state of health. In this situation, pathology can be detected only as a result of a routine examination by a cardiologist. As for adolescents, they may have signs such as:
- disturbed heart function;
- frequent breathing
- dizziness;
- fear;
- intense sweating;
- insomnia.
Treatment is aimed at eliminating the emotional load, carrying out preventive measures against overwork. Herbal remedies that have a sedative effect can be used. Be sure to talk with parents about this violation and treatment, paying attention to the psychological situation in the family.
Preventive actions. Forecast
It is possible to prevent atrial extrasystole if due attention is paid to prevention. It is advised to abandon bad habits, adjust the regime of the day, and also start eating right. In the diet should be present foods with whole grains, fruits and vegetables. It is worth limiting the intake of fatty, salty and fried foods. Do not forget about the sufficient fluid intake, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Every patient should have moderate physical activity. It is recommended to do swimming, walking, aerobics or jogging, but only jogging. In order not to harm yourself as a result of exercises, you first need to consult a specialist. If weight problems are noted, then they are eliminated in a short time. This will help ease the work of the heart, improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract.
Also, to exclude atrial extrasystole, attention is paid to blood pressure and blood cholesterol. If these indicators differ from the norm, you should immediately begin treatment.
As for the forecast, it is favorable. Pathology is not able to lead to serious problems, unless it is provoked by other diseases in the body. In this case, atrial extrasystole goes into more severe cardiac arrhythmias, for example, fibrillation. In most situations, it is diagnosed in patients of an older age category.
If you have any questions, it is best to always seek specialist advice, but not engage in self-diagnosis. Even if doubts concern proper nutrition, you should not exclude visits to the doctor’s office. Indeed, the performance of internal systems and general well-being depend on the right therapy.