The meaning of the word arrhythmia in translation from ancient Greek is “awkwardness”, and it perfectly explains the cause of the disease. Violation of the work of a specific area of the heart muscle, in which the heart rate (sinus and atrial area) is produced and generates arrhythmia in children. If the heart rate slows down your own work, less than 60 beats per minute are carried out, they say bradycardia. If the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute - tachycardia. Both that and another discrepancy with generally recognized norms may indicate the formation of both heart diseases and ailments of the autonomic, endocrine systems.
Causes
First of all, the cause of the formation of arrhythmias in a teenager at the age of 16 may be the excitation of the heart muscle. If the system of development of the heart muscle is abnormal, then this has a serious effect on the heart rate.
Serious diseases such as various infections, heart failure, heart disease (both congenital and acquired), cardiomyopathy, can be the main causes of arrhythmia.
It is not worth immediately referring to the pathology a rapid heartbeat that occurs after physical exertion, possible problems at school, the use of energy drinks or with violations of sleep and wakefulness. This indicates the presence of sinus cardiac arrhythmia. It can arise due to an imbalance in the work of the vegetative-vascular system, in its inability to correctly perceive the changes that occur in the body of a teenager.
You need to see a doctor immediately when arrhythmia occurs in a teenager for no reason, in the absence of stress, or when a rapid heartbeat becomes systematic. In these cases, the body must be checked and when confirming the diagnosis, proceed to urgent treatment in order to avoid further deterioration.
Symptoms
If we consider the symptoms of sinus arrhythmia of the heart in adolescents, then they are different with established bradycardia (decrease in heart contractions) and tachycardia (increase in contractions). Adolescents quite often experience the first symptoms in the form of a sudden increase in heart rate or, conversely, an interruption in the functioning of the organ is noted. As a result, a feeling of weakness appears, sweating increases significantly and slight dizziness occurs.
Other symptoms
Sometimes there are complaints of pain in the heart and chest. The degree of pathology has a direct effect on all further symptoms, so there are cases when the signs are completely absent. If the child's breathing suddenly became difficult and the skin turned pale, then parents should immediately seek medical help. Arrhythmia acquires special severity in severe necrosis or myocardial infectious disease.
These patients have a faster pulse, but it's hard enough to listen to. The skin becomes paler, and blood pressure drops rapidly. When identifying problems with the work of the heart, it is important to carefully monitor the condition of your child and immediately consult a doctor.
Kinds
Adolescent children periodically experience intermittent heart rhythms. The following types of arrhythmias are often found in adolescents:
- Respiratory arrhythmia. Arrhythmia is the most typical for a teenage child. At the inhalation phase, an increase in heart rate occurs, and at the exhalation, shortening occurs. This manifestation of instability is a consequence of a malfunction in the nervous system. Increased arousal during adolescence is the norm, but the appearance of irregular heart rhythm is considered a symptom of the disease.
- Single or multiple extrasystoles. The sharp occurrence of extraordinary contractions of the heart muscle. The main cause of arrhythmias in adolescents is considered to be increased growth of heart muscle. Extrasystoles do not manifest themselves in any way. Their presence can only be detected using electrocardiography.
- Tachyarrhythmia. Increased frequency of contractions (over 100). Often accompanies severe intoxication and diseases of the endocrine glands.
- Bradyarrhythmia. Reduction of heart contractions to 50. It develops against a background of strong emotional overexcitation.
Diagnostics
If the child begins to complain of discomfort in the heart, it is important to immediately seek qualified medical help.
First you need to make an appointment with a pediatrician who prescribes an ultrasound of the heart to establish an initial diagnosis. Any disturbance in the heart rhythm should be detected by a cardiologist. In the future, the patient has to go through a series of examinations.
Thanks to the ECG, it is possible to give a detailed analysis of the physical condition of the heart. This study helps in detecting myocardial damage, and it may be chronic or acute. The frequency and regularity of contractions of the heart muscle will also be precisely determined.
The next study is called Echocardiography. Here, a specialist performs work exclusively with the help of ultrasound. The heart muscle will be clearly visible on the monitor screen, which makes it possible to study in more detail the features of the movement of blood flows not only in the atria, but also in the ventricles.
It has already been said that with the help of an ultrasound the doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, but for a detailed answer, a number of laboratory studies are required. To do this, you need to donate blood.
Drug treatment of arrhythmias in a teenager
The choice of drug therapy depends on the root cause, which provoked a violation of the heart rate. After conducting the appropriate diagnosis, the attending physician, on the basis of the results obtained, selects drugs, taking into account the limitations and contraindications associated with age. In the case when the manifestation of arrhythmia was the result of physical overload, nervous stressful situations at school, drug treatment at the initial stage is carried out using sedatives based on medicinal herbs that normalize heart rhythms, for example:
- tincture of valerian, motherwort;
- "Dormiplant" based on lemon balm and valerian root.
Pharmacological substances
If the use of sedatives did not have the desired effect, the attending physician determines the necessary list of pharmacological antiarrhythmic drugs, depending on the nature of the cardiac pathology. We can distinguish the following groups of drugs used to treat arrhythmias in adolescents caused by cardiac diseases:
- In case of cardiac arrhythmias against the background of hypokalemia, potassium preparations are prescribed, including a solution of potassium chloride, "Potassium orotate", "Panangin". Reception and dosage of these funds is carried out under the strict supervision of the attending physician in order to prevent hyperkalemia.
- To reduce the conductivity and excitability of the heart muscle, the drug Novocainamide is used. Selection of the dosage of the drug is carried out simultaneously with the control of blood pressure and an electrocardiogram.
- For atrial fibrillation, as well as seizures caused by paroxysmal tachycardia, "Etmozin" is usually prescribed. The medication is used in tablet form, with intramuscular injections it is administered together with novocaine. With intravenous administration, "Etmozin" is diluted in a solution of sodium chloride or glucose.
- To relieve arrhythmias in children and adolescents, such an adrenolytic and local anesthetic drug as Anaprilin and its analogues are widely used. "Oxenoprolol" has a similar effect, however, it is less toxic and has a milder effect when normalizing blood pressure.
- In the complex treatment of arrhythmias, it is also necessary to use drugs that normalize the metabolic processes of the heart muscles, including Riboxin, Cocarboxylase.
Alternative treatment
Severe sinus arrhythmia in a teenager is a disease that even doctors recommend treating with folk remedies. Herbal remedies for arrhythmias in combination with medications can help even after the first use.
One of the best known remedies for arrhythmia is valerian root. The motherwort and hawthorn calm the heart well. You can prepare the treatment fee yourself. The most common recipe fees:
- The first recipe. Components: valerian root, calendula flowers, viburnum bark, motherwort. All herbs must be taken in equal proportions. For a day should be steamed 2 tbsp. l collection and take throughout the day. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.
- The second recipe. Mix already prepared tinctures from valerian, motherwort, hawthorn in equal proportions, add a few drops of Corvalol. Take once a day before meals for a week.
Bath
Excellent in the fight against severe arrhythmia in adolescents, a bath with a decoction of Valerian root helps. Already cooked broth (300 ml) pour into the typed bath and enjoy a calming effect.
Herbal treatment is an effective method in the fight against many ailments. Such treatment will cost not only cheaper, but also safer for a sensitive young organism.
Prevention
A malfunction in the heart muscle should not be ignored. Against the background of hormonal changes, it is important not to miss the development of the disease. Prevention should include:
- Lack of stress factors and overstrain of the nervous system.
- Regular and balanced diet.
- Refusal of products that cause nervous system excitement (sweets, caffeine, fatty foods, fast food).
- Meals should be 4-5 times a day.
- In the diet of adolescents, foods enriched with minerals and trace elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium) must be present.
- The daily intake of vegetables and fruits should be 1/3 of the total diet.
- Moderate daily exercise.
- Properly dosed physical activity will enrich the heart muscle with oxygen.
- Proper sleep and wakefulness.
- The most important in the prevention of arrhythmias in adolescents is a properly composed daily regimen. Every day, a teenager should sleep more than 8 hours at night. Departure to bed no later than 23:00.
- Outpatient monitoring of episodes of arrhythmias for two years.
Creating favorable conditions for the normalization of the body in a teenager will prevent the aggravation or development of the disease.