Cardiac arrhythmia is a general term that is used to denote heart rhythm disturbances provoked by various reasons. When classifying cases of arrhythmia, doctors take into account the mechanism of the disease, the cause of its development, the manifestations characteristic of the case, and the prognosis. The treatment of arrhythmias is not an easy task, and its development almost always indicates serious problems of the cardiovascular system, so it’s not worth delaying with measures to restore health. Running a case is fraught with risks to life.
general information
A healthy heart beats rhythmically, and the departments are reduced sequentially. Ventricular activity follows atrial activity, the cycle repeats. In a minute, the frequency of contractions in a healthy person varies from 60 to 80. Such indicators, provided that the rhythm of contractions is clear, indicate excellent cardiac health. Arrhythmia is accompanied by a change in frequency. With a value below the norm, bradycardia is diagnosed, in the opposite case, tachycardia. Cardiac arrhythmia is a general collective term for irregular organ contractions. Inside it there are types:
- atrial
- blockade;
- extrasystole.
Where did the trouble come from?
There are several reasons that can provoke cardiac arrhythmias:
- pathologies that affect the heart, blood vessels;
- cerebral diseases;
- infection
- menopause;
- violation of the adrenal gland, thyroid gland;
- impaired myocardial metabolism;
- heavy physical exertion;
- stress factors, experiences;
- bad habits;
- toxic agents;
- medicines.
Arrhythmia is a condition that any person experiences at least once in a lifetime. This is a normal response to fever, emotional shock, and some other situations. Random cardiac arrhythmia is not a cause for concern. As a rule, such conditions are not dangerous to life and health. But with prolonged or often recurring seizures, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause and characteristics of the condition, to select adequate measures to bring your heart in order.
Types and Features
With a heart rate of less than 60 times per minute, doctors establish bradycardia. In a certain group of people, such a condition does not indicate health problems, but it is a kind of norm. This applies to athletes, people who are constantly training in conditions of a fairly strong load. However, in most cases, such a heart rate is a sign of cardiac arrhythmia. You can notice bradycardia by the following manifestations:
- soreness near the heart;
- weakness;
- proximity to fainting;
- loss of consciousness (for a short time);
- chills;
- sweating
- pressure instability.
Usually, bradycardia is dizzy.
The considered type of cardiac arrhythmia can develop in a very pronounced form, when per minute the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle is less than 40 acts. Often this provokes a failure of the functioning of the heart. The patient is shown the installation of a pacemaker. Lack of treatment is life threatening.
Alternative option
Another form of cardiac arrhythmia in men and women is tachycardia. With her, the heart contracts more than 90 times per minute. It is customary to talk about pathological, physical forms. The first is due to some diseases, most often to the heart or blood vessels, but the impact of disruption of other systems is possible. Physiological is diagnosed if it is not possible to identify pathologies.
The norm is tachycardia, provoked by strong emotions, stress. Sometimes the heart rate is disturbed due to a sharp change in posture, heat, lack of air, too deep breaths, overeating. All these cases are accompanied by a short change in the parameters of the activity of the heart muscle. If tachycardia is provoked by medications, it is also considered physiological.
Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias of this type:
- an artery pulsates on the neck;
- heartbeat is frequent, it is felt sick, attracts attention;
- concern
- emotion
- fainting.
Usually dizzy. The pathological variety requires timely medical attention. A cardiac arrhythmia of this form without adequate treatment provokes an acute heart failure, can cause a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
Extrasystole
Such a term is used when a person has cardiac arrhythmia characterized by the presence of extraordinary contractile acts. Atrial failure may occur, but there is a risk that it will be a ventricle. Among other cases, extrasystole is recorded quite often. Isolated disorders occurred in almost any person, even if there are no problems with heart health. With full health, 4% of extraordinary reductions per day are allowed. The pathological form of the violation often acquires in persons over the age of fifty. According to statistics, they know by themselves what it is - cardiac arrhythmia in adults, up to 80% of our fellow citizens. Violation manifests itself with specific malfunctions in the functioning of the heart. The most common symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias of an extrasystolic nature are found:
- feeling as if there is not enough air;
- the heart seems to freeze;
- premature heart contractions felt by the patient, as if in the heart were strongly pushed.
If the episodes are repeated often enough, there is reason to think about the need for treatment. Frequent violation of the rhythm of the heartbeat affects the quality of blood circulation in the heart and brain, and, therefore, the likelihood of angina pectoris, malnutrition of brain cells increases. From medical statistics it is known for sure that extrasystole is associated with an increased risk of sudden death of the heart, atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation
Most often, it is because of this diagnosis that people ask the doctor how to treat heart arrhythmia. It is the ciliated form that is most widely distributed among patients in the cardiology department of modern clinics. A distinctive feature of the pathological condition is the uneven contraction of the heart. The atria are described as trembling, and the ventricles contract with a disturbed rhythm.
From statistics it is known that atrial fibrillation in people under 60 is diagnosed in only 1% of cases, but in 75 years and over, almost one in three suffers from such a violation of the main organ.
Atrial fibrillation can be noted by the following symptoms:
- heart rate in 60 seconds reaches 150, sometimes 180 beats;
- a person feels that the heart is malfunctioning;
- it hurts in the chest;
- not enough air;
- troubled by shortness of breath;
- dizzy.
As can be seen from the numerous reviews compiled by patients, atrial fibrillation leads to rapid fatigue.
Sometimes this form develops due to a genetic factor if the baby is born with a heart defect. Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias are possible for reasons:
- ischemia;
- hypertension;
- insufficiency of the heart muscle;
- lack of potassium in the blood;
- overly active or sluggish thyroid gland;
- poisoning;
- addiction to alcohol;
- stress load;
- overwork;
- drug program.
Heart block
If this type is installed, the doctor will tell you in detail at the reception why the cardiac arrhythmia is dangerous. Blockade is a term applied to the situation when the myocardium conducts impulses in slow motion or does not fulfill this function at all. The cause of the blockade may be a pathological change in the structure of the muscle, atherosclerosis, heart defects. Perhaps the development of arrhythmias of this type due to heredity or excessive use of medications. Cardiac blockade is provoked by menopausal changes in the body, a violation of the thyroid gland.
The main types of heart block are distinguished:
- transient;
- intermittent;
- inside the ventricles;
- inside the atria;
- between the atria;
- atrioventricular.
Against the background of the mentioned causes of cardiac arrhythmias, disturbing manifestations are possible:
- seizure
- fainting;
- from time to time the pulse disappears.
There is a risk of heart failure in an acute form. With heart block, the risk of sudden death is increased.
Correct diagnosis
The doctor says, before explaining how to treat cardiac arrhythmias, why such a health disorder is dangerous, but a specialist can provide really accurate information only based on the results of specific studies that can clarify the characteristics of the patient's condition. To do this, appoint:
- control of the heart during the day;
- electrocardiogram;
- electrophysiological analysis;
- Treadmill test;
- ECHOKG.
What to do?
With cardiac arrhythmias, you must first consult a doctor for a full examination. Based on the results of the tests, doctors will choose the best treatment option. Of course, popular recipes are known, more or less useful for patients, but do not make them the center of a therapeutic course. It is reasonable to resort to a comprehensive program that includes medicines and alternative drugs, but all points of such treatment should be agreed with the doctor so as not to cause irreparable harm to your health.
Arrhythmia sometimes worries even a perfectly healthy person. If your health does not get worse, and attacks come from time to time, no treatment is needed. If symptoms are prolonged or frequent, you need to visit a cardiologist. A comprehensive program will include drugs and procedures to stabilize cardiac function, metabolic processes in the body. Doctors will check the pressure, give advice on its normalization, identify associated pathologies, if any, will select a course to eliminate them.
Turning to the doctor with questions about how to treat cardiac arrhythmias, you need to understand: regardless of the type and causes of the violation, the most effective course will be when the disease is still developing. The more neglected the case, the more difficult it will be to regain the quality of life.
Is it dangerous or not?
Very rarely, arrhythmia occurs on its own. In the predominant percentage of cases, it is only a symptom that indicates some kind of disease. In some cases, arrhythmia signals minor difficulties, but can be disturbing due to severe systemic disease. The first manifestation of arrhythmia usually gives rise to fear. Many of the survivors noted that there was a feeling that the heart might not start to beat again.
Even a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia is a reason to start adequate treatment. However, it is important not to become a "shooter from a gun on sparrows", because an ill-conceived medical course can only make yourself worse.
General nuances of treatment
If bradycardia is established, the main task of the program is to identify the cause of the violations and eliminate it.
With atrial fibrillation, the patient is prescribed glycosides for the heart, beta-blockers, drugs to inhibit calcium channels. Additionally, the cause of arrhythmia is identified and a program for eliminating the underlying disease is prescribed. There are currently no universal regimens for treating atrial fibrillation. In each case, the doctor develops an individual program. Shown to one patient to another can cause deterioration.
If flickering of the heart ventricles, flutter is established, professionals should provide assistance. Medication methods are ineffective, the only way to return the patient to life is defibrillation by electric current. In resuscitation conditions, the patient is provided with patency of the pathways for oxygen supply to the lungs, cardiac massage is performed, the heart is stimulated with electric pulses, and concomitant disturbances (edema, pressure indicators) are corrected. Despite the progress of medicine in recent years, with this condition, the prognosis is often unfavorable. Worst of all, the situation develops if arrhythmias are accompanied by cardiogenic shock, heart failure in a pronounced form. With this combination of pathological conditions, a high probability of death.
Weak sinus node
This is such a form of arrhythmia, which often develops against the background:
- drug poisoning;
- ischemia;
- myocarditis;
- heart attack;
- blood flow problems.
Signs of violation:
- sinus bradycardia;
- sinoauricular block ;
- short-term disappearance of the sinus rhythm, its replacement by ectopic;
- bradycardia is replaced by tachycardia and vice versa;
- Adams-Morgagni-Stokes attack;
- heart failure.
With this diagnosis, the patient is shown drugs containing atropine, isadrine. Belladonna-based products can benefit. In general, the effectiveness of a conservative course of treatment is relatively small. The most positive prognosis is provided to those who decided to implant a pacemaker.
Age and dangers
It is believed that the risk of developing arrhythmias is higher in older people, but in recent years the incidence of disorders in children and adolescents has increased. Mostly, the causes differ from those that provoke arrhythmias in adult patients. There may be malfunctions of the heart, which manifest themselves as severe symptoms, in others they are almost invisible, the disease proceeds secretly, and it is possible to detect it during the removal of the electrocardiogram as part of a preventive examination.
Most often, arrhythmia in childhood is caused by:
- hereditary factor;
- congenital malformations;
- diseases provoked by various causes.
Combined arrhythmia is sometimes diagnosed. The disease is characterized by severity and poor prognosis, provokes complications. Her treatment is not an easy task.
"Interesting" position
Arrhythmia often worries pregnant women. The prognosis of the development of the condition, including with respect to the fetus, is determined by individual characteristics. In an impressive percentage of cases, there are no dangers, since arrhythmia is a normal response to changes in the body - but this only applies to situations where the failure of the rhythm of the heartbeat is rare, it is easy. Statistics show that every fifth expectant mother encountered manifestations of tachycardia, extrasystole during pregnancy. An increase in arrhythmia is observed against the background of late toxicosis.
During pregnancy, the rhythm of ventricular contraction is slightly corrected. Medical assistance is necessary if, per minute, the frequency of strokes is reduced to 35 or less. If this happens at the time of birth, the use of assistive obstetric devices is required to alleviate the condition of the woman in childbirth.
Organic heart diseases make pregnant women especially careful. Atrial fibrillation may indicate impossibility of preserving the fetus. If it is decided to leave the child, arrhythmia is taken into account when choosing a birth method. It should be remembered that cesarean section during arrhythmia can cause thromboembolism.
How to treat heart arrhythmia at home?
The first aid that a person can provide for himself is to abandon bad habits and normalize the rhythm of life, a nutrition program. Doctors have developed a special "Diet number 10" for people suffering from heart disorders. It involves the rejection of fatty, spicy, heavy dishes. We'll have to take food in small portions, keeping fairly short intervals between sets. Fractional nutrition creates a minimal burden on the body. Have to give up strong drinks, including coffee and tea.
Among the recipes of traditional medicine, various options for using hawthorn dominate. You can prepare infusions, decoctions and teas on the fruits, inflorescences and leaves of this plant yourself, you can buy a finished product in a pharmacy - fees, tinctures, capsules. When choosing a pharmacy option, before use, you should consult a doctor and study the instructions from the manufacturer.
In addition to the young lady, valerian, motherwort will also benefit. They can also be used in the form of capsules, infusions, tinctures of home or industrial production. These drugs have a mild sedative effect, reduce stress, that is, reduce the influence of one of the most common factors that provoke arrhythmia.
Folk remedies: what will help?
It is believed that the benefit of arrhythmia can bring a medicine prepared on fresh lemon. For half a kilogram of chopped fruit, take the same amount of honey, mix everything, add finely crushed apricot kernels to the composition. The medicine is used in food twice daily; dosage - a tablespoon.
A mixture of apples and onions has proven itself. One shredded fruit is taken on the crushed rhizome, mixed and used for food. The duration of treatment is a month. The medicine is recommended to be used between meals twice a day daily.
It is believed that with arrhythmia, a mixture of grated celery rhizomes and chopped dill, parsley will be useful. The products are diluted with fat-free sour cream and used in food, however, within reason. It must be remembered that fatty sour cream or an excess of this product negatively affects the quality of the blood.
First aid
Arrhythmia comes in attacks, is unpredictable, makes a person completely helpless. If the attack is first, it is difficult, you need to call an ambulance. Waiting for the doctor, it is necessary to reassure the patient, to lay or sit down so that it is convenient. Sometimes it is necessary to provoke vomiting. After first aid, the doctor will prescribe a course of drugs that are relevant for a particular case.
Having felt arrhythmia at home, it is necessary to stop physical activity and give yourself rest. To calm down, you can take valerian, motherwort, a few drops of valocordin.
Drugs and rules
With bradycardia, preventive drug therapy is not required. When tachycardia is prescribed:
- Sotaleks.
- "Allalinin."
- Cardaron.
Calcium antagonists, adrenergic blockers will benefit.
You can use these drugs strictly under the supervision of your doctor. Incorrect use of medications with a high degree of probability can provoke severe complications for the cardiovascular system, up to coma and death.
The danger of arrhythmia
Without adequate treatment, a disturbance in the rhythm of the contraction of the heart muscle can cause thromboembolism or provoke an acute heart failure. The lower the rhythm, the worse the blood supply to the heart, and its unhealthiness negatively affects the entire body, leading to tissue hypoxia in different parts of the body. Arrhythmia can cause the formation of blood clots in the heart, which means that the risk of blocking the lumen of the blood vessel increases. Against the background of this development, arrhythmia provokes:
- heart attack;
- stroke;
- angina pectoris;
- death.
Prevent trouble
Prevention of arrhythmia is a reasonable choice of diet, quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, introducing motor activity into everyday habits. Doctors recommend:
- run in the evenings;
- engage in dancing, aerobics, shaping;
- go to fitness;
- to swim.
You do not need to be an athlete to prevent arrhythmia, you just need to exercise regularly for your own pleasure.
A healthy step will be the inclusion of a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cereals in the diet. It is reasonable to reconsider the way of life, to reduce the risk of conflict situations, nervous breakdowns.