Many people are worried that their heart rate goes astray. This phenomenon is called arrhythmia, and there are many reasons for its occurrence. Now we will focus on them. You should also talk about the first signs of arrhythmia and methods of its treatment.
Sinus tachycardia
This is a very common type of arrhythmia, characterized by a pulse above 100 beats per minute. Sinus tachycardia is either a variant of the norm, or a sign of pathology of the heart, endocrine system, blood vessels and other organs. It all depends on the individuality of the case.
The norm is periodic tachycardia - when the heart rate goes astray due to excitement, physical exercise, a cup of strong coffee, etc. It is worth worrying if this is constantly observed.
Pathological tachycardia is an alarming sign. The heart works at high speed, almost to wear. Under such conditions, it cannot cope with the delivery of the required blood volume in a large and small circle, because with frequent reduction the chambers are not completely filled.
As a result, cardiomyopathy develops - the primary lesion (expansion) of the heart muscle, fraught with a decrease in myocardial contractility.
Symptoms and causes of tachycardia
Here, because of what this phenomenon occurs:
- Chronic or acute heart failure.
- Coronary diseases of various forms.
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital and acquired malformations.
- Inflammation in the myocardium, heart muscle, outer or inner layer of an infectious or autoimmune nature.
- Neurogenic disorders.
- Endocrine Disorders
- Anemia.
- Emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis.
- Taking contraindicated medicines.
- Pregnancy.
Symptoms of tachycardia are as follows:
- Pain in the chest and sometimes in the heart.
- Shortness of breath (even at rest), feeling of lack of air.
- The rhythm of the heart goes astray (becomes rapid).
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Dizziness.
- Insomnia, anxiety, irritability and emotional lability.
Symptoms worsen over time. To avoid consequences, you need to make an appointment with a cardiologist at the first manifestations and undergo an examination.
Tachycardia Treatment
When it is clarified for what reason the heart rate goes astray, treatment should be started immediately. If this phenomenon provoked tachycardia, then the first thing to do is to reconsider your lifestyle, diet and regimen. Here are some general guidelines:
- Refuse alcohol and smoking.
- Do not overeat. You need to switch to fractional nutrition and eat in small portions 5-6 times a day.
- Exclude from the diet everything that contains caffeine (chocolate, strong tea, cocoa, energy, etc.).
- Refuse spicy and hot dishes.
- Eat more greens, fruits, and vegetables.
- Sleep at least 8 hours a day.
- To walk outside. Engage in light physical activity (swimming, for example).
- Avoid situations that traumatize the psyche, stress.
Drug treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor. If tachycardia arose due to problems with the thyroid gland, then thyrostatics will be prescribed to the patient (“Merkazolil”).
Beta-blockers, such as Oxprenolol and Pindolol, are considered good rhythm correctors. If drugs of this group are contraindicated, then they are replaced by calcium antagonists. The best are Diltiazem and Verapamil.
If anemia became the cause of tachycardia, then you will need to take trace elements, vitamins and iron preparations. For example, Ferrum Lek. In case of heart failure, in addition to beta-blockers and other antiarrhythmics, Digoxin, Celanide and other glycosides are prescribed.
The neurogenic form of the disease is treated by a psychotherapist and a neurologist. Therapy is accompanied by sedatives (Luminal, Relanium), tranquilizers, as well as Afobazol, Adaptol, herbal teas, hawthorn, valerian, motherwort, etc.
Sinus bradycardia: causes
With this phenomenon, the rhythm of the heart also goes astray. The only thing that is observed is not acceleration, but a slowdown in rhythm - less than 60-50 beats per minute. Bradycardia, like tachycardia, may be the norm. No need to worry if it is caused by the following reasons:
- Good physical fitness. In people who are accustomed to increased stress, the rhythm at rest slows down.
- Moderate hypothermia.
- Age.
- Idiopathic bradycardia.
- Stimulation of reflex zones.
Also, bradycardia can be a side effect of taking certain medications. But the rhythm of the heart goes astray for other reasons, among which there are pathological ones. Often, bradycardia is caused by something from the following list:
- Cardiopsychoneurosis.
- Pressure on the carotid sinus.
- Neurosis with autonomic dysfunction.
- Pressure on the eyeballs.
- Increased intracranial pressure.
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
- Myxedema.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Cardiosclerosis
- Myocardial dystrophy.
- Myocarditis.
Bradycardia is also toxic. It develops with hepatitis, sepsis, uremia, poisoning with organophosphorus compounds, typhoid fever, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, etc.
Symptoms and treatment of baricardia
Signs of a lost heart rhythm in case of baricardia include the following manifestations:
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
- Half-fainting state.
- Fatigue.
- Labored breathing.
- Fluctuations in blood pressure.
- Chest discomfort.
- Short-term visual disturbances.
- Impaired memory and concentration.
- Episodes of confused thinking.
Bradycardia is not accompanied by circulatory disorders, and the development of clinical symptoms does not cause. But in extreme, advanced cases, the brain experiences hypoxia. That is why loss of consciousness and convulsions often occur. These are dangerous conditions and they require emergency medical care. Otherwise, respiratory activity may stop.
So, if due to bradycardia the heart rate goes astray - what should I do? If it has an extracardial, toxic or organic form, then the therapy is directed to the treatment of the underlying disease. For hemodynamic disorders, drugs containing caffeine, ephedrine, isoprenaline, eleutherococcus extract, ginseng root, belladonna, etc. are prescribed.
Paroxysmal tachycardia
This phenomenon also needs to be addressed. If a person complains that his heart sometimes goes astray, there is a chance that he has paroxysmal tachycardia. These are attacks with a frequency of contractions from 140 to 220 (or more) beats per minute. They arise under the influence of ectopic impulses.
By etiology, this phenomenon is similar to extrasystole. The causes of its occurrence are usually the following:
- Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
- Sclerotic, dystrophic, necrotic, inflammatory lesions of the heart muscle.
- Coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, malformations.
- Longitudinal dissociation.
- The influence of psychoemotional factors.
Paroxysmal tachycardia always begins suddenly and distinctly. Ends the same way. But the duration may vary. In some people, it lasts a few seconds. Others have 2-3 days.
First, a person feels a push in the heart, which passes into a rapid heartbeat. In parallel, the following symptoms are observed:
- Dizziness.
- A noise in the head.
- Feeling of constriction of the heart.
- Sweating.
- Nausea.
- Light subfebrile condition.
- Flatulence.
When the rhythm normalizes, polyuria occurs - increased urination. Urine is allocated in large volume. It has a low density and light color.
If the rhythm of the heart and breathing are lost precisely because of paroxysmal tachycardia, treatment should be started as soon as possible. A prolonged condition can lead to low blood pressure, persistent weakness, and regular fainting.
Therapy of paroxysmal tachycardia
If it is precisely because of this that the heart rhythm goes astray, the doctor will prescribe treatment taking into account the duration of the attacks, the form of arrhythmia, and also the presence or absence of complications.
Often patients are hospitalized. If seizures occur more than twice a month, then surgical treatment may be prescribed.
To urgently stop paroxysm, you need to resort to one of the vagal maneuvers. This is a test of Valsalva, Ashner and Chermak-Goering, straining, inducing a gag reflex, rubbing with cold water, etc.
Emergency care involves the introduction into the vein of universal antiarrhythmics. The most effective are Novokainamid, Propranolol, Aimalin, Quinidine, Rhythmodan, Etmozin, Isoptin, Kordaron.
Even those patients whose heart goes astray for a few seconds are required to see a cardiologist. Only a doctor can determine the scope and schedule of antiarrhythmic therapy.
Extrasystole
Perhaps a person has this type of violation, if he noticed that his heart rhythm has long gone astray. Therefore, it is also worth telling about the causes, signs and treatment of extrasystole.
This violation is characterized by extraordinary contractions of the entire heart muscle or its individual parts. It manifests itself with such symptoms:
- Feeling of a sinking heart.
- Lack of air.
- Anxiety.
- Angina pectoris. It occurs due to a decrease in cardiac output.
- Fainting, paresis.
- Interruptions and fading in the work of the heart.
- Hot flashes.
- Discomfort, weakness, sweating.
The causes of extrasystole include such factors:
- Chemical and nutritional factors.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Smoking.
- Drugs.
- Vegetative dystonia.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
- Neurosis.
- Myocardial lesions.
- Fever, thyrotoxicosis.
- Violation of the ratio of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium ions in myocardial cells.
If due to extrasystole the rhythm of the heart goes astray - what should I do? First of all, contact a cardiologist and a neurologist. Typically, patients are prescribed sedation (tincture of peony, lemon balm, motherwort), sedatives ("Diazelam", "Rudotel").
But this is just an example. The dosage of the antiarrhythmic medication is prescribed and selected only after Holter ECG monitoring. As a rule, drugs such as Sotalol, Procainamide, Lidocaine, Amiodoron, Quinidine, Diltiazem and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate are prescribed.
Atrial fibrillation
This phenomenon is also called atrial fibrillation. This disorder is characterized by atrial contraction with a frequency of 350-700 per minute. It is the most common type of arrhythmia. And if a person thinks about why the heart rate goes astray, then it is likely that he suffers from fibrillation.
The following conditions contribute to the occurrence of this pathology:
- Coronary artery disease.
- Tumor and inflammatory myocardial lesions.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Heart defects.
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart failure.
- Diabetes.
- Increased thyroid function.
- Overweight problems.
- Obstructive processes in the lungs of a chronic nature.
- Moved operations.
- Electric shock.
- Alcohol addiction.
Symptoms of fibrillation are as follows:
- Pain in the heart and chest discomfort.
- Weakness.
- Dizziness and even fainting.
- Frequent urination.
- Dyspnea.
- Changing the quality of life.
- Reduced exercise tolerance.
- Violation of sensitivity.
Any, even minor manifestations cannot be ignored. And about a minimally expressed course, a cardioembolic stroke can occur, fraught with neurological disorders and other unpleasant consequences.
Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Above, the reasons and signs inherent for this violation were considered. The heart rate went astray and the doctor diagnosed atrial fibrillation? It's time to start treatment. It can be aimed at one of the following goals:
- Sinus rhythm restoration.
- Prevention of thromboembolism.
- Prevention of disruption of the rhythm.
- Maintenance of emergency situations.
Initially, the doctor prescribes medication. If it turns out to be ineffective, then you have to switch to electropulse therapy. In an extreme case, radiofrequency ablation is prescribed - treatment by radio waves.
For medical rhythm recovery, slow calcium and sodium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, as well as potassium and magnesium preparations are used.
Bradyarrhythmia
This is the last type of violation of the most common, which is characterized by a violation of the heart rhythm. Bradyarrhythmias have a reduction rate of less than 60 beats per minute.
This phenomenon is due to a variety of reasons. The danger of this violation is that if the number of strokes is less than 45 per minute, then the risk of loss of consciousness increases significantly.
Various arrhythmias are called bradyarrhythmias - atrioventricular and sinoatrial blockages, a stop of the sinus node, syndrome of its weakness, replacing rhythms, blockade of the legs of the bundle of His.
In fact, problems associated with a heartbeat can indicate any pathology. There are dozens of them. Therefore, to clarify the reasons and obtain competent medical advice, you need to go to a cardiologist. The type of rhythm disturbance, the degree of change in conductivity, the type of blockade, the direction of propagation of the excitation waves, and many other features can be determined after an ECG.