Heart rhythm problems

Heart rhythm problems develop when the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat don't work properly, resulting in fast, slow, or irregular heartbeats.

Heart arrhythmias can look like heart flutters or fast heartbeats and are harmless. Some arrhythmias are problematic and can cause life-threatening signs and symptoms

With the help of anti-arrhythmia treatment, arrhythmias can be managed and disappear Because heart arrhythmias are made worse by a weak or damaged heart, you can reduce your risk of arrhythmia by living a healthy lifestyle.

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Many things can cause an arrhythmia These include:

• Heart attack
• Heart damage caused by a previous heart attack
• Changes in the structure of the heart, such as in cardiomyopathy
• Clogged arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease)
• High blood pressure
In both halves of the heart there are two cavities - atrium and ventricle When the heart contracts, both atria first contract and pump blood into the relaxed ventricle. This contraction begins when an electrical impulse generated in the sinus node - a group of cells in the right ventricle - is transmitted to the atria.

Electrical impulses from the sinus node spread to the muscles of the atria and cause them to contract, as a result of which blood moves into the ventricles.
After that, the impulse goes to the atrioventricular (atrioventricular) node, which is located between the atria and ventricles, and then spreads to the ventricles.

Atrioventricular node slows down signal transmission This short delay helps the ventricles to fill with blood When the electrical impulse reaches the muscles of the ventricles, they contract, causing blood to be pumped to the lungs or other parts of the body.

In a healthy heart, this process takes place automatically, imperceptibly, regularly and leads to normal contraction of the heart. Its frequency is from 60 to 100 per minute Well-trained people (athletes) have a heart rate of less than 60 This is a normal occurrence

Types of arrhythmia

The classification of arrhythmias is based not only on the place of their origin, but also on the rapidity of the heartbeat developed during them.


• Tachycardia - rapid heartbeat Heart rate at rest is more than 100 beats per minute;
• Bradycardia - slow heart rate Heart rate at rest is less than 60

Not all tachycardia and bradycardia are indicative of heart disease. Tachycardia is common during exercise when the tissues need more oxygen, and bradycardia is common during sleep and rest.

Vatrial tachycardias

Atrial tachycardias include:


• Atrial fibrillation (fibrillating arrhythmia), atrial fibrillation is an acceleration of the heart rate caused by chaotic electrical impulses These signals cause rapid, uneven, and weak atrial contractions
  
  Chaotic electrical signals overload the atrioventricular node, causing the ventricles to beat irregularly, rapidly. Atrial fibrillation is often temporary, although some episodes will not stop without treatment
  Atrial fibrillation can cause serious complications, including stroke
• Physical throbbing Atrial flutter is similar to atrial fibrillation, but the heartbeat is more organized and rhythmic than in fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation can also cause serious complications, including stroke
• Supraventricular tachycardia Supraventricular tachycardia is a broad term that includes tachycardias that originate above the ventricles, in the atria, or in the sinus node.
• Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome This is a type of supraventricular tachycardia caused by the presence of an extra electrical conduction pathway inherent in the heart. Symptoms may not appear until adulthood In this conduction pathway, electrical impulses are transmitted more quickly from the atria to the ventricles, as the signals bypass the atrioventricular node. As a result, tachycardia develops

Ventricular tachycardias

Ventricular tachycardias include:


• Ventricular tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid, regular heart rate that results from abnormal foci in the ventricles. Due to tachycardia, the ventricles cannot fill properly and sufficient amount of blood is not transferred to the body Ventricular tachycardia often requires emergency care, without which it can progress to ventricular fibrillation.
• Ventricular fibrillation Ventricular fibrillation occurs when the ventricles flutter instead of pumping blood due to rapid, chaotic impulses. In a few minutes, without restoring the normal rhythm, this disease leads to death
  
  Most people who have ventricular fibrillation have other heart disease or have had a serious trauma, such as being struck by lightning.
• Prolonged QT syndrome Long QT syndrome is a heart condition that increases the risk of a fast, chaotic heartbeat A rapid heartbeat due to electrical changes in the heart can lead to loss of consciousness, which is life-threatening In some cases, the heartbeat is so erratic that it causes sudden death

You may be born with a genetic mutation that puts you at increased risk of a prolonged QT interval Many medications and some congenital heart defects also cause this syndrome

Bradycardia - slow heart rate

Bradycardia is a decrease in heart rate at rest to more than 60 beats per minute , although this is not always a pathology If you are fit, your heart can beat 60 beats per minute to pump the proper amount of blood Some medications, such as blood pressure medications, also slow the heart rate If you have a slow heart rate and your heart can't pump enough blood, you may have bradycardia. These are:


• Attenuated sinus node syndrome If your sinus node, which controls your heart's rhythm, isn't sending the perfect signals, your heart rate may slow or speed up with irregular heartbeats. Attenuated sinus node syndrome can also be caused by damage to heart tissue near the sinus node, which reduces the conduction of impulses.
• Conduction blockade Blockade of the electrical conduction pathways of the heart can develop in or near the atrioventricular node The atrioventricular node is located between the atrium and the ventricle Blockage can also develop on the way to the ventricles

Depending on the location and type of blockage, the conduction of the impulse between the upper and lower parts of the heart may be slowed or blocked. If the signal is deliberately blocked, some cells in the atrioventricular node can produce a steady but slower heart rate. Some blocks may have no symptoms, while others may cause palpitations and bradycardia. Slowing of the heart rate and conduction block can cause weakness, dizziness, and heart failure.


Premature contraction of the heart

It often looks like a skipped pulse, but premature contraction of the heart is actually an extra contraction (extrasystole). You may have extrasystoles from time to time, but this is nothing to worry about In some people, especially those with heart disease, extrasystole can cause long-term arrhythmias

Extrasystoles are often caused by stimulants such as coffee, tea and carbonated drinks;

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Arrhythmias may cause no signs or symptoms Your doctor may detect an arrhythmia during a routine check-up The presence of signs and symptoms does not indicate a serious problem

The following signs and symptoms may be noticed during an arrhythmia:


• Rapid heartbeat
• Slow heart rate
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Failing heart Other signs and symptoms may be related to decreased ability to pump blood due to a fast or slow heart rate These include shortness of breath or wheezing, weakness, dizziness, palpitations or palpitations, and chest pain or discomfort. Get help right away if you experience any of these symptoms at an unusual time
  
  Ventricular fibrillation is a form of arrhythmia that is life-threatening It occurs when the heart contracts with rapid, scattered impulses This causes the ventricles to quiver instead of pumping blood Without an effective heartbeat, blood pressure drops, cutting off blood supply to vital organs During ventricular fibrillation, a person will fall within seconds and will soon stop breathing and pulse If this happens, take the following steps:
  
  
  • Call 911
  • If there is no one around who has been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, perform indirect heart massage with your hands Continuous chest compressions about 100 times a minute until emergency help arrives While lying down, press hard and quickly on the center of the chest You do not need to perform artificial respiration
  • If you or someone around you knows CPR, start CPR to maintain blood supply to organs before defibrillation.
  • Ask if there is an automated external defibrillator somewhere nearby These devices, which deliver electrical shocks that help restore normal heart rhythms, are being found in more and more places, such as airports, police cars, etc. Sh It can also be bought for home No training required, this defibrillator will tell you when to do what It is programmed to deliver a shock only at the right time