All irregularities in the beatings of the heart are known as cardiac or heart arrhythmias or simply arrhythmias. Usually, nobody pays attention to the regularly recurring heartbeats whose task is to pump the blood in the entire body. However, there are people who develop heart problems because their heart is beating too rapidly or, on the contrary, too slowly, sometimes combining paces. Such problems may be triggered by the electrical impulses which should ensure a proper synchronization of the heartbeats.
Heart arrhythmias are quite normal in the life of an individual. Most of us have experienced at least once the sensation that our heart hastened its beats or, on the contrary, slowed down the usual rhythm. Normally, such an experience is harmless. Unfortunately, not all types of arrhythmias are safe, there are arrhythmias which could be extremely hazardous, and they need to be treated accordingly.
Cardiac Arrhythmia Types
Heart arrhythmias can be of several types, each of them being unique from an origin, severity and speed point of view. Three primary categories need to be mentioned:
- Bradycardia in this case the heart is beating too slowly, namely less than sixty beats per minute
- Tachycardia in this case the heart is beating too fast, namely more than one hundred beats per minute
- Premature heartbeats a supplementary beat in between two normal ones
These kinds of arrhythmias are not necessarily perilous, quite the contrary. Whenever we feel fear, anxiety or we have just finished our regular exercise routine, our heart will have more than one hundred beats per minute, which is normal. However, if such an arrhythmia comes out of the blue, then something may be wrong with our heart.
What Parts of the Heart Cause Arrhythmia?
There is several heart chambers in which arrhythmia can be located. Usually, arrhythmias which happen in the lower parts of the heart, namely the ventricles, seem to be more perilous than arrhythmias developing in the upper parts, namely the atria, as they are called.
Arterial fibrillation: this is a type of arrhythmia which takes place in the atria, forcing the heart to start beating much too fast and in an irregular manner. This may announce a very serious problem.
Sick sinus syndrome: such problem is triggered by the malfunctioning of the SA node, which is normally in charge of the regular electrical impulses of the heart. If this is the case, the heart beats either too slowly or too fast and sometimes combining both situations.
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia: such an arrhythmia makes the heart beat in a regular manner for a while, but too fast. Habitually, this situation is not dangerous, although it could be somehow unpleasant.
Ventricular tachycardia: it is located in the ventricles, therefore the heart is beating too fast. Because of this, the body is left with insufficient blood, which might have extremely disastrous consequences. This arrhythmia must be medically treated at once.
How to Diagnose a Cardiac Arrhythmia
Do not hesitate to pay a visit to your physician if you know to have had similar symptoms as the ones mentioned earlier. The heart specialist will be able to tell you if you suffer from arrhythmia by running a few specific tests. Afterwards, if necessary, he will make suggestions regarding your treatment.
Cardiac Arrhythmia Symptoms
Ordinarily, arrhythmias generate neither signs nor symptoms. This condition is often discovered during standard check-ups. However, there are people who experience very evident symptoms and signs of heart arrhythmias, which often trigger anxiety and worries.
