What is an arrhythmia?
A cardiac arrhythmia is an electrical problem with the heart, caused by a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular. It covers a range of conditions from transient loss of consciousness (T-LOC) and Reflex Anoxic Seizures, to Cardiomyopathy and Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
There are essentially two main things that can go wrong with the heart: the plumbing and the electrics. Many of us are keenly aware of the heart’s plumbing problems, yet we remain largely unaware of the electrical faults which cause an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias can occur in the upper chambers of the heart, (atria), or in the lower chambers of the heart, (ventricles). Arrhythmias may occur at any age. Some are barely perceptible, whereas others can be more dramatic and can even lead to sudden cardiac death.
There are two basic types of arrhythmia, with variations of each:
- Bradycardia – a heart rate that is too slow, usually less than 60 beats per minute.
- Tachycardia – a heart rate that is too fast, usually more than 100 beats per minute.
Causes:
- The heart’s natural pacemaker (the SA node) develops an abnormal rhythm.
- The normal conduction pathway is interrupted or blocked.
- Electrical impulses originate from another part of the heart.
How can you be affected by an arrhythmia?
Some symptoms are barely perceptible; while others are so dramatic that they can cause cardiovascular collapse and death.
Symptoms can include:
- Premature beats, palpitations or skipped beats;
- Dizziness;
- Fatigue;
- Light-headedness;
- Fainting or near fainting.
Key facts about arrhythmias:
It is important to ‘Know Your Pulse’ because in the UK:
- More than 2 million people have an arrhythmia (diagnosed and undiagnosed).
- 1.2 million people have an irregular heartbeat (Atrial Fibrillation), both diagnosed and undiagnosed.
- 120,000 people experience unexplained loss of consciousness each year.
- There are 100,000 Sudden Cardiac Arrests every year; the equivalent of 250 people each day.
- 30% of adults and 39% of children are misdiagnosed with epilepsy when in fact they have a heart rhythm disorder.
- The number one killer is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (caused by arrhythmias), which leads to more deaths than breast cancer, lung cancer and AIDS combined.
- 1 in 4 stroke patients are admitted in AF.
- Over a 40 year time period, AF almost doubles the risk of death.
Diagnosis
Correct diagnosis is obtained in a number of ways. An Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) diagnoses arrhythmias by recording the timing of atrial and ventricular contractions. A Holter Monitor is a device that can record 24 hours of ECG signals and an event monitor can last up to about 30 days. For arrhythmias that occur less frequently, an Insertable Loop Recorder can be implanted under the skin of the chest to record heart activity for more than a year. A simple exercise test on a treadmill may be used in order to provoke an arrhythmia, whereas a tilt-table test might be used to induce fainting. An Electrophysiological study (EP study) can also be done to manually stimulate the heart to induce fast heart rhythms, which may be an indication that the patient is prone to dangerous arrhythmias.
For further information on arrhythmias contact Arrhythmia Alliance
www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 01789 450 787
Email: info@heartrhythmcharity.org.uk
