Understanding Arrhythmias

Knowing the Symptoms

An arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, can be either too slow, called bradycardia, or too fast, called tachycardia. One of the most common presenting signs is palpitations, or a racing heart. For example, someone with tachycardia might feel like they are running a marathon while just sitting on their sofa. Other signs include chest pain and syncope, or fainting, which is a very serious symptom that needs to be treated quickly.

Getting Treatment

Arrhythmia can be caused by a number of factors, including electrolyte imbalances in the body, genetic factors and narrowing of the coronary arteries which restricts oxygen to the heart. The cause determines the treatment course. Most arrhythmias can be treated with watchful waiting and by avoiding stimulants such as caffeine. However, patients with more serious cases are usually prescribed medication to regulate their heart rate. More advanced procedures called ablations, performed by electrophysiology cardiologists, can be used to change the structure of the heart to stop arrhythmias or make them less likely to occur. An intracardiac defibrillator can also be placed if there is risk of an arrhythmia occurring that could be life threatening.

Living With Arrhythmias

While some arrhythmias are mostly an inconvenience, others can lead to more devastating effects. One of such is atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat that leads to the increased formation of blood clots which can travel to the brain and cause strokes. Those cases need to be identified and treated early. If you have any concerns about arrhythmia, it is important to contact your primary care provider who will direct you to a specialist who can address your needs and answer any questions you may have. Fortunately, with proper treatment, most arrhythmias can be greatly reduced to where they no longer affect daily life.

Aaron Tang, MD, is a cardiologist with Metro Heart Group. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tang, call 636.928.WELL.