Arrhythmia

BY Bhumiphat Srivaranon, Chate Therdkiet, Shinnisha Chulapongwanich

EDITED BY Jittanan Tirawatthanaprapha

What is Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is the abnormality of the heart rhythm. The effects of Arrhythmia reside on a wide spectrum,—from completely harmless to critical conditions like cardiac arrest. The causes of arrhythmia are usually common acts, details will be explained in the article below. While most people experience harmless arrhythmia, it is still a necessity to get checkups to ensure one’s safety.

Risk factors

- Age: As one gets older, the electric system of the heart may sometimes function incorrectly and less efficiently, which can cause irregular heart rhythms.

- Heart disease: existing heart conditions can cause disruptions to the electrical activity of the heart. Examples of these heart diseases include coronary artery disease, heart failure, previous heart attacks, or congenital heart defects.

- High blood pressure: Chronic high blood pressure can strain the heart and affect the structure of the heart muscle, which increases the risk of arrhythmia.

- Diabetes: Diabetes can harm the nerves that control the heart, potentially leading to arrhythmia, especially when it is not properly managed.

- Thyroid problems: The natural cardiac rhythm can be hampered by either an overactive (hyperthyroidism) or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

- Family history: If one has a family member with a history of arrhythmias, the risk could be elevated as a result of possible hereditary influences.

- Lifestyle factors: Arrhythmias can occur as a result of particular lifestyle decisions and routines. These include excessive use of alcohol or caffeine, smoking, abusing medications (especially stimulant substances), and being overly stressed.

- Obesity: More than usual strain on the heart can be caused by being overweight, which increases the odds of arrhythmia.

- Sleep apnea: This sleep disorder, characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, is related to an increased risk of arrhythmia, notably atrial fibrillation.

- Medications and substances: Arrhythmia is a possible side effect of some drugs, including those for asthma, high blood pressure, or mental disorders. Arrhythmias can also be caused by using illegal substances, particularly cocaine and amphetamines.

Cause of Arrhythmia

Coronary artery disease(CAD):A blocked coronary artery could lead to heart failure and ischemic conditions. It is possible that it will later develop into cardiac arrhythmia

Irritable cardiocytes: Cardiac Arrhythmia could be considered as congenital defects in this types of Arrhythmia because Heart cell can be malfunction since birth and sent out electrical impulses when they shouldn’t and ruined heart rhythm

High blood pressure : High blood pressure can’t cause Arrhythmia by itself but it can lead to Hypertension(HTN) which is a common risk factor for Coronary artery disease

That could later on cause the Arrhythmia

Change in heart muscle(Cardiomyopathy):Is enlarge,stiffen or thicken myocardium

During this time your heart is weaken and could lead to heart failure or Cardiac arrhythmia

Valvular disease:Cardiac valve disorder is improper closure of the valve or malfunction of it causing what’s called turbulent flow

Electrocytes imbalance:Amount of electrolytes can cause electrical impulse in

The atria when each electrolyte is imbalance the sinoatrial node send a false impulse which cause false rhythm heart beat and develop into atria fibrillation which is a types of arrhythmia with an irregular rhythm

Heart attack(HA):causing by a blocked coronary artery ischemia occur and later on dead tissue that died because of an ischemic events will be the cause of an Arrhythmia if not treated or recover

Healing process of heart surgery:After a heart surgery the heart will undergo a healing process which your heart potential is reduced from the normal level the it could achieve the recover process could take up to three month after the surgery

Others medical condition:it’s up to each individual symptoms and condition but some condition could also cause false rhythmic beat

Symptoms

• Chest pain

• Dyspnoea

• Collapse

• Irregular heartbeat(fast or slow)

Treatment

There are various treatment options available to help with arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm, restore normal cardiac function, and improve the quality of life for patients. Treatment approaches can range from small-scale lifestyle changes and medication to larger-scale interventions.

Small-scale treatments often involve lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol, managing stress levels, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. Medications, known as antiarrhythmics, are commonly prescribed to control irregular heart rhythms, with the specific type and dosage dependent on the severity and type of arrhythmia.

On a larger scale, treatment options include cardioversion, a procedure using electric shock or medications to restore a normal heart rhythm, which can be performed in an emergency situation. Another approach is catheter ablation, where a catheter delivers energy such as radiofrequency or cryoablation to modify the abnormal heart tissue causing the arrhythmia.

Implantable devices such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are devices used to treat specific types of arrhythmia by regulating the heart rate or improving heart coordination and pumping efficiency.

In some cases, surgical procedures such as open-heart surgery are performed to create scar tissue and redirect electrical signals, restoring a normal rhythm. In extreme cases, lifestyle support, including managing underlying health conditions and adopting a "heart-healthy" lifestyle, proves beneficial in preventing and managing arrhythmias.

Reference:

“Arrhythmia | Irregular Heartbeat.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/arrhythmia.html.

“Atrial Fibrillation & Cardiac Arrhythmias.” Dr Young Yu · Cardiologist · Sydney, www.dryoungyu.com/atrial-fibrillation-and-cardiac-arrhythmias.

“Heart Arrhythmia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Apr. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20350668. Accessed 17 June 2023.

professional, Cleveland Clinic medical. “What You Need to Know about Arrhythmias.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16749-arrhythmia.

“What Is an Arrhythmia?” Www.Heart.Org, 5 Apr. 2023, www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia.