- Causes of cardiac arrhythmia
- 1. Anemia
- 2. Anxiety and stress
- 3. Severe hypothyroidism
- 4. Coronary heart disease
- 5. Diseases of the heart muscle
- 6. Valvulopathies
- 7. Infectious diseases, such as Chagas disease
- 8. Congenital heart disease
- Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms
- Diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia
- Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia
- Is cardiac arrhythmia curable?
Cardiac arrhythmia is any change in the rhythm of the heartbeat, which can cause it to beat faster, slower or simply out of rhythm. The frequency of heartbeats in a minute considered normal in an individual at rest, is between 60 to 100.
Cardiac arrhythmia can be benign or malignant, with benign types being the most common. Benign cardiac arrhythmias are those that do not alter the function and performance of the heart and do not pose greater risks of death, and can be controlled with medication and physical activity. Malignant ones, on the other hand, worsen with effort or exercise and can lead to death.
Causes of cardiac arrhythmia
The causes of cardiac arrhythmia can be:
1. Anemia
Anemia is a reduction in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood to values below normal, causing symptoms such as excessive tiredness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, loss of memory and poor appetite. See what type of anemia may be the cause of the arrhythmia.
2. Anxiety and stress
Stress and anxiety can cause various health problems due to altered cortisol production, causing symptoms such as changes in heart rate, sweating, tremors, dizziness or dry mouth, for example. Learn how to control stress and anxiety.
3. Severe hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism consists of low thyroid activity, which does not produce enough hormones to satisfy the body's needs, causing numerous symptoms. See which and how to treat this disease.
4. Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease consists of the obstruction of the blood vessels that irrigate the heart, due to the accumulation of fatty plaques inside, making it difficult for blood to pass to the heart. See what the symptoms and how is the treatment of coronary heart disease.
5. Diseases of the heart muscle
These diseases arise when the heart has difficulty in pumping blood throughout the body, causing symptoms such as tiredness, night cough or swelling in the legs at the end of the day.
6. Valvulopathies
Valvulopathies are diseases that affect the heart valves, such as the tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary and aortic valves, hampering their functioning and may cause symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain or swelling.
7. Infectious diseases, such as Chagas disease
Chagas disease is caused by the bite of a mosquito infected by a parasite called Trypanossoma cruzi, which can cause heart problems such as enlargement of the heart's ventricles and heart failure. Find out how this disease is treated.
8. Congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease is characterized by a change in the structure of the heart that forms before birth.
In addition to these diseases, there are other factors that can cause arrhythmia, such as side effects of some medications, use of drugs, strenuous exercise, heart cell failures, changes in sodium, potassium and calcium concentrations in the body or complications after surgery cardiac
Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms
Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia can be:
- Heart palpitation and fast pulse; Tightness in the throat; Dizziness; Fainting; Feeling weak; Easy tiredness; Chest pain; Shortness of breath; Malaise
In some cases, the symptoms are not present and the doctor only discovers the disease when checking the individual's pulse or when performing a cardiac auscultation, having to perform an electrocardiogram to confirm the presence of arrhythmia.
Diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia
The diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia can be made through tests such as:
- Electrocardiogram; 24-hour Holter; Exercise test; Electrophysiological study (EPS); Tilt test.
The cardiologist is the one who must order and evaluate these tests and it is not necessary to do all of them to reach the diagnosis.
Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia
Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia will depend on the type of arrhythmia. It can be performed through medication, pacemaker, lifestyle change or in some cases, ablation surgery.
Cardiac pacemaker placement is indicated for individuals who have certain types of low-frequency arrhythmias. You must follow the treatment correctly and for life, as some types of cardiac arrhythmia can kill. See what care is needed after placing the pacemaker.
Some examples of remedies used in cardiac arrhythmia are: propafenone, sotalol, dofetilide, amiodarone and ibutilide.
Is cardiac arrhythmia curable?
Cardiac arrhythmias can be cured or controlled when diagnosed in time. They can be reversed with the treatment of their causes, using specific medications or implanting a pacemaker or cardiodefibrillators.
