- Causes of cardiac arrhythmia
- Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia
- Treatment for benign arrhythmia
- Treatment for malignant arrhythmia
Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia usually only appear when it is a malignant disease, which causes tiredness and a feeling of weakness, dizziness, malaise, fainting, fast or slow heartbeat, a feeling of tightness in the throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, pallor and cold sweat.
These symptoms can affect people with a healthy heart or those with installed heart disease, such as high blood pressure or heart failure, when the symptoms may be more pronounced.
Therefore, when feeling these signs or when you have problems with your heart, it is important to consult the cardiologist at least once a year, to make the appropriate treatment and prevent complications. See 12 signs that can indicate heart problems.
Causes of cardiac arrhythmia
The causes of cardiac arrhythmia are diverse. Among them, we can highlight:
- High blood pressure; Coronary heart disease; Thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism; Chemical blood imbalances such as altered sodium, potassium or calcium concentration; Some drugs such as beta-blockers, psychotropics and amphetamines; Heart disease; Vigorous physical exercise; Complication after cardiac surgery; Heart failure or history of heart attack; Chagas disease; Anemia; Aging.
Other factors such as excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, anxiety and stress can also precipitate a cardiac arrhythmia.
Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia
The treatment for cardiac arrhythmia will depend on the arrhythmia in question, the symptoms presented by the patient and the presence or absence of other heart diseases.
Treatment for benign arrhythmia
In case of benign cardiac arrhythmia, no treatment is necessary, but the cardiologist may indicate taking medications with the intention of reducing the symptoms of tachycardia and performing periodic examinations.
Treatment for malignant arrhythmia
In case of malignant cardiac arrhythmia, treatment should be based on the type of arrhythmia and can be through:
- Medicines: propafenone, sotalol, dofetilide, amiodarone and ibutilide; Pacemaker surgery: the device will assume the command of the heartbeat according to the doctor's schedule; Electric cardioversion: it is used to reorganize the heart rhythm, usually after attempts with injectable drugs; Ablation surgery: a type of cauterization, producing an extremely localized and precise burn, which will prevent or hinder new arrhythmia attacks; Change in lifestyle: stop consuming alcohol, drugs, coffee, coca-cola, some types of tea, cigarettes and drugs.
It is important to highlight that malignant arrhythmias can worsen with physical effort, causing complications such as heart failure and death, therefore, as soon as the symptoms are noticed, a cardiologist should be sought so that the conducts are instituted as soon as possible.
To avoid cardiovascular disease, see 7 tips to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke.
