SERVICES & PROCEDURES
ABNORMAL HEART RHYTHMS (ARRHYTHMIAS)
OVERVIEW
Abnormal heart rhythms, also known as an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmias, may affect prevent blood circulation and blood flow to the heart and brain. Through proper diagnosis, arrhythmias may be monitored and treated through various approaches.
Abnormal heart rhythms and problems with heart rhythm are known as heart arrhythmias. They occur when the sinoatrial (SA) node that makes electrical impulses to coordinate your heartbeats doesn't work properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.
Depending on the type of abnormality, symptoms may vary. The different types of arrhythmias include:
- Atrial fibrillation - this is an irregular heartbeat that causes symptoms such as fluttering in the chest, chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness.
- Bradyarrhythmia - this type of arrhythmia is caused by an abnormally slow heartbeat. When the heart’s rhythm is too slow to meet the metabolic demands of the body, it causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting.
- Tachyarrhythmias - this type is categorised by an abnormally fast heartbeat causing heart palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting.
While some heart arrhythmias can cause harmless symptoms, others can be life-threatening and thus, diagnosis, and continuous monitoring is essential.
Arrhythmias may be caused by damage to the heart from a previous heart attack, valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or congenital heart defects. To diagnose you with an irregular heartbeat your cardiologist may run some tests including an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the rhythm, length of heartbeats and identify abnormalities while an exercise stress test will help evaluate the electrical activity generated by the heart when it is at rest and when exercising. A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound known as an echocardiogram, may also be done to get a better image of the structure of the heart, including the chambers and valves.
In some cases, it may be helpful to evaluate the heartbeat continuously during a 24 hour period. In such cases, a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) machine or Holter monitor may be worn to provide your cardiologist with more data.
A variety of approaches can be taken for the treatment of arrhythmia. Once Dr Naicker is aware of the type of arrhythmia, and its possible cause, treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm may include medications to slow a rapid heartbeat or stabilise the irregular heartbeat and prevent blood clots. An implantable device such as a pacemaker or an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) may also be used to maintain normal heart rhythms.
Irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation) and abnormally fast arrhythmias (tachyarrhythmias) that fail to respond to medication may also benefit from a procedure known as electric cardioversion or defibrillation. During this procedure, an electrical shock is sent to the heart with electrodes to briefly stop the heart to reset the rhythm and fix the irregular heartbeat. Electrical cardioversion is usually performed in a hospital, under conscious sedation.