Cardiac Arrhythmia

Cardiac Arrhythmia

Any kind of irregularity in the heart beat is known as cardiac arrhythmia. Heart rate is controlled by a number of factors. These include the sympathetic and parasympathetic impulses. Cardiac arrhythmias can be very benign or can even be life threatening. They can manifest as rapid or irregular heartbeats such as premature beats or as ventricular tachycardias or fibrillation. Many a times, cardiac arrhythmias may be the first manifestation of an underlying cardiac ailment.

Causes:

• Harmless arrhythmias maybe produced due to severe anxiety and stress.
• Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco and nicotine can spur on arryhtmias.
• Certain metabolic factors such as diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia etc.
• Endocrinal disorders like hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, hypothyroidism, hyperaldosteronism etc.
• Electrolyte disturbances like hypokalemia, alterations in magnesium levels, hyperkalemia, hypernatremia etc.
• Drug toxicity caused by drugs like digitalis, diuretics, antidepressants, phenothiazone etc.
• Other heart ailments like ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease etc.

Symptoms:

There are various types of arrhythmias that may manifest themselves as irregular heart beats in the form of occasional premature heartbeats, ventricular tachycardias and ventricular fibrillation. They can also manifest as extra systoles or ectopic beats, supraventricular ectopic beats, ventricular premature beats etc.

Treatment:

• The basic approach of management of arrhythmias is to make an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cardiac condition. This can be done by taking a detailed history so as to look out for signs that suggest a specific disease or condition.
• Depending on the type of condition that is causing the arrhythmia, specific drugs will be administered. These include beta blockers like propranolol, acebutalol and atenolol. Other drugs are procainamide, diazepam, lignocaine etc.
• Some cases may require surgical placement of automated external defibrillators.

Antiarrhythmic Drugs:

There are a number of antiarrhythmic medications now available, each with its own unique mechanism of action. However, it is very important for the antiarrhythmic drug to be carefully selected and administered under medical supervision. The drugs are administered to slow down electrical abnormality and induce 'rate control', to make the condition physically tolerable. Anticoagulant medication like heparin and warfarin help to reduce blood clotting.