Irregular Heartbeat: Causes, and Treatment

An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It means that your heart is out of its usual rhythm. Your heart may seem to skip a beat, add a beat, or "pound." You may feel it beating too fast (what doctors call tachycardia) or too slow (called bradycardia), or you may notice nothing.

Arrhythmias may indicate a medical emergency or they may be harmless. If you feel something unusual is happening with your heartbeat, seek medical help immediately so that doctors can find out why it is happening and what to do about it.

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Types of Irregular Heartbeat

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Atrial fibrillation

This is the irregular heartbeat of the atrial chambers and almost always involves tachycardia. A-fib, or atrial fibrillation, is a prevalent condition that primarily affects persons over 65. The chamber rattles or fibrillates rather than contracting forcefully in one go, which frequently results in a fast heartbeat.

Atrial Flutter

While fibrillation causes many random tremors in the atrium, atrial flutter usually comes from an area of the atrium that does not conduct properly. This produces a constant pattern in abnormal cardiac conduction.

Supraventricular Tachycardia

A rapid but rhythmically normal heartbeat leads to the condition known as supraventricular tachycardia arrhythmias (SVT). A person may experience a burst of racing heartbeat that can last from a few seconds to a few hours.

Ventricular Tachycardia

This disorder corresponds to irregular electrical impulses that cause an abnormally rapid heartbeat originating in the ventricles. It also occurs if the heart has a wound from a recent heart attack.

Ventricular Fibrillation

This is an irregular heart rhythm comprising fast, uncoordinated, fluttering contractions of the ventricles. The ventricles do not pump blood but tremble. Ventricular fibrillation is associated with heart disease and has the potential to be fatal. Usually, a heart attack sets it off.

Long QT Syndrome

This condition is the name given to a cardiac rhythm abnormality that may result in an erratic and fast heartbeat. This can lead to fainting, which can be life-threatening. It can also occur because of genetic susceptibility or from taking certain medications.

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Causes of Irregular Heartbeat

Any interruption of the electrical impulses that stimulate the heart's contractions can cause arrhythmia.

Several factors can cause the heart to malfunction, including:

Long-term arrhythmia is nearly never experienced by a person in a healthy heart until there's an external trigger, like an electric shock or a substance use issue. However, improper electrical impulse transmission across the heart may be the result of an underlying cardiac condition. This increases the risk of arrhythmia.

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Diagnosis of Irregular Heartbeat

During your physical examination, your doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope. They may also use an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) to look at the electrical impulses in your heart. This will help them determine if your heart rhythm is abnormal and identify the cause.

Echocardiography

This procedure also uses sound waves to capture photographs of the pulse, known as a cardiac echo.

Holter monitor

Wear this monitor for at least 24 hours while doing your normal activities. It allows your doctor to track changes in your heart rate throughout the day.

Stress test

Your doctor will use a treadmill to have you walk or run in order to monitor how activity affects your heart.

Tilt table test (also called passive head-up tilt test or upright head tilt test)

It records blood pressure and heart rate minute by minute while the table is tilted in a head position up at different levels. The test results can be used to estimate your heart rate, blood pressure, and sometimes other measurements as you change your position.

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Treatment of Irregular Heartbeat

The etiology of an arrhythmia determines how to treat it. You might have to alter your diet or amount of activity in order to lead a healthier lifestyle.

You may also need medicine to control abnormal heartbeats and any secondary symptoms. For serious abnormalities that do not go away with behavior changes or medications, your doctor may recommend the following:

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When to visit a Doctor?

You should see a doctor if:

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Prevention of Irregular Heartbeat

Arrhythmias cannot always be prevented. Regular doctor checkup will help you avoid further heart rhythm problems. Make sure they know all the medicines you are taking. Any medications for colds and coughs can induce arrhythmias, so speak to the doctor before taking them.

They may also recommend some lifestyle changes: