Furthermore, this problem occurs because of a disturbance in electrical impulses that regulate the heart rate.
Types of Heart Rhythm Disorders (Arrhythmias)
There are five common types of arrhythmias.
1. Bradycardia
Bradycardia is a condition in which the heart beats too slow, less than 60 beats per minute. Bradycardia is most common in elderly people, but it is also possible to occur in young people.
2. Supraventricular Tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia is a condition in which the heart beats very rapidly, more than 100 beats per minute. The rapid heart rate begins in or involves the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
3. Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia, similar to supraventricular tachycardia, is a condition in which the heart beats very rapidly, more than 100 beats per minute. The difference is the rapid heart rate begins in the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
4. Ventricular Fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats much faster irregularly and uncontrolled, sometimes reaches 300 beats per minute. This messy heartbeat causes only a small amount of blood to be pumped from the heart to the brain and body. This condition can cause the sufferer to lose consciousness or fainting.
5. Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats rapid irregularly with high contraction rates. Atrial fibrillation causes blood to accumulate in the atria. Over time this condition can cause the formation of blood clots. Those blood clots can flow from the heart to the brain and block the blood vessels of the brain, thus causing a stroke. Anyway, besides observe the blood clots, it is a good idea to know signs of clogged heart.
Symptoms
An abnormal heart rhythm causes a person often to experience the following things.
- Get tired quickly
- Headache
- Hard to breathe
- Pain in the chest
- Nearly fainted or fainted
If you experience any of the above symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Early treatment will prevent worse conditions that may occur.
Causes of Heart Rhythm Disorders (Arrhythmias)
Arrhythmias that are not treated properly can be fatal. It is therefore important to know the causes of arrhythmias in order to take appropriate measures against a person with arrhythmias.
1. Interference on Electrical Impulse
In the body there are nerve cells that specifically send the electrical impulse to the heart that signals the heart to beat. The presence of interference on the electrical impulse makes the heart beat more slowly. This is called bradycardia.
2. Excessive Electrical Impulse to the Heart
Excessive electrical impulse makes the heart beat faster, causing changes in the heart rhythm. This is called tachycardia.
3. Injury to the Heart
If the heart is injured, then the heart function will be disturbed. This will certainly make the heartbeat become abnormal, either faster or slower, which eventually leads to arrhythmias.
4. Changes in Heart Structure
Changes in heart structure will also affect the rate of heartbeat in the body. For example, changes caused by cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is associated with abnormalities in the heart muscle. The heart muscle enlarges, thickens or becomes stiff. The muscle tissue of the heart can also turn into scar tissue.
As a result the heart is weakened and unable to pump blood throughout the body. The heart also fails to maintain its normal rhythm and this leads to arrhythmias. The worst consequence is the occurrence of heart failure or the onset of heart valve problems.
5. Blockage in Arteries
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. If there is a blockage in the arteries, the heart will pump harder in order to distribute blood throughout the body. This causes a change in the intensity and rhythm of the heart so that eventually lead to arrhythmia.
6. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of heart rhythm disorder. High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Thus causes a change in the heart rhythm, which is beating faster. Inevitably, this will certainly lead to arrhythmias.
7. Diabetes Melitus
Research shows people with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a greater risk for developing heart rhythm disorders. The published study noted that patients with DM were at 40% greater risk of developing atrial fibrillation than patients without.
Nevertheless, until now the researchers still can not fully understand how DM can cause arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias are the most common heart rhythm disorders in patients with DM, which unfortunately can lead to death or cardiovascular complications. Speaking of DM, there are some fruits for diabetes need to be aware.
8. Hyperthyroidism
An overactive thyroid gland, a small gland in the neck, can cause arrhythmia. This is because thyroid hormone affects heart function. Hyperthyroidism increases heartbeat and cardiac output, giving extra pressure on the heart. Excess thyroid hormone causes a disturbance in the heart’s electrical impulses that can trigger atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia.
9. Smoking
There are a lot of risks associated with smoking, one of which is arrhythmia. Nicotine causes the amount of hormone catecholamines released by the body to increase.
This gives more stimulation to the heart cells and eventually can trigger arrhythmias. In addition, cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and oxygen radicals that can cause hypoxia (low oxygen in the tissues) and in the end can also trigger arrhythmias. Therefore quit smoking is a better option. Just in case, you need to learn how to get rid of side effects of quitting smoking.
10. Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine has a stimulant effect that causes heart palpitations. While alcohol, based on research in 2004, can trigger arrhythmia in 34 percent of patients.
11. Medicine
There are certain medications that have the effect to speed up or slow down the heartbeat. Make sure you see your doctor before taking that kind of medicine.
12. Stress
Stress can affect the work of the heart. As stress increases, the heart works harder. Therefore stress must be managed. And it is also good for you to learn how to get good sleep when stressed.
13. Energy Drinks
It’s no secret that energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine. However, the arrhythmia which is triggered by caffeine is considered less serious. Only people who have heart problems should avoid caffeine.
Well, we have discussed the causes of heart rhythm disorder. If you feel the symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Early treatment will increase the chances of healing and may prevent complications.