Know the Symptoms of Arrhythmia

Perhaps each of us has ever felt palpitations in chest or racing heartbeat. Any of these sensations may signal about arrhythmia. What else may signal about this state and is it hazardous? Let's find out!

What should be known about arrhythmia?
Another name for arrhythmia is dysrhythmia. It is an anomalous or irregular heart rhythm. It is quite normal among people of all ages, but the probability of its appearance grows as a person gets older.

This condition evolves in case electrical impulses controlling the heart rhythm cannot be coordinated properly. Such abnormality makes your heart beat faster, slower, irregular or skip a beat.

There are four kinds of arrhythmia:
• Tachycardia is diagnosed when the number of heartbeats exceeds 100 per minute.
• Bradycardia may be experienced if a patient has less than 60 heartbeats per minute.
• Extra beats comprise any premature heart contractions.
• Irregular heartbeats (e.g. fibrillation).

Some of them are thought to be safe as they have no unwanted effects whereas others may provoke even life-threatening conditions.

In the majority of case increased heart rate or any other rhythm changes are considered a variant of norm, so there's no need to treat such dysrhythmia. Nevertheless, when arrhythmia is accompanied by any other heart problems, you should contact your doctor immediately as it may have hazardous or even life-threatening consequences for your health.

What may speak of arrhythmia?
The signs of arrhythmia may vary from mild to severe. Sometimes dysrhythmia may go without any signs at all and may be revealed only in the process of medical examination. Though the initial symptoms of this condition may be barely perceptible, they may grow into heart collapse and be lethal. That's why it is vital to detect arrhythmia when it only begins. To the indicators of arrhythmia belong:
• Increased heart rate;
• Slowed heartbeat;
• The feeling of palpitations in chest;
• The feeling of premature heartbeat;
• Changes in pulse. It may become too fast, slow or irregular;

When arrhythmia has grown serious, an individual may experience:
• Shortness of breath;
• Pain in chest;
• Extreme tiredness;
• Lightheadedness;
• Fainting.

If left without medical attention, serious cases of arrhythmia may provoke heart attack or stroke or even cardiac arrest and death.

How can dysrhythmia be diagnosed and treated?
To confirm or disprove arrhythmia without turning to the doctors, you should check your pulse. If it exceeds the indexes of norm or is irregular then you are possibly experiencing dysrhythmia. The other methods of determining this condition may be used only by a medical professional:
• Auscultation of the heartbeat. It is a usual procedure of any medical examination. Listening to the heart rhythm with the help of a stethoscope gives doctor a possibility to hear any rhythm changes;
• Electrocardiogram is the easiest specific method of diagnosing any type of arrhythmia;
• The use of a special device - Holter monitor, which records the person's cardiogram within 24 hours. This method is usually used in patients with transient symptoms, who may have multiple episodes of arrhythmia throughout the day.

There is no need to use medical treatment for light and short-termed dysrhythmias. Nevertheless, if this condition is frequent, durable, or has any serious symptoms or aggravating circumstances (like heart ailments), you should seek for emergency help. You are likely to start taking drugs for arrhythmia. Besides you may be recommended physical or electro therapy.