Do you have an irregular heartbeat?
When your heart’s electrical impulses are either too fast, slow or inconsistent, you may have a condition known as arrhythmia — sometimes referred to as an irregular heartbeat. This negatively affects the heart’s ability to adequately pump blood throughout the body.
The most common type of arrhythmia is a form of tachycardia. Tachycardia is when the heart beats too quickly, which is classified as more than 100 beats per minute. Bradycardia is when the heart beats too slow at less than 60 beats per minute.
Tachycardia is also known as atrial fibrillation, or AFib. According to the American Heart Association, five million Americans are living with AFib. This number is expected to jump to more than 12 million by 2030.
During AFib, the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly and may result in the formation of a blood clot inside of the heart, specifically if you have other cardiac risk factors. This can even cause a stroke. In fact, between 15 to 20% of people who experience a stroke have AFib.
Many things can cause arrhythmia; however, the heart’s electrical system is often to blame. Other common causes are prior injury from a heart attack or surgery, heart failure, excessive alcohol, nicotine or diet pills.
Symptoms of an irregular heartbeat include:
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- A pounding sensation in the chest
- Shortness of breath
Diagnosis and treatment
In some cases, a person notices their irregular heartbeat and brings it to the attention of their health care provider. Other times, arrhythmia is caught during a physical exam when a clinician is listening to a patient’s heart. Additional testing is typically ordered to confirm the diagnosis. A patient may undergo a variety of tests, including an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, Holter monitor or stress test.
Depending on a person’s arrhythmia type and individual health, treatment of irregular heartbeat can vary. For some, medication and lifestyle changes can help get the condition under control. In other cases, further treatment options are necessary.
One treatment involves directly targeting the tissue causing the arrhythmia through a procedure known as cardiac ablation. In other cases, mild electrical shock may be used to restore normal heart rhythm. For some patients, it may be most appropriate to implant a small device to make sure the heart’s rhythm is corrected.
With the right treatment, people with arrhythmia can lead healthy, normal lives.
Dr. Mohsin Khan is an electrophysiologist at Aurora Health Care.
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