Heart Rhythm Disorder or arrhythmia: Symptoms, Causes and Prevention

Arrhythmia is a condition due to abnormal heart rhythm. It can sometimes be so brief that the heart rate does not get effected or sometimes it may be so prominent that it can cause a decrease in heart rate or bradycardia or increase the heart rate or tachycardia.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of tachycardia /increased heart rate:

• Breathlessness
• Dizziness
• Fluttering in chest
• Lightheadedness
• Pain in chest
• Sudden weakness
• Fainting

Symptoms of bradycardia:

• Pain in chest
• Trouble in concentration
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Physical exercise is difficult
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Profuse sweating

Causes:

• Substance abuse
• Diabetes
• Excessive intake of caffeine
• History of cardiac disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypertension
• Smoking
• Some medication
• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Stress
• Infections or fever
• Anemia

Risk factors:

• Family history
• Old age
• Hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism
• History of heart disease
• Obesity
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Electrolyte imbalance in blood
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Excessive consumption of caffeine
• People suffering from sleep apnea

Complications:

• Stroke, as there is quivering or fibrillation and heart are not working properly and pool causing a formation of blood clots which if clogs to the arteries of the brain resulting in a stroke.
• Heart failure, due to bradycardia or tachycardia the heart cannot work properly leading to heart failure.

Prevention:

• Eating a healthy and balanced diet
• Stop smoking
• Reduce consumption of alcohol
• Going for a brisk walk every day
• Reducing stress
• Reducing the intake of caffeine
• Avoid over the counter medication
• Controlling sugar and blood pressure levels

When to see a doctor:

If you feel Fluttering or skipping of heartbeat along with the symptoms of arrhythmia visit your doctor and discuss your symptoms with him.

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