What is arrhythmia?
If you have arrhythmia, it means something is affecting the speed and rhythm of your heartbeat. With arrhythmia, your heartbeat might be irregular, too fast, or too slow.
Arrhythmia develops because of a malfunction in the electrical impulses that regulate your heart's contractions. These electrical impulses originate in the sinus node — the part of your heart that acts as a natural pacemaker.
Various factors can affect the transmission of the signals telling your heart to beat, including:
- Diabetes
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Excess caffeine
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
- Stress
- Scarring of the heart
- Smoking
- Structural heart abnormalities
Certain medications can sometimes cause arrhythmia, as well.
Are there different types of arrhythmia?
There are several types of arrhythmia, including:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Conduction disorders
- Premature contraction
Heart and Vascular of Central Texas has some of the most sophisticated diagnostic technologies on-site to help find the cause of your arrhythmia.
How is arrhythmia diagnosed?
The first stage in the diagnostic process is a consultation at Heart and Vascular of Central Texas, where the team looks over your medical and family history and discusses your current symptoms.
Your provider performs routine tests, measuring your blood pressure to check for hypertension and listening to your heartbeat through a stethoscope. They might also take blood for lab tests.
Further tests you might require to pinpoint the cause of your arrhythmia include:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
- Holter monitoring
- Event monitoring
- Stress test
- Tilt-table test
- Electrophysiologic testing (EP study)
- Esophageal electrophysiologic procedure
After confirming the cause of your arrhythmia, your provider can create a personalized treatment program for you.
What might be in my arrhythmia treatment program?
Depending on what's causing the arrhythmia, your treatment program could include:
Medications
Anti-arrhythmic medicines can restore your heart's regular rhythm. Calcium channel blockers and beta blockers help with tachycardia, and anticoagulants (blood thinners) prevent clots from developing.
Implantable devices
You might need a device like a pacemaker or a defibrillator to regulate your heartbeat. Your provider at Heart and Vascular of Central Texas implants one of these devices in your chest during a minimally invasive procedure.
Catheter ablation
Your provider passes a catheter or tube into an artery and up to your heart, then delivers heat that destroys the abnormal cells in your heart muscle.
Addressing underlying health issues is also essential when treating heart conditions like arrhythmia. Managing chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes and addressing weight loss where necessary can help reduce your symptoms.
If you're experiencing arrhythmia, call Heart and Vascular of Central Texas today or book an appointment online.
