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Cardiac Arrhythmia: Overview
The term “cardiac arrhythmia” refers to any irregular heartbeat caused by abnormalities with different parts of the heart.
Within the heart, there are clusters of specialized cells that send electrical signals to the heart muscles. This causes contraction that makes the heart beat. In a healthy heart, the electrical signals are timed perfectly to ensure that blood moves smoothly and efficiently through the heart. However, when these signals are disrupted or “off beat”, it can result in an abnormal heartbeat known as an arrhythmia.
According to Medical News Today, there are four types of cardiac arrhythmias: bradycardia, tachycardia, fibrillation, and premature contraction. Bradycardia is a slow heartbeat while tachycardia is a fast heartbeat. Fibrillation or flutter are both terms for an irregular heartbeat. An early heartbeat is known as a premature contraction.
Although a cardiac arrhythmia will not always be life-threatening, an untreated arrhythmia can lead to complications such as stroke and heart attack.
Arrhythmia Symptoms
Some cardiac arrhythmias do not have any symptoms and are only noticeable if a doctor orders an electrocardiogram (ECG) test or other cardiac tests.
When cardiac arrhythmias do have symptoms, they usually include palpitations (noticeable, irregular heartbeats), dizziness, fainting, and cardiac arrest. Other symptoms may include sweating, heart racing, extra heartbeats, slow heartbeat, check pain, and shortness of breath, although these symptoms may only appear in certain arrhythmias that are severe.
Causes of Cardiac Arrhythmia
There are numerous factors that can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, including:
- Heart attacks
- Scarring from a previous heart attack
- Heart disease
- Drugs, alcohol, and caffeine
- Genetics
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disorders
- Stress
- Blocked arteries
- Certain medications
Arrhythmia Treatment
Treatment for a cardiac arrhythmia will depend on the type and severity of the irregularity. According to the Mayo Clinic, treatment options may include medication, surgery, implants, and other techniques.
Anti-arrhythmic medications may be suggested to treat tachycardias and other arrhythmias. This may include medications such as amiodarone.
Implantable devices are used to monitor and control the heartbeat. A pacemaker is an implant that controls abnormal heart rates by sending electric impulses to trigger heart contraction. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is similar to a pacemaker but corrects abnormal heartbeats using high and low energy impulses. These devices may be recommended to patients with sudden cardiac arrest risks or history.
Surgical treatment may include a maze procedure or coronary bypass surgery. During maze surgery, a doctor makes a series of intentional cuts in the heart which later develop scar tissue. Because scar tissue does not conduct electrical impulses, it can help correct electrical signal irregularities in the heart. In the case of severe coronary artery disease causing arrhythmias, coronary bypass surgery can help improve the flow of blood in the heart.
Heart Arrhythmia Complications
The main complications of cardiac arrhythmia are stroke and heart failure. When the heartbeat is irregular, the heart cannot effectively pump blood throughout the body. As a result, blood can pool and clot. If a blood clot travels from the heart to the brain, it can cause a stroke. Heart failure, where the heart becomes permanently unable to pump blood effectively, is also a risk of arrhythmias.
Amiodarone Lawsuits
One medication used to treat arrhythmias is amiodarone. Recently, this drug has received attention after reports showed that amiodarone may cause serious, life-threatening conditions such as lung disease, liver failure, blindness, and death.
Lawsuits have been filed against amiodarone’s manufacturer, claiming that the company failed to warn consumers of their arrhythmia medication risks.
