German doctors from the German Heart Foundation have defined cardiac arrhythmias as an abnormal heart rate, where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. They noted that cardiac arrhythmias are divided into the following five types:
• Tachycardia: fast heartbeats at a rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. • Bradycardia: slow heartbeats at a rate of less than 60 beats per minute. • Extra beats: additional heartbeats that disrupt the regular rhythm. • Atrial fibrillation: the atria beat irregularly and often very quickly, weakening blood flow. • Atrial flutter: the atria beat rapidly but in a regular pattern.
The goal of treatment is to restore or stabilize a normal heart rhythm and prevent potential complications such as strokes.
"Lifestyle changes play an important role," doctors say. "This includes effectively managing stress, reducing caffeine intake, quitting alcohol and nicotine, and following a heart-healthy diet low in salt and rich in healthy fats, along with regular physical activity, which strengthens the cardiovascular system."
Medications such as antiarrhythmic drugs, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers help restore a normal rhythm or reduce the heart's workload. Anticoagulants, such as blood thinners, reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Invasive procedures, such as cardioversion or catheter ablation, can also be used to treat certain types of arrhythmias. Implantable devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators, offer a long-term solution for severe arrhythmias.
Treating underlying conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or electrolyte imbalance, is also of paramount importance to completely eliminate the causes of cardiac arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias can cause symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and weakness, bluish lips or nails, and fainting spells.
Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening arrhythmia where the heart's ventricles quiver uncontrollably at a very high speed, preventing blood from being pumped. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention, such as defibrillation.
The causes of arrhythmias are multiple and can be divided into cardiac and non-cardiac factors. Cardiac causes include coronary artery disease, where narrowed coronary arteries weaken blood flow to the heart, and heart attacks, where scar tissue disrupts the heart's electrical conduction. Heart failure or heart valve defects can also negatively affect the heart's rhythm. Non-cardiac causes include electrical faults such as sinus node dysfunction or conduction blockage.
An electrolyte imbalance (such as potassium, magnesium, or sodium) and hormonal problems like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can also disrupt the heart's electrical activity. Stress, excessive caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine intake, and drug abuse can increase the risk of arrhythmias.
The risk increases with age because heart tissue deteriorates and the conduction pathways become more prone to problems. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, and a family history of heart disease.
Symptoms of arrhythmias include: rapid heartbeats, slow or irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and weakness, bluish discoloration of the lips or nails, and fainting.
Ventricular fibrillation, in which the heart completely stops pumping blood, is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical intervention such as defibrillation.
German doctors noted that an electrocardiogram (ECG) is a key diagnostic tool; an ECG records the heart's electrical activity at rest, while an exercise ECG monitors the heart's rhythm during physical exertion. Other procedures such as an echocardiogram and blood tests provide additional information. In complex cases, an electrophysiological study (EPS) may be performed to determine the exact cause of the arrhythmia.
The treatment of cardiac arrhythmias depends on various approaches, depending on the cause and severity of the condition.
