|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
<
..................................
|
|
|
.................................. |
|
|
International Services |
|
Tel.(66)-3825-9999#1155 |
|
email: bphint@bph.co.th |
| .................................. |
:: Worldwide insurance assistance
|
Interpreters available for Arabic, Bangla, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malayu, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai and Urdu. |
| |
|
|
| Arrhythmia |
| |
|
 What
is an arrhythmia? 
|
| |
|
An
arrhythmia is an irregular heart rhythm resulting from
an abnormality in the heart's electrical system. The heart's
electrical system is responsible for setting the pace
of your heartbeat. A rhythm that is too fast is called
a tachycardia, a rhythm that is too slow is called a bradycardia.
|
|
| What
causes an arrhythmia? |
 |
Each
contraction of the heart is triggered by electrical impulses
sent from the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the right atrium,
an upper chamber of the heart. The impulses travel through
the atria to the atrioventricular node (AV node), where
they are transmitted to the heart's lower chambers or ventricles.
|
|
 |
Arrhythmias
may occur due to:
|
- An
abnormal functioning of the cells in the SA node.
- Delays
in the conduction or receiving of impulses
|
|
Heart-related conditions that may lead to arrhythmias include:
- Damage
from a heart attack or atheroselerosis
- Heart
defects or congenital heart disease
- Abnormal
heart structures or functions, such as those resulting
from cardiomyopathy or valvular heart disease.
- Effects
from medications
- Other
causes including stress, caffeine or alcohol consumption,
smoking, reaction to non-prescription medications
or a lack of sleep.
|
|
| |
| What
are the different types of arrhythmias? |
|
There
are many types of arrhythmias.
- Sick
sinus syndrome is a condition in which the SA node does not
fire often enough, causing the heart rate to slow down.
There may be alternating periods of rapid heartbeats.
- Sinus
arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms that also begin in the
SA node.
- Sinus
tachycardia is a rapid heart rate caused by electrical impulses
firing faster than normal.
- Heart
blockage results when electrical signals to the ventricles are
delayed or blocked.
- Premature
ventricular contractions occur when an early signal from a ventricle
causes a premature heartbeat. This is often felt as a “skipped
beat.”
- Ventricular
fibrillation results from very fast and uncontrollable electrical
signals. They cause the heart to quiver rather than beat.
- Walff-Parkinson-White
syndrome occurs when there is an extra connection, or pathway,
between the atria and ventricles.
- Atrial
fibrillation is the result of rapid and disorganized signals
from the atria that prompt the ventricles to contract irregularly.
- Atrial
flutter is a specific type of atrial tachycardia in which the
atria contract regularly, but extremely rapidly.
- Paroxysmal
atril tachycardia is characterized by rapid heartbeats originating
in the atria.
- Premature
atrial contractions are premature signals in the atrium that
cause the heart to beat too soon.
|
| |
| How
are arrhythmias treated? |
 |
Treatment
of an arrhythmia depends on the type of arrhythmia and its
severity. Non sustained arrhythmias may only require certain
lifestyle changes, such as:
- Reducing
caffeine intake
- Limiting
the amount of alcohol consumption
- Quitting
smoking
- Avoiding
certain medications, such as some decongestants
- Using
stress management techniques
Medications
that may be prescribed include beta-blockers, calcium
channel blocke digoxin or antiarrhy-thmics. These medications
should be monitored carefully to prevent side effects,
which may include increased or more severe arrhythmias.
Patients using these medications are encouraged to learn
how to take their own pulse in order to detect irregular
rhythms.
More
invasive procedures may sometimes be necessary,
including:
- An
artificial pacemaker for bradycardias
- An
implantable cardioverter defibrillator for abnormally
fast heart rhythms.
- Catheter
ablation to destroy abnormal areas of the heart where
arrhythmias originate
|
| |
|
|
|
