Effective Causes & Treatment for Heart Arrhythmia - CVG Cares Cardiology

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Causes And Treatment For Heart Arrhythmia

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Causes And Treatment For Heart Arrhythmia

You’ve probably heard your heart described as a steady drumbeat, keeping the rhythm of your life. But what happens when that rhythm goes off-beat? That’s called cardiac arrhythmia, and it’s more common than you might think.

Cardiac arrhythmia is a term that covers a range of conditions where your heart beats irregularly. It might be too fast, too slow, or just erratic. While it sounds alarming, many arrhythmias are harmless. However, some can be serious, so understanding and monitoring your heart’s rhythm is crucial.

Think of your heart as a complex musical ensemble. Normally, it plays a perfect symphony, each chamber contracting in a coordinated sequence. An arrhythmia is like a musician playing out of time; it disrupts the harmony and can affect how efficiently your heart pumps blood.

You might experience arrhythmia as a fluttering in your chest, a racing heartbeat, or a feeling that your heart is skipping beats. Some people describe it as a fish flopping in their chest. You might not feel anything, so regular check-ups with a cardiologist are important.

Visiting our Atlanta heart doctors for an arrhythmia evaluation is a smart, proactive step. We have a variety of tests and tools to detect and diagnose arrhythmias, from simple electrocardiograms (ECGs) to more advanced monitoring devices that can track your heart’s activity over days or weeks.

Early detection of arrhythmias can be crucial. Some types, if left untreated, can lead to more serious conditions, like stroke or heart failure. But don’t let that scare you – many arrhythmias are easily managed with medication or simple procedures.

You’re taking control of your heart health by coming to see us. We can help you understand what type of arrhythmia you might have, what’s causing it, and how to manage it effectively. Sometimes, simple lifestyle changes like reducing caffeine or managing stress can make a big difference.

Remember, your heart’s rhythm is unique to you. What’s normal for someone else might not be normal for you. That’s why personalized care from CVG’s cardiologists is so valuable. We’re here to listen to your heart—both literally and figuratively.

We encourage you to schedule a visit with our Atlanta heart doctors to check on your cardiac rhythm. It’s a simple step that could orchestrate a healthier future for you and your heart.

Read about heart arrhythmia testing and treatment and learn how CVG provides comprehensive cardiac care.

What Is Heart Arrhythmia?

Heart arrhythmia, also known as cardiac arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, is a common condition that occurs when the heart’s normal rhythm is disrupted. This can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern. Heart arrhythmia can be harmless in some cases, but it can also be a sign of a more serious underlying problem and may increase the risk of stroke or heart failure.

Heart Arrhythmia Types

There are several types of heart arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, and bradycardia to name just a few of the many types. Arrhythmias can be divided into upper chamber (atrial) arrythmias, also called supraventricular arrhythmias and lower chamber (ventricular) arrhythmias. Very generally, ventricular arrhythmias are more serious. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, and it occurs when the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat too fast and irregularly. Atrial fibrillation is a type of supraventricular tachycardia.

Ventricular tachycardia is a type of ventricular arrhythmia that affects the heart’s lower chambers (the ventricles) and can cause the heart to beat too fast. Bradycardia is a term that means the arrythmia is slow.

Heart Arrhythmia Causes

There are many different possible causes of arrhythmia, including:

Abnormal heart structures: Certain abnormalities in the heart’s structure, such as enlarged heart chambers or scar tissue from previous heart attacks, can lead to arrhythmia.
Coronary artery disease: This condition occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, and it can cause arrhythmia.
High blood pressure: Elevated blood pressure can strain the heart and lead to arrhythmia.
Electrolyte imbalances: Abnormalities in the body’s electrolytes (such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium) can cause arrhythmia.
Thyroid problems: An overactive or underactive thyroid gland can affect the heart’s rhythm and lead to arrhythmia.
Alcohol or drug abuse: Substance abuse can harm the heart and lead to arrhythmia.
Sleep apnea: This condition causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep and can increase the risk of arrhythmia.
Stress or anxiety: Emotional stress can affect the heart’s rhythm and contribute to arrhythmia.

See a doctor if you experience any arrhythmia symptoms, especially palpitations, shortness of breath, or chest pain, as these can be signs of a more serious condition. These heart arrhythmia symptoms can vary in severity and may come and go. Some people with heart arrhythmia may not experience any symptoms at all.

Heart Arrhythmia Treatment

Several treatment options are available for heart arrhythmia, and the best course of treatment will depend on the type and severity of the arrhythmia and any underlying health conditions. Heart arrhythmia medications, including beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and antiarrhythmic drugs, are often used to treat heart arrhythmia.

In some cases, ablation may be recommended to correct the arrhythmia. During ablation, a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel and guided to the heart, where it is used to modify the area of the heart that is causing the arrhythmia.

A pacemaker or defibrillator may be needed to help regulate the heart’s rhythm. A pacemaker is a small device, slightly larger than a vanilla wafer, implanted in the chest that sends electrical signals to the heart to help it beat normally. A defibrillator, monitors for life threatening ventricular arrhythmias and delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Lifestyle changes can also help manage heart arrhythmia. This may include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, exercising regularly, and managing stress. Following your healthcare provider’s recommendations and taking your medications as prescribed is important.

In addition to the treatment options mentioned above, several lifestyle changes can help manage heart arrhythmia and prevent it from worsening. These may include:

Quitting smoking: Smoking increases the risk of heart arrhythmia and can also make it more difficult to treat. If you smoke, quitting can help reduce your risk of arrhythmia and improve your overall heart health.

Reducing alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of heart arrhythmia, especially in people with certain types of arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Limiting your alcohol intake to moderate levels can help reduce your risk of arrhythmia and other heart problems.
Exercising regularly: Regular physical activity can help improve heart health and may also help reduce the risk of heart arrhythmia. Speaking with your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program is important to ensure its safety.

Managing stress: Chronic stress can contribute to the development of heart arrhythmia and may make it more difficult to manage. Finding healthy ways to cope with stress, such as through exercise, meditation, or counseling, can help improve your overall heart health.

Following your healthcare provider’s recommendations and taking your medications as prescribed is also important. This can help control your arrhythmia and prevent it from worsening. In addition, it is important to see your healthcare provider regularly to monitor your condition and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.

Heart arrhythmia is a common condition that can be treated effectively with the right combination of medications, procedures, and lifestyle changes. If you are experiencing symptoms of heart arrhythmia, it is important to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. With appropriate management, heart arrhythmia can be well-controlled and may not significantly impact your daily life.

Why Choose CVG?

At CVG, our cardiologists offer extensive experience caring for patients using state-of-the-art techniques. Their compassion adds so much to your care because our doctors understand how heart issues can affect you physically and take an emotional toll. Trust is the #1 factor in the doctor/patient relationship. You can trust your CVG cardiologist with every aspect of heart care.

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Board-certified Doctors

CVG’s twenty board-certified heart doctors will guide you through your healthcare journey with the utmost compassion and individual attention. We aim to provide you with state-of-the-art cardiac care that includes the full spectrum of services, from testing to diagnosis and treatment. The doctor/patient relationship is built on trust. Through our combined efforts, we can conquer any challenge that comes our way.

Invasive therapies may also treat an abnormal heart rhythm, such as electrical cardioversion, which sends electrical impulses through your chest wall and allows normal heart rhythm to restart, or catheter ablation that disconnects the abnormal rhythm’s pathway. Suppose your doctor determines that electrical devices are the best course of action. In that case, you may be given a permanent pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), or biventricular (B-V) pacemakers and defibrillators.

How CVG Can Help

CVG offers multiple services that can discover an enlarged heart or conditions that will lead to it. At CVG, we perform stress tests that will observe blood flow and test for various forms of heart disease. There are three types of stress tests that we perform:

A treadmill test is a test in which you will walk on a treadmill that gets faster and steeper every 3 minutes. This will stress your heart so that our nurse or doctor can determine your heart rate and blood pressure.
An echo test is performed before and after your treadmill test to determine how well your heart pumps blood.
A nuclear stress test is a treadmill test that is prefaced by an injection of medicine that shows the flow of blood to your heart.

We also offer cardiac catheterization to diagnose and treat several heart issues. If any of these tests determine a problem, we offer treatment solutions such as atrial fibrillation testing and catheter ablation. Learn more about our services here, or schedule an appointment to talk to our doctors.

Schedule Your Appointment with a CVG Atlanta Area Cardiologist

Expertise, experience, and compassion are the pillars of CVG’s patient-centered cardiac care. Please schedule your appointment with CVG today. Call (770) 962-0399 or 678-582-8586. You may also request an appointment online. If you have an emergency, don’t contact us online; please call 911.