Arrythmia

Arrythmia An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. A heartbeat that is too fast is called tachycardia. A heartbeat that is too slow is called bradycardia. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage thebrain, heart, and other organs.

 Treatment: High or low levels of a variety of minerals in the blood or tissues can cause arrhythmias. Alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, recreational drugs use, and various cardiac medications and other prescription medicines may cause arrhythmias. Other factors that may increase the risk of arrhythmias include atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, stress, caffeine intake.

Diagnosis: An electrocardiogram records the heart's electrical activity and is used to diagnose most arrhythmias. If the arrhythmia is not captured on an ECG, some individuals may be required to wear a portable monitor to record heart activity for 24 hours to document an intermittent arrhythmia. Blood chemistry may help find any chemical imbalance that may be causing the arrhythmias.