Arrhythmia

Treatment for Arrhythmia in Hyderabad, India

In a typical heartbeat, a tiny cluster of cells in the sinus node sends out electrical signals that travel through the atria to the atrioventricular node and then pass into the ventricles, which causes the heart to contract and pump blood. 

Heart arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart in which the heartbeats are irregular. A heart arrhythmia occurs when the electric signals responsible for coordinating the heart's beats do not work properly. This faulty signaling causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slowly (bradycardia), or with irregular rhythms. Heart arrhythmia may feel like a racing heart. While it is often harmless, sometimes it can cause complications that can even be life-threatening.

Types of heart arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmias can be grouped into two broad categories:

1. Tachycardia - the condition of the heart in which the heart beats fast at a rate of more than 100 beats per minute. 

2. Bradycardia - the condition of the heart in which it beats slower than 60 beats per minute.

Tachycardia and bradycardia can be further divided into categories according to the irregularities in the heartbeat.

Types of tachycardia

• Atrial fibrillation: Rapid, uncoordinated heart rate causes atrial fibrillation episodes, which, if left untreated, may cause serious complications such as stroke.
• Atrial flutter: Atrial flutter is a more organized form of atrial fibrillation and is also linked to stroke.
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): Supraventricular tachycardia includes arrhythmias beginning with the lower heart chamber (ventricle) and causes episodes of pounding heart (palpitations) that end abruptly.
• Ventricular fibrillation: When rapid, chaotic electrical signals cause lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) to quiver instead of contracting in a coordinated way, it is known as Ventricular fibrillation. If not treated, it can be fatal within minutes. Most people suffering from ventricular fibrillation have been subjected to underlying heart disease or have experienced serious trauma.
• Ventricular tachycardia: Faulty electrical signals from the ventricles cause rapid, irregular heart rhythms that do not allow blood to be filled in the ventricles properly. Ventricular tachycardia may not be problematic for otherwise healthy patients but may become fatal in patients with heart disease.

Types of bradycardia 

• Sick-sinus syndrome: The sinus node in the heart is responsible for sending electrical signals across the heart. Faulty signalling may cause the heart to beat too fast or too slow. Scarring in the sinus tissue is responsible for slowing, disrupting, or blocking signals from travelling from the node. 
• Conduction block: Blockage in the electrical pathways can cause a slowdown of heartbeats or stop entirely. 

Symptoms of arrhythmias

In some patients, arrhythmias may cause no signs or symptoms at all. A doctor might notice irregular heartbeats while examining a patient for some other health problem. However, there are some common symptoms observed in patients which can be enumerated as follows:

• Faster or slower heartbeat than usual

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue

• Palpitations (rapid pounding, fluttering)

• Chest pain (angina)

• Anxiety

• Dizziness

• Sweating

• Fainting

Causes of arrhythmias

Causes of arrhythmias encompass:

• Coronary Artery Disease: The presence of coronary artery disease, which affects the blood vessels supplying the heart.
• Irritable Heart Tissue: Irritation of heart tissue, stemming from either genetic factors or acquired conditions.
• High Blood Pressure: Elevated blood pressure as a contributing factor.
• Alterations in Heart Muscle: Changes in the heart muscle, often associated with cardiomyopathy.
• Valve Abnormalities: Disorders affecting heart valves.
• Electrolyte Imbalances: Imbalances in blood electrolyte levels.
• Heart Attack Injury: Damage resulting from a heart attack.
• Post-Heart Surgery Healing: The healing process following heart surgery.
• Other Medical Conditions: Various underlying medical conditions that can contribute to the onset of arrhythmias.

What health complications arise from arrhythmias?

Complications depend on the type of arrhythmia developed. In general, if left untreated, arrhythmia complications include heart stroke, sudden death, and heart failure. Blood clots may also form due to a heart arrhythmia, which may travel from the heart to the brain and cause a brain stroke.

Diagnosis of arrhythmias

At CARE Hospitals, our well-trained staff will help you through the process of diagnosis, ask you about your medical history, review risk factors and recommend the proper diagnostic procedure. We provide the following diagnostic services:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): The electrocardiogram test records the electrical activity of the heart and can detect heart attack and heart rhythm problems.

• Cardiac catheterization: Cardiac catheterization, also cardiac angiogram, is an invasive diagnostic test for imaging the coronary arteries using small tubes to evaluate the heart functions, including the presence of coronary artery disease.

• Cardiac CT scan: A computed tomography (CT) scan is a non-invasive imaging method using X-rays to create a detailed image of the heart and the blood vessels.

These are some of the diagnoses one has to go through to further the best treatment for arrhythmia at CARE Hospitals.

Risk factors for arrhythmia

Factors that increase the risk of developing arrhythmia comprise:

• Tobacco Use: Engaging in the use of tobacco products.
• Alcohol Consumption: Drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Intake of Caffeine-Containing Drinks and Foods: Consuming beverages and foods containing caffeine.
• Use of Stimulants: Taking stimulants like over-the-counter cold medicines or herbal supplements.
• High Blood Pressure: Presence of elevated blood pressure.
• Elevated BMI (Body Mass Index): Having a BMI higher than 30, indicating obesity.
• High Blood Sugar: Presence of elevated blood sugar levels.
• Sleep Apnea: Experiencing sleep apnea, a condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep.

Treatments of arrhythmias 

The Arrhythmia treatment in Hyderabad offered at CARE Hospitals includes the use of medications and surgical procedures to restore or correct heart rhythms.

The arrhythmia treatment for the following cardiac ailments is provided:

• Arrhythmia - Heart rhythm problems causing too fast or too slow heartbeats per minute.

• Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a rapid and irregular heartbeat that can result in blood clots.

• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): Random pounding arising from the left ventricle of the heart that ends abruptly.

At CARE Hospitals, the following procedures are done for the above mentioned cardiac ailments:

• Cardioversion - This method of treatment includes electric shock therapy delivered through paddles or patches attached to the chest. The shock affects the electric impulses of the heart and sets the rhythm right.

• A pacemaker is a small electric device implanted near the collarbone. If the heartbeats are too fast or too slow, the pacemaker sends electric impulses to stimulate the heart to beat at a normal rhythm.

• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - An ICD is an electrical device that continuously monitors the heart rhythm and, if abnormalities are detected, delivers low-or high-energy electric shocks to restore normal heart rhythm. We may recommend an ICD implant if a patient is at risk of developing irregular heartbeat rhythms or has already suffered from a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

A doctor may recommend coronary bypass surgery to improve blood flow to the heart if a patient has arrhythmia along with some other coronary artery diseases.

How can CARE Hospitals help?

At CARE Hospitals, we provide comprehensive diagnostic services in the field of cardiology using state-of-the-art equipment and technology which continuously helps us provide you with the best Treatment for Arrhythmia in Hyderabad. Our well-trained multidisciplinary staff support will provide assistance and care during the postoperative recovery period and out-of-hospital support for all your queries and cardiac problems. CARE Hospitals advanced and modern minimally invasive surgical procedures will help improve your quality of life.