Male cardiac arrhythmia: causes and possible consequences

The pathological condition of a person in which there are constant disruptions in cardiac activity is called arrhythmia. This problem can occur at absolutely any age, and it is very important to find out in a timely manner why this happens and how the heart arrhythmia manifests itself.

Cardiac arrhythmia is not an independent disease and does not occur on its own. Usually it becomes a consequence of some pathology of the cardiovascular system, often serious and severe.

Causes of the disease

People who are not prone to heart disease may experience a similar phenomenon, but, as a rule, here the arrhythmia is episodic and should not cause fear for their own health and life. But visiting a doctor is mandatory in any case.

Manifestations of arrhythmia can be in the form of a decrease or increase in the heart rate, or simply in the form of a disordered and uneven heartbeat. It is very important to understand what causes arrhythmia.

The main causes of arrhythmia:

• Hypertension;
• cardiac ischemia;
• oncological neoplasms;
• heart attack;
• heart defects;
• atherosclerosis;
• myocarditis;
• congenital heart problems.

In these pathological conditions, arrhythmia can become one of the symptoms indicating the development of diseases in the body.

There are other reasons why heart rhythm disturbances may occur. These are problems such as:

• obesity;
• diabetes;
• stressful situations;
• age-related and other hormonal changes or disruptions;
• anemia;
• poisoning the body;
• exceeding the permitted dose of medications;
• thyroid diseases;
• infectious lesions of the body;
• excessive physical stress, fatigue;
• traumatic brain injuries.

Very often, symptoms of arrhythmia are the result of falls or strong blows, they appear during an overdose of narcotic drugs, when receiving anesthesia, as well as during strong electric shocks.

The mechanism of heart rhythm disturbances

The heart has the following abilities:

• automaticity - cardiomyocytes can spontaneously generate an impulse (due to this they are called “pacemakers”);
• excitability - cells perceive the signal and respond to it;
• conduction - the impulse can spread through the conduction system of the heart;
• contractility - the ability to contract in response to a stimulus.

Thus, the myocardium independently generates electrical currents that are conducted along the intracardiac pathways, excite the muscle and cause its contraction.

As noted earlier, arrhythmias arise due to a violation of impulse formation or conduction. The main mechanisms are presented in the figure below.

A change in automaticity in the sinus node is the cause of tachycardia, bradycardia (with weakness of the sinus node) and other arrhythmias. If the excitability of the underlying links of the conduction system, for example, the atrioventricular connection, increases, then it takes on the role of a pacemaker, and an ectopic accelerated rhythm occurs.

Trigger activity is the formation of impulses by cardiomyocytes, which normally do not have a pacemaker (signal-generating) function. This mechanism underlies extrasystoles and tachycardias as well as another, re-entry (in its case, the signal causes one contraction, but under certain conditions it can excite the myocardium repeatedly due to the circulation of current in a circle).

A blockade occurs when an impulse encounters tissue that is unable to respond to the signal, for example, a post-infarction scar that has taken the place of a damaged cardiac conduction system.

Risk group

There is also a risk group, which includes the following cases:

• abuse of alcoholic beverages and smoking;
• frequent stress;
• exposure to frequent infectious diseases;
• hereditary predisposition;
• frequent consumption of coffee, black tea, energy drinks and other stimulants;
• uncontrolled treatment with medications.

In some cases, arrhythmia goes unnoticed by the patient, and this happens due to conditions not related to the heart and its pathologies. The causes of cardiac arrhythmia in such cases may be chronic diseases of other internal organs.

Classification

Changes in any electrophysiological characteristics of the heart (excitability, automaticity, conductivity, contractility) are accompanied by cardiac arrhythmias. Depending on which function is changed, there are:

• impulse formation defects;
• changes in its conduct;
• combined options. These may be extrasystoles, blockades, tachycardias or combinations thereof.

Depending on the persistence of arrhythmias, their forms are distinguished: constant or paroxysmal (paroxysmal).

Classification of pathology

Unfortunately, few people control their heart rate, which should not exceed ninety beats per minute and be lower than seventy beats per minute.

There are several types of arrhythmias, each of which has its own characteristics and subtypes.

Bradycardia

The concept of bradycardia characterizes a violation of the heart rhythm, manifested in a slowdown in the heart rate. We are talking about conditions in which a person’s pulse drops to fifty beats per minute or lower.

Bradycardia may be sinusoidal or associated with changes in cardiac conduction. These types of arrhythmias do not pose a threat to life and health unless there are significant deviations from the norm. And in case of serious pathologies, in which the patient experiences frequent fainting, his heart may simply stop.

The causes of arrhythmia here may be increased intracranial pressure, infectious diseases or disturbances in the activity of the endocrine system.

Tachycardia

A significant increase in the number of heart beats or rapid heartbeat is tachycardia, in which the heart muscle is forced to work continuously and without rest. This is very unfavorable and to some extent dangerous, since there is not enough blood in the ventricles of the heart, as a result, blood pressure decreases, and organs and tissues do not receive enough oxygen. Subsequently, coronary heart disease may develop or cause a heart attack, etc.

Sinus tachycardia is characterized by an increase in heart rate to one hundred beats per minute. Its occurrence can be triggered by stressful situations, physical fatigue, abuse of stimulants (caffeine), etc.

In some people, sinus tachycardia does not go away throughout their lives, becoming a constant companion.

Extrasystole

Premature cardiac contraction is a pathology called extrasystole, in which the pulse can reach three hundred beats per minute. This arrhythmia occurs in those who abuse alcohol, smoking and caffeine. Extrasystole can also be provoked by such severe damage to the body as a malignant neoplasm or pulmonary edema, etc.

Atrial fibrillation

Erratic heart contractions, accompanied by sudden relaxation of the heart muscle, are a very dangerous type of arrhythmia, in which the maximum number of beats can reach four hundred and eighty per minute. Typically, this condition is considered an attack in which the patient should receive immediate medical attention, since there is a threat to his life.

Heart block

This type of arrhythmia occurs due to a decrease in the conductivity of heart impulses. The frequency of contractions here can decrease down to forty beats per minute, and the causes most often are various inflammations of internal organs and systems or pathological changes in the myocardium.

Paroxysmal tachycardia

The sudden and severe onset of increased heart rate, the frequency of which can reach two hundred beats per minute, is called paroxysmal tachycardia. Such attacks are very life-threatening for the patient, therefore, in the presence of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, the patient should avoid emotional outbursts and excessive physical exertion.

Causes

A change in the frequency or rhythm of myocardial contractions is a polyetiological condition.

This means that it develops due to the influence of a significant number of different causes, the most common of which are:

• Congenital heart defects that lead to irregularities in the rhythm of contractions already in childhood or at a young age.
• Insufficient motor activity in adolescence, leading to a “lag” in the development of the myocardium and structures of the conduction system.
• Various intoxications suffered (work in hazardous industries, severe infectious diseases, including influenza).
• Bad habits - nicotine and alcohol affect the functional activity of the pacemaker.
• Taking certain medications that affect the functioning of the conduction system.
• Hypertension, accompanied by an increase in systemic blood pressure.
• Pathology of the thyroid gland, accompanied by an increase in its functional activity.
• Stress experienced.
• Metabolic disorders, including diabetes mellitus.
• Ischemic disease, accompanied by deterioration of nutrition of the structures of the conduction system and myocardium. The disease most often develops in men after 50 years of age.
• Pathology of various organs and systems, which directly or indirectly affects the functional state of nerves and structures of the conduction system.

The simultaneous impact of several causative factors leads to the development of a more severe form of arrhythmia.

Important! A large number of causes of arrhythmia in men are modifiable. This means that with proper implementation of preventive measures, it is possible to avoid the development of disturbances in the rhythm and frequency of myocardial contractions.

Symptoms of arrhythmia

Signs of cardiac arrhythmia depend on what type of disease the patient has.

With sinus tachycardia, the following symptoms are observed:

• Rapid pulse, the frequency of which can be ninety beats per minute or higher.
• General deterioration of health, weakness.
• Dyspnea.
• Decreased performance.
• Increased body temperature.

Signs of paroxysmal tachycardia:

• Increased heart rate to two hundred and forty beats per minute.
• Profuse sweating.
• Weakness.
• The feeling of how hard your heart is beating.
• Pain in the region of the heart.
• Frequent urination.
• The patient may lose consciousness.

Painful sensations in the heart
Paroxysmal tachycardia often ends in heart failure.

With this type of arrhythmia, sinus bradycardia, the patient may experience symptoms such as:

• Decrease in heart rate below fifty beats per minute.
• Reduced blood pressure.
• General deterioration of health, weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Decreased performance.
• Heartache.

Signs of atrial fibrillation:

• Anxiety and trembling.
• Pain in the heart area.
• Weakness.

Other severe symptoms inherent in patients with cardiac arrhythmia:

• Breathing disorders, shortness of breath, wheezing.
• Fainting state.
• Signs of cardiac arrest or clinical death.
• Convulsiveness.

Any disruptions in cardiac activity should not be ignored, even if they seem minor. In many cases, arrhythmia becomes a sign of severe pathological changes in the body associated with the heart and its normal activity.

Methods for determining the type of arrhythmia

For the diagnosis of NRS, the main thing (taking into account complaints) is the ECG method and its modifications. Of particular importance for analysis is the ECG recording at the time of arrhythmia. The determination of its type and the need for therapeutic interventions depend on this.

Rice. 1 — Diagnosis of arrhythmia using ECG.

ECGs can be recorded on paper or digitally using fixed or portable devices called electrocardiographs. They can be configured for continuous recording, fragmented (at certain periods of time set by the program), “on demand” - a recording mode determined by the patient or the situation provided for by the recording program.

Hospitals use models with paper media, recording ECG in 12 standard leads (places where electrodes are applied). Analysis of stationary ECGs, subject to professional recording, is considered more complete. Portable models have a limited number of leads, which are quite sufficient to identify the type of arrhythmia.

A modification of the ECG method is Holter ECG monitoring (HMECG). Continuous ECG recording is performed for 1-2 or more days. This depends on the software of the XMECG system. There are monitors designed for very long periods of wear (months). This method is used for quantitative analysis of types of rhythm disturbances, recording syncopal episodes on ECG, identifying their causes.

In some cases, when it is not possible to record an episode of arrhythmia, it is possible to provoke it with the participation of a doctor using an electrophysiological study (EPI). These may be methods of intracardiac or transesophageal electrical stimulation of the heart with ECG recording. The properties of the cardiac conduction system and automatism nodes are studied. This research method is easily tolerated by children and women; it is rare that a man approaches it without fear.

Danger of arrhythmia

In some cases, arrhythmia can go away on its own without causing harm to human health. Usually these are situations not related to diseases of the cardiovascular system.

But sometimes arrhythmia can threaten the patient’s life, aggravate the course of other diseases, and provoke their progression. An increase in the pulse rate during extrasystoles often indicates an exacerbation of coronary heart disease. It can also cause coronary insufficiency.

Atrial fibrillation in most cases causes heart failure, and heart block, ventricular flutter and other adverse symptoms can be fatal if left untreated.

Other complications of arrhythmia:

• the occurrence of other, more serious types of arrhythmia;
• pulmonary edema;
• threat of miscarriage in pregnant women;
• pathologies in the central nervous system;
• heart attack, etc.

In order to avoid irreversible consequences, regular examination by a cardiologist is required for those patients who have already established signs of cardiac arrhythmia.

Arrhythmia: causes, symptoms, signs

Our heart, like a clock, in its normal state works with the same rhythm, frequency and regularity, thereby ensuring uninterrupted delivery of the necessary organic, mineral substances and oxygen to all tissues and organs. But in the event of some kind of malfunction in the functioning of the main “driver” of the body, we talk about arrhythmia.

In medical practice, many types of this disease have been recorded, therefore, different symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia require different treatment. But we will talk about treatment in a separate article, and here we will look at the causes, symptoms, differences, manifestations of arrhythmias, in order, as they say, to know the enemy by sight.

Signs, causes and risk factors for the disease

When our heart works normally, we do not even feel its presence in our body, as if it were not there.
But this doesn't always happen. In a healthy body, the rhythm of heart contractions is in the range of 60-80 beats per minute. Moreover, these contractions occur in the same rhythm, i.e. with the same frequency. But if the heartbeats become more frequent (with tachycardia), become less frequent (with bradycardia), or do not fall into a measured rhythm (with extrasystole), which are symptoms of arrhythmia, then in these cases the doctor diagnoses the pathology.

Signs of arrhythmia are a freezing heart, or, conversely, its erratic beating . if it “pounds”, you may feel a discomfort due to pain in the chest area, as well as fainting with long breaks between beats.

The main cause of arrhythmia is cardiac pathology, indicating a possible defect of the main organ, ischemic disease, myocarditis or cardiomyopathy. In some cases, it may precede myocardial infarction, and, sometimes, be a consequence of it. It is often caused by metabolic disorders, i.e. metabolism in the body.

There are so many causes of cardiac arrhythmias and they are all so different, depending on many factors, that it is quite difficult to list them all. Therefore, let’s name the most significant ones:

• stressful situations and depression;
• increased physical activity;
• improper metabolism;
• alcoholism, energy drink consumption and smoking;
• heart pathologies;
• infections and fungal diseases;
• menopause;
• brain pathology.

But it is precisely from accurately identifying the cause of cardiac arrhythmia that treatment brings tangible results. Although, many types of arrhythmia are purely symptomatic and do not require treatment at all. Moreover, they are always singular in nature.

In addition to cardiac pathology, the cause of cardiac arrhythmia is a disorder of the nervous or respiratory systems of the body, as well as gastrointestinal diseases. And often the provocateur of arrhythmia is our bad habits. More severe cases of arrhythmia occur as a result of drug overdose and intoxication, leading to anaphylactic shock.

And in the most severe form of atrial fibrillation, the symptoms in the form of an increase in its beats to 150 per minute cause severe dizziness and oxygen starvation in a person.

The causes of arrhythmia are quite often the presence of scar or necrotic tissue in the heart, which impedes the passage of electrical impulses, as well as thinning or, conversely, thickening of the walls of the ventricles of the heart, which incorrectly conduct these impulses.

The causes of arrhythmia after eating, and there is such a thing, is the pressure of a full stomach on the diaphragm. Rapid breathing appears, forcing the heart muscle to work harder to provide high-quality oxygen to the body’s tissues. It is necessary to understand for yourself that the process of digesting food is energy-consuming for the body. Therefore, you need to eat not in large portions, but in small portions, but often. Try not to eat fried and salty foods, and also do not try to lie down to rest immediately after eating, but accustom yourself to walking, for example.

This type of arrhythmia often affects adolescents recovering from anorexia and people who are overweight.

There are many answers to the question of what causes cardiac arrhythmia. As well as, indeed, symptoms, the main ones of which are shortness of breath, heart pain, low blood pressure, and disturbances in the rhythm of heart beats. If you experience this, you should be wary, as this is a sign of angina pectoris and cardiac arrhythmia.

The most dangerous manifestation of arrhythmia is the onset of ventricular fibrillation, characterized by chaotic contraction of individual muscle fibers. This pathology can lead to death.

Risk factors for developing cardiac arrhythmia

Risk factors for the disease are:

• congenital genetic predisposition (abnormal development of the heart, congenital arrhythmias);
• pathology of endocrine origin (if the thyroid gland produces an increased amount of hormones (in this case, tachycardia is observed) or a decreased content (bradycardia), diabetes mellitus;
• high blood pressure (provokes the development of ischemia, as a result of which the walls of the ventricle thicken and this changes the nature of the conducted impulses);
• disturbances in electrolyte formation (excess or lack of electrolytes (Ca, Mg, Na, K);
• use of psycho- and narcotic stimulants.

Therefore, treatment of arrhythmia symptoms does not lead to a permanent cure. As soon as you stop taking antiarrhythmic drugs, the manifestation of the disease resumes again. Correct treatment consists of possibly eliminating the pathology that caused the arrhythmic contraction of the heart.

Features of the etiology of the disease in women and men

Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia in women are in many ways similar to those in men, but there are some features, including:

• age-related sign of the disease: in women, the disease is most often detected after 50 years of age;
• women's high sensitivity to attacks of illness: they immediately feel and often panic about it.

Signs of cardiac arrhythmia in women include weakness, a feeling of interruptions in the heart, anxiety, and chest pain. In addition, it can manifest itself as blurred vision, which is perceived as a normal condition. If such signs occur frequently, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this can even lead to fainting, as well as a stroke or heart attack.

The main cause of arrhythmia in women due to their increased emotionality, compared to men, is stress and frequent nervous tension. At the same time, there is a negative effect on the cardiovascular system of excess weight, smoking, taking various stimulants such as caffeine, as well as cardiac pathologies. Recently, physical overstrain has been added to the above reasons, when, due to the irresponsibility or immaturity of the male half of humanity, a woman has to shoulder the unbearable burden of maintaining a family.

Signs of cardiac arrhythmia in men are identical to those in women. But medical statistics indicate that heart attacks occur in men much more often than in women, and cases of atrial fibrillation in the male half of humanity are diagnosed much more often.

Symptoms of arrhythmia in men do not differ from female manifestations of the disease, and are expressed in constant weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and fainting.

The main causes of cardiac arrhythmia in men are an unhealthy lifestyle, which is expressed in an unbalanced quick diet (for example, among bachelors), frequent snacking, excessive drinking, and smoking. These factors also include a sharp transition from frequent sports training with heavy physical load on the body to a calm, and more often inactive, lifestyle. Such a sharp change in conditions prevents the heart from adjusting to a completely opposite rhythm and causes malfunction.

It happens that disturbances in the normal rhythm of the heart and the presence of other pathological symptoms do not require treatment for cardiac arrhythmia. They can appear even in a healthy person and be completely benign. Moreover, such arrhythmias do not affect the quality of life.

But even heart rhythm disturbances that do not affect the quality of blood circulation are difficult for some people to bear and can affect not only a change of place of work, but also their style and way of life.

Video about the causes of arrhythmia:

First aid

When an arrhythmia attack occurs, it is very important to know how to provide first aid to the patient in order to avoid serious health consequences, as well as to prevent the patient from dying before the ambulance arrives.

The patient should take a horizontal position, with his head slightly raised. You can take Corvalol drops to calm down.

If all these actions are ineffective, then you can:

• press on the eyes with your fingers and remain in this position for several minutes;
• induce vomiting;
• press on the right carotid artery;
• Immerse your face in cold water for a few seconds.

Area where the carotid artery is located
You can turn on an aroma lamp with the addition of the following essential oils in the room in which the patient is located:

• mint;
• anise;
• eucalyptus;
• thyme;
• fir, etc.

Prevention

Pain and discomfort due to arrhythmia sometimes significantly spoils everyday life. Therefore, it is better to prevent this phenomenon than to throw all your energy into fighting and treatment.

A healthy diet with the consumption of important microelements for the normal functioning of the heart muscle, which includes calcium, potassium and magnesium. Calcium is found in products such as kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt, fish and other seafood.

Dried fruits, bananas, parsley, onions, potatoes, apples, grapes, tomatoes, garlic and cereals are rich in potassium. Magnesium is found in dairy products, buckwheat, cheese, spinach, beans, avocado, rice bran and basil. The diet should be balanced, portions distributed evenly throughout the day so as not to overload the body and heart.

Healthy lifestyle and sports . You should not exhaust yourself with excessive physical activity, so swimming or walking are more suitable. Also, exercises, with elements of light exercises in the fresh air, will help keep the body in good shape.

Constant weight control is important to avoid constant stress on the heart. If you become overweight, you should stick to a diet and also avoid starchy, sweet and salty foods. Controlling cholesterol levels in men is important.

Quitting bad habits such as drinking alcoholic beverages and drugs, energy drinks and caffeine-containing products.

Avoiding stressful situations that undermine the nervous system and undermine the general condition of the body.

Important to remember! Arrhythmia can appear at any age and under various circumstances, so prevention advice should not be neglected.

Diagnosis of arrhythmia

If symptoms occur that may indicate cardiac arrhythmia, a mandatory examination by a cardiologist is required.

Since arrhythmia can be associated with various pathologies, a comprehensive examination of the patient is carried out, including the following procedures:

• electrocardiogram;
• general and clinical blood tests;
• echocardiography;
• ultrasound and other studies of the thyroid gland.

Echocardiography is one of the diagnostic methods

A study using an electrocardiogram allows you to determine the most accurate causes of arrhythmia, which are caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Echocardiography is a study using an ultrasound machine that allows you to identify heart defects, disruptions in the contractile activity of the heart ventricles, which in most cases cause arrhythmia.

Very often, the occurrence of bradycardia is provoked by disturbances in the activity of the thyroid gland. Therefore, her examination is included in the diagnostic program for patients with arrhythmia. An ultrasound examination is performed, as well as a blood test for hormones. Without the results of these diagnostic procedures, it will be very difficult for a doctor to prescribe a suitable drug, since some medications are contraindicated for disorders of the endocrine system.

But a general blood test is also performed to determine the presence of an infectious disease in the patient’s body, as well as a biochemical blood test. A blood test for coagulability is also very important, since its results can be used to judge the likelihood of blood clots.

Symptoms and clinical picture

Heart rhythm disturbances can occur completely without clinical symptoms. In some cases, the disease can only be diagnosed through special examinations. Heart rhythm disturbances are determined only by ECG.

However, more often the following manifestations become symptoms of the pathological process:

1. Frequent dizziness and headaches.
2. Pain and feeling of tightness in the chest.
3. Acceleration of heartbeat.
4. The feeling of heartbeat becomes palpable.
5. The appearance of shortness of breath.
6. Loss of consciousness.
7. Feeling of tightness in the chest.

Arrhythmia has several clinical forms:

• sinus node dysfunction;
• disturbances of atrioventricular or intraventricular conduction;
• bradycardia or tachycardia;
• extrasystole.

As a rule, the disease affects the condition of the whole organism. This manifests itself in general weakness and decreased ability to work.

Attention! When the first symptoms of a pathological process appear, you must immediately contact a medical facility for a diagnostic examination.

Drug treatment of cardiac arrhythmia

After all diagnostic procedures have been completed, the attending physician can prescribe the correct treatment in accordance with the examination results and based on the established diagnoses. First of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease in order to understand how to treat cardiac arrhythmia.

The most common medications against arrhythmia:

• Concor is an effective drug whose action is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of angina pectoris, hypertension and hypertension, as well as for the treatment of heart failure. This remedy is often prescribed by cardiologists to treat cardiac arrhythmias. Concor is contraindicated for persons under eighteen years of age, as well as for patients with hypotension, bronchial asthma, bradycardia, or with individual intolerance to the main active ingredient of the drug.

• Another popular drug is anaprilin, which relieves symptoms of arrhythmia and hypertension. Anaprilin is a beta blocker. Patients with a history of chronic heart failure or bradycardia should not take this drug. The dosage is determined by the attending physician, based on body weight and severity of the disease.
• Metoprolol is an effective medication against arrhythmia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and is also prescribed for hypothyroidism.

• Egilok is a drug used to treat arrhythmia caused by various reasons.
• Bisoprolol is prescribed to patients with angina pectoris, in particular to eliminate attacks.
• Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker.

• Verapamil promotes oxygen saturation of the myocardium and is prescribed for arrhythmia and hypertension.
• Mexiletine is one of the most popular pharmaceutical drugs against arrhythmia that occurs for a variety of reasons.
• For atrial fibrillation, cardiologists most often prescribe the drug Quinidine.
• For sinus arrhythmia, taking herbal medications is sufficient.

How to strengthen your heart

Arrhythmia is a very dangerous disease that should not be neglected, and every doctor will say that it is better to prevent the pathology than to treat it long and hard.
To prevent and prevent the development of arrhythmia, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Treat any disease in a timely manner, especially those that affect the heart muscle. Arterial hypertension and thyroid diseases, viral infections - they lead to serious heart complications.
2. Eat right - maximum vegetables, fruits, rich in vitamins. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to those products that grow in your region and are sold in season. And most importantly, do not overeat, especially at night.
3. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol, lead an active lifestyle. If you don’t have the opportunity to go to the gym, walk more, sign up for a swimming pool, or jog in the morning.
4. Always keep your weight and blood sugar levels and blood pressure under control. This will prevent negative effects on the heart muscle and the development of arrhythmia.
5. Good rest is the key to success. You should sleep in a well-ventilated room, and choose bedding from natural fabrics.
6. And the most important thing is a minimum of negative emotions and stressful situations, more positive thoughts and positive emotions.

These tips are simple and can be followed by anyone, and the reward will be a healthy heart and a long, active life.

We bring to your attention a video describing folk remedies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia:

Contraindications and side effects

Any medication used to treat arrhythmia has its contraindications, so in no case should you take the medication yourself without being examined by a cardiologist. Self-medication can lead to irreversible and serious health consequences.

Side effects often occur when taking medications:

• decreased blood pressure;
• a significant decrease in heart rate or bradycardia;
• migraine;
• allergic reactions to drugs;
• conjunctivitis;
• dizziness;
• convulsions.

Main contraindications to taking medications for arrhythmia:

• acute heart failure;
• hypotension;
• bradycardia;
• age up to eighteen years;
• severe bronchial asthma;
• individual intolerance to drug components.

If arrhythmia is caused by psycho-emotional stress or stressful situations, then the following drugs can be used to treat it:

• Altalex;
• Nervoflux;
• Persen;
• Valoserdin;
• Xanax;
• Corvalol;
• Valerian.

Treatment and its necessity

Not all arrhythmias require treatment. Its need is determined by the type, subjective tolerance of cardiac arrhythmias, and changes in hemodynamics.

It is considered unnecessary to treat arrhythmia with a healthy heart if it does not change blood flow parameters in any way. The harm from the use of medications in this case is much greater than from the presence of heart rhythm disturbances.

Sometimes a man subjectively does not tolerate even single harmless extrasystoles or tachycardia. This happens with neuroses and panic attacks. It is necessary to recommend to such patients short-term use of medications that improve the tolerability of arrhythmia. Usually these are sedatives of plant origin (valerian, motherwort, etc.) in the form of freshly prepared infusions.

Small doses of drugs that reduce heart rate are prescribed much less frequently. A mandatory recommendation (which is often neglected by men) is treatment with a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. Attention is always paid to physical activity in the daily routine; its gradual expansion leads to the elimination of manifestations of neurosis and facilitates the perception of arrhythmias.

Men, as a rule, consider taking medications sufficient. Their perception of rhythm disturbances is accompanied by depression, impaired potency, and a negative attitude towards physical training. It’s an infrequent option when the stronger sex copes with neurosis on its own.

Other types of arrhythmias with hemodynamic disturbances, for example, atrial fibrillation, paroxysms of tachycardia with a high heart rate, and blockades are successfully treated surgically. There are many types of surgical techniques for these reasons; the choice is made by an arrhythmologist, explaining to the patient the essence of the intervention (RFA, ECS). The results of surgical treatment depend on the patient’s condition and the experience of the cardiac surgeon. From 50 to 90% of operations have good results.

Some forms of paroxysms of cardiac arrhythmias are tolerated quite successfully (supraventricular tachycardias) and are repeated rarely (once a year or several years). Their surgical treatment may be delayed indefinitely. There are cases when surgery is not advisable or the patient does not want to undergo surgery.

In such situations, drug treatment for arrhythmia is prescribed. It can be planned, with long-term use of prescribed doses of medications, or emergency (inpatient or at home) to relieve the paroxysm that has arisen. Men are characterized by carelessness in following doctor's recommendations on drug therapy. As a result, they have a higher frequency of emergency situations due to rhythm disturbances.

Traditional methods of treating arrhythmia

With various heart diseases, arrhythmia can become one of the main symptoms. To treat it, you can use not only medications, but also other auxiliary methods.

Cardiac arrhythmia, the symptoms and treatment with medications of which are indicated above, can also be treated using traditional methods. But alternative medicine cannot act as the main treatment for arrhythmia, but only as an additional method of treatment that enhances the effect of medications.

Recipes for eliminating the symptoms of the disease in question:

• Pour boiling water over the crushed viburnum berries, cover the container and leave to steep for several hours. Then filter, add a little honey, and drink the infusion before meals for a month.
• Pour boiling water over calendula flowers and let steep for thirty minutes. Take several times a day, preferably before meals.
• Grind the contents of apricot kernels, add grated lemon and a little honey. Use this mixture immediately after waking up and before going to bed.

• Pour boiling water over the berries of viburnum, hawthorn, motherwort and rose hips. Cool and place in the refrigerator. Drink once a day before meals; if desired, you can add a little honey to soften the taste.
• Grind the walnuts, grind the lemon, combine and add natural honey to the resulting mixture. This composition should be taken one teaspoon before meals.
• Combine hawthorn and propolis tincture. Take this mixture forty drops per day.
• You can add mint to regular tea or completely switch to herbal teas consisting of plants such as lemon balm, mint with lemon, etc.
• Pour boiling water over and infuse crushed strawberry leaves, drink one glass before breakfast.
• Prepare a tincture from the partitions of walnuts; for this you need to crush the partitions, place them in a glass container, add vodka. Keep in a dark place under a tight lid for two weeks. You need to take forty drops at a time before meals.

Mint tea is very useful for arrhythmia

For arrhythmias, it is very useful to eat celery, dried fruits, honey and lemon. It is advisable to review your menu and diet, excluding unhealthy foods, fatty and spicy foods, and smoked foods.

Tachycardia, alternative treatment

Tachycardia - an increase in resting heart rate - is a consequence and an indispensable companion of most diseases of the cardiovascular system, primarily arterial hypertension, myocarditis, cardiomyopathies, heart defects, vegetative-vascular dystonia, endocrine disorders and other pathological conditions.

Heart rate is the most important physiological characteristic of human health reserves; in addition, it is an independent factor in the quality of health. It has been experimentally proven that heart rate is genetically encoded by chromosome loci specially designed for it. The range of fluctuations in heart rate at rest and changes during stress are equally important. One of the fundamental characteristics is the resting heart rate. The higher it (frequency), the higher the risk. Thus, with a rate of 90-99 beats per minute versus 60, the risk of death, regardless of its cause, is three times higher.

N. M. Amosov in his “Amosov Encyclopedia” introduces strict criteria for the upper limit of resting heart rate as a measure of the state of the heart and the general level of health:

• up to 50 beats/min for men and 55 beats/min for women and boys - excellent;
• 50-65 beats/min for men and 55-70 beats/min for women and boys is good;
• 66-75 beats/min in men and 71-80 beats/min in women and boys - satisfactory.

Above 75 beats/min in men and 80 beats/min in women and boys is bad. A high resting heart rate is not just a cause for concern, but also a signal for decisive action. A malfunction of the heart means a malfunction of the entire vascular system and inevitable detrimental consequences for the entire body.

Treatment of tachycardia with folk remedies

Plants containing cardiac glycosides, fruits and vegetables containing potassium, and dairy products reduce the heart rate. If you are prone to increased heart rate, you should take a pharmacy tincture of hawthorn fruits, 20 drops 2-3 times a day with a third of a glass of warm water or light green tea. The course of treatment is 20-25 days.

• Take 1 tbsp. spoon of motherwort herb, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain, add 2-3 drops of peppermint oil, stir it in 1 teaspoon of honey. Drink slowly in sips. Drink motherwort for at least a month.
• Take equal parts calendula flowers and motherwort grass. 1 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of the mixture and leave for 2 hours. Strain, take sips in the 2nd half of the day for 2-3 weeks.
• Take valerian (root), hops (cones), lemon balm (leaves), dill (seed) - 1-2 teaspoons of each. Brew the mixture in 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain. Take a glass 3 times a day 15 minutes before meals for 2 weeks.
• Take horsetail (grass) - 10 g, motherwort (grass) - 20 g, hawthorn (flowers) - 10 g. Mix and 2 tbsp. pour spoons of the mixture into 2 glasses of water, heat in a water bath for 15 minutes, leave for 45 minutes, strain, take a quarter to a third of a glass 3-4 times a day for 2-3 weeks.
• Pour 10 g of dried hawthorn fruits or fresh berries and 1 teaspoon of celandine herb into a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes or cook for 5 minutes. Leave for another 2 hours, strain, take a third of a glass 3 times a day after meals for a month.
• Mix the juice of one lemon with 0.5 cups of chokeberry juice, 1.5 cups of cranberry juice, a glass of carrot juice, add a glass of vodka to this mixture. Stir thoroughly. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day an hour before meals. Shake the “medicine” before using.

Folk remedy for cardiac arrhythmia

• Squeeze the juice of 10 lemons into 1 liter of honey (or mince them) and grind 10 heads of garlic in a meat grinder. Mix everything and leave for a week in a sealed container. Take 2 teaspoons 2 times a day, savoring slowly.
• Take 2 tbsp. spoons of flowers with hawthorn leaves, infuse for 10 days in 100 ml of vodka or 70% alcohol, filter, store in a dark bottle. Take 20-30 drops with water 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals, course 20-30 days for functional cardiac disorder, cardiac weakness, angioneurosis, insomnia in heart patients, hyperthyroidism with tachycardia, initial forms of hypertension, atherosclerosis. Hawthorn tincture reduces the excitability of the central nervous system, tones the heart muscle, enhances coronary-cerebral circulation, and eliminates arrhythmia and tachycardia.
• Traditional medicine also offers the following remedy: take 30 g of marsh cudweed herb and 10 g of valerian officinalis root. 4 tbsp. Brew spoons of the collection in 1 liter of boiling water in a thermos, leave overnight, strain and drink 4-5 sips every hour during the day.

Prevention of tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia

Physical activity is important for the prevention of tachycardia and arrhythmia.

Rhythmoplastic gymnastics with swing exercises with a large amplitude of movements such as “mowing”, skier movements, counter swings of arms and legs at a calm pace (30-60 exercises) two or three times a day for at least 8-10 minutes, preferably with apparatus ( gymnastic stick, clubs, light dumbbells, “Health” disk). In the initial forms - leisurely swimming in the pool. In winter, the best remedy is leisurely ski walks for 1-3 hours at least 2-3 times a week, in windy weather - in the forest. From April to October - long walks in nature (short-range tourism). At one of the skiing and hiking stops, self-massage of the shoulder girdle, knee and shoulder joints is carried out. In the summer - rowing on a boat for 1-1.5 hours at a calm pace (20-24 strokes per minute), cycling, also at a calm pace, gradually increasing the distance, agricultural work, clearing snow in winter and others.

Jogging at a slow pace is recommended. You need to start it by alternating with walking (1-3 minutes of running, 1-2 minutes of walking, etc.), gradually increasing the total running time from 3 to 20-30 minutes a day (before running and after it, self-massage and rhythmoplastic exercises).

For high blood pressure and headaches or pain in the heart - mustard plasters on the neck, shoulder girdle and shoulder blades, 4-6 pieces each.

Treatment

One of the most complex areas of cardiology is arrhythmology (a separate clinical discipline dealing with the correction of various heart rhythm disorders). A pathological condition that occurs due to problems in the conduction system of the heart, which ensures the organ’s ability to perform rhythmic contractions, is called cardiac arrhythmia.

According to statistics, it makes up about 15% of the total number of heart diseases and often, in the absence of urgent treatment measures, becomes the cause of the development of heart failure and can even lead to death.

The main electrophysiological functions of cardiac tissue include automaticity, conductivity, excitability, contractility and refractivity. When conductivity (the ability of cells to conduct electrical impulses), excitability (the ability of the heart to be excited under the influence of impulses) and automatism (the automatic production of impulse signals) is impaired, the frequency, rhythm and correct sequence of heart contractions fails, i.e.

There are many reasons that provoke the development of heart rhythm disturbances. They are extracardial (outside the heart), cardiac and idiopathic.

The heart, like a powerful pump, pumps blood throughout the body. We are accustomed to his rhythmic work, but the changes in his melody are quite noticeable. Arrhythmia has pronounced manifestations. Often occur in a complex. This makes them easier to diagnose. In some cases, the violation of cardiac muscle contractions is latent and is detected during a routine medical examination.

Symptoms of arrhythmia are affected by:

• age;
• general health;
• bad habits;
• anamnesis;
• type of pathology.

These types of contractions have common and separate features that are characteristic of each pathology separately.

The patient can independently detect the violation of contractions. To do this you will need to monitor your pulse. The pulse of a healthy person is up to 80 beats in 60 seconds. Deviation from this range towards an increase or decrease in the number of beats is a sign of a disorder.

• sudden (sharp deterioration in condition);
• asymptomatic (pass unnoticed);
• chronic (cause weakness, fatigue, depression).

Women

Often the diagnosis is made based on the patient’s complaints and an objective diagnostic method - ECG. An electrocardiogram shows the picture of the disease. It is important to promptly notice the manifestations of the disease and contact a cardiologist.

Arrhythmias and in women have signs:

• feeling chest pain;
• dizziness;
• fainting;
• in a horizontal position it becomes harder to breathe;
• darkening of the eyes;
• increased temperature of unknown etiology;
• confused contractions.

Hospitalization is recommended for a woman when symptoms of arrhythmia appear for a long period of time, and also if they are accompanied by fainting. Additional symptoms are often present - nausea, severe unreasonable anxiety.

Men

According to statistics, heart attacks in the stronger half of humanity occur more often. Unlike women, atrial fibrillation is more often observed.

Signs of arrhythmia that appear in men:

• weakness;
• fast fatiguability;
• dyspnea;
• increased sweating;
• fainting;
• feeling of heaviness, chest pain;
• irregular heartbeat;
• dizziness.

Arrhythmia often causes the organ to freeze. If you have any suspicions, you can start monitoring the dynamics of your heartbeat. Signs of cardiac arrhythmia can be detected in men by regularly measuring their pulse.

Treatment of diagnosed cardiac arrhythmia is prescribed taking into account the patient’s condition, his medical history, age, and type of pathology. In some cases, it is enough to adjust the treatment of an existing chronic disease. In other situations, surgery or medication may be required.

Self-treatment is dangerous. The heart is the main organ that ensures the vital functions of the body. It requires a careful and thoughtful attitude.

When muscle tissue is severely damaged, surgery is resorted to. Types of cardiac pacing are prescribed by a cardiologist.

Treatment methods for cardiac arrhythmia do not have gender differences. To treat women, the cause of the disorder and the type of pathology are initially established, and the patient’s condition is taken into account. Depending on the degree of damage to the heart muscle tissue, treatment is prescribed:

• medicinal;
• surgical.

Arrhythmia in men is treated with the same methods as in women. The cardiologist, after a thorough analysis of the medical history, the results of studies and taking into account the patient’s condition, prescribes treatment with medications or surgery.

The heart jumps out of the chest, beats out of place - many have to experience the symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia. This term combines various pathologies of the occurrence and propagation of an electrical impulse. An abnormal pulse causes many complications due to the fact that the physiological process of heart contraction is disrupted. Cardiac arrhythmia refers to any rhythm that differs from the normal sinus rhythm, which is the norm.

If a person is diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder, he must be observed by a cardiologist and follow his recommendations. Today, medicine uses the most advanced methods to treat cardiac arrhythmia - from installing a defibrillator and pacemaker to ablation.

How to treat cardiac arrhythmia? First of all, patients are prescribed medications. Since the cause of disorders is often diseases of the heart and blood vessels (coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, heart failure, etc.), the doctor prescribes drugs to treat them.

In addition, the doctor will definitely recommend a medicine for arrhythmia - special antiarrhythmic drugs that act on ion channels. A significant disadvantage of these drugs is the many side effects. The second group of drugs are medications that reduce heart rate.

One of the methods of treating cardiac arrhythmia is radiofrequency ablation with electric current. The method involves targeted short-term exposure to high-frequency current at the source of the arrhythmia or at a place in the circuit of circular motion of the pulse during tachycardia. The operation allows you to completely eliminate the cause of cardiac arrhythmia by cauterizing the area of ​​the heart in which a pathological electrical impulse appears.

Treatment of cardiac arrhythmia by ablation is carried out with local anesthesia. During the operation, the patient is under continuous X-ray control: the doctor sees all the manipulations he performs on a special screen. The procedure begins with EPI - an electrophysiological study of the heart - in which surgeons determine the areas to be affected by current.

Then, special devices are inserted through a large vein in the thigh or under the collarbone, electrodes are delivered through them to the heart, and then the problem area is cauterized. After cauterization, the pathological impulse ceases to be carried out in the treated area.

Since ablation is a minimally invasive procedure, the patient does not require long-term hospital treatment. As a rule, he is discharged 1-2 days after the intervention. Full recovery takes 2-3 months. During this period, the patient is prescribed medication for arrhythmia.

It is recommended to adhere to normal physical activity, without overexertion and heart failure, and at the same time not to completely limit the load. In addition, it is necessary to limit the consumption of coffee and salt, eliminate alcohol, and stop smoking.

How to treat cardiac arrhythmia if medications do not help? Surgical methods will come to the rescue, the purpose of which is to restore normal heart rhythm.

One of the most common operations is the implantation of a pacemaker. This is a special box containing programmable electronic elements and a battery. Outside the pacemaker there are wires with electrodes that, during surgery, lead to the atrium and ventricle inside the blood vessels.

In fact, the pacemaker takes on the functions of the sinus node and conduction system - it generates impulses to irritate the heart muscle. The operation is performed under local anesthesia; the device is implanted under the muscle or skin through a small incision.

In case of arrhythmia, a defibrillator can also be implanted. Its functional purpose is similar to a pacemaker - the device restores synchronous contraction of fibers in the heart due to electrical discharges. The device is placed on the upper chest, and then electrodes are inserted, positioned correctly in the chest, and connected to a defibrillator.

The following medications are used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation:

• To reduce the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can cause strokes and heart attacks, and medications that “thin” the blood (anticoagulants) prevent their formation.
• To control heart rate (it should be no higher than 60 beats per minute). In the treatment of atrial fibrillation, beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, and calcium antagonists are used for this purpose - the choice depends on the patient’s health status and existing concomitant pathologies. It is better to hospitalize the patient during the selection of medications in order to monitor how the body reacts to new drugs.
• Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are prescribed to slow the heartbeat. These drugs reduce the rate at which the ventricles contract.

Sometimes a man does not tolerate tachycardia well.

Types of cardiac arrhythmia

The group of cardiac arrhythmias includes various diseases that differ in mechanism, manifestations, courses and prognostic significance. The modern classification is based on the pathogenesis of diseases and the localization of the ectopic focus.

Violation of cardiac muscle automaticity

Includes several subgroups of diseases that differ in the location of the pacemaker.

1. Nomotopic arrhythmias, in which the main generator of electrical impulses is the sinus node. This subgroup includes diseases such as sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sick sinus syndrome, and non-respiratory sinus arrhythmia.
2. Heterotopic arrhythmias are caused by the presence of the pacemaker outside the sinus node. This includes three types of rhythm disturbances: lower atrial, atrioventricular, idioventricular.

Impaired myocardial excitability

A large group of cardiac arrhythmias that are interconnected by a disorder of the excitability of the heart muscle. In a normal state, cardiomyocytes, under the influence of a stimulus, which is an electrical impulse, generate an action potential. When this mechanism is violated, the following develops:

1. Paroxysmal tachycardias, which are divided according to the localization of the pathological process into atrial, atrioventricular and ventricular.
2. Extrasystoles, the classification of which distinguishes pathological conditions according to the location of the sources (ventricular, atrial, atrioventricular), by their number (polytopic and monotopic), by the time of appearance (early, late, interpolated), by order (double, triple, disordered) and by frequency of occurrence (single, paired, group, multiple.

Conduction disorder

It can manifest itself in various ways and most often in the form of weakening of the conduction system. This mainly occurs with blockades, divided according to the localization of the pathological process into sinoauricular, intraatrial, atrioventricular, bundle branch block and Purkinje fiber block.

Increased conductivity is observed in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome). The pathology is a congenital anomaly of the structure of the heart, when, due to the presence of a shorter path, the electrical impulse moves more quickly from the atria to the ventricles.

Sometimes in the development of diseases there is a mixed pathogenesis. This occurs with atrial fibrillation, ventricular and atrial flutter. Also, to this day there are discussions regarding the effectiveness of the above classification, since it is not always possible to prescribe rational treatment when using it. Therefore, it is additionally proposed to distinguish pathological forms of arrhythmia, distinguished by the degree of adaptation to irritating factors.

Special types of arrhythmias

In clinical medicine, certain types of arrhythmias are considered separately, which require special attention. We are talking about rhythm disturbances in pregnant women, children and young people conscripted into the army.

• Arrhythmia during pregnancy

It requires doctors to be extremely attentive, since the life of not only the woman, but also the unborn child is at stake. When carrying a fetus, the load on the heart increases, the activity of the nervous and humoral systems of the body changes. Women who have been diagnosed with heart disease are primarily at risk. Also, the occurrence of arrhythmia before pregnancy can worsen the process during pregnancy.

The most common type of arrhythmia among pregnant women is extrasystoles. In most cases, they do not require specific treatment, only standard medical supervision. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation may develop, and blockades of varying severity are common. In all cases, an individual approach to the choice of treatment is required in order to cause minimal harm to the child while maintaining the health of the pregnant woman.

Any pregnant woman, and especially those with cardiac pathology, should eat right, give up bad habits, and observe a work and rest schedule. It is important to be hospitalized promptly if your condition is suspected to worsen. Having a positive attitude also helps, especially in difficult situations. Therefore, even those women who have complex heart diseases, using the necessary knowledge and the capabilities of modern medicine, can become a mother.

• Arrhythmia in children

After hypertension and heart defects, arrhythmia is in third place in terms of frequency of occurrence in childhood. Children cannot accurately describe what they feel or are not able to say at all if they cannot speak, so it is important to promptly notice symptoms that may indicate the development of an arrhythmia.

• In infants, rhythm disturbance is manifested by shortness of breath, pale or blue skin, attacks of causeless anxiety, frequent moodiness and refusal to eat, and poor sleep.
• At an older age, children may complain of fatigue after physical activity and a feeling of discomfort in the heart area. In some cases, fainting occurs.

Most often, children develop extrasystoles. This is due to the physiological characteristics of the child’s heart. But in some cases, more complex rhythm disturbances are identified that require immediate medical intervention. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most arrhythmias in children have a favorable outcome.

• Arrhythmia and conscription

Many young people of conscription age often have a question about what diseases they are not allowed into the army, that is, they are sent to the reserves. You should know that they can be 100% exempt from military service for health reasons only in extreme cases, when a medical commission has proven that the conscript is completely unfit. In other cases, options are considered: either treatment with re-examination, or confirmation of the insufficient function of certain organs. For this purpose, doctors of narrow specialties are examined, who then issue conclusions: fit or unfit.

An approximate list of diseases that require medical confirmation:

• Neoplasms, malignant and benign, not treatable.
• Obesity 3.4 degrees and diabetes of any severity.
• Endocrine diseases that do not make it possible to be on replacement therapy.
• Mental disorders.
• Addictions (drug, alcohol, toxic).
• All forms of epilepsy.
• Severe damage to the nervous system.
• Pathology of the eyes with severe visual impairment.
• Vestibular and hearing disorders.
• Heart diseases (heart failure FC 2-4, rheumatic heart disease, heart defects, severe disorders of the conduction system and pacemaker, coronary artery disease.
• Hypertension of the second and higher degrees.
• Diseases of the respiratory system.
• Pathology of teeth, jaws, gastrointestinal tract.
• Peptic ulcer disease.
• Psoriasis and some skin diseases.
• Pathology of the skeletal system and spinal curvature.
• Congenital malformations.
• Enuresis and stuttering.
• Food allergies.
• Diseases of the genitourinary system accompanied by renal failure.
• Post-traumatic consequences.

Arrhythmia in a child

Arrhythmia in a child is a common cardiac diagnosis, which is usually detected by chance, because children do not feel an irregular heart rhythm and do not complain about it. This is especially true for babies. Parents may suspect something is wrong if the baby has shortness of breath, the skin periodically turns pale or blue, he is restless, refuses to eat or sucks sluggishly, does not gain weight well, does not sleep well and cries a lot.

In older children, parents can pay attention to the striking symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia:

• weakness,
• fainting,
• feeling unwell after physical activity.

Fainting is especially alarming - previously it was considered a sign of a neurological disorder and was classified as a symptom of epilepsy. Now it has been revealed that fainting is caused by a sharp drop in pressure, and this, in turn, is caused by a violation of the heart rhythm.

The cause of arrhythmia in a child is a violation of the metabolism of potassium, magnesium and sodium, a failure in nervous regulation, congenital and acquired cardiac pathologies, and endocrine diseases. The disorder may appear after severe infectious diseases (sore throat, pneumonia), intestinal infections and poisoning with loss of fluid and impaired metabolism of potassium, magnesium, and sodium.

How to help yourself with arrhythmia

In case of a sudden attack of paroxysmal tachycardia, medical first aid techniques help:

• Take a deep breath and hold your breath. After counting to 7 or 9, exhale.
• Artificial induction of vomiting relieves an attack, but it cannot be used for a heart attack.
• Pressure on the eyeballs for several seconds.

These methods cause a reflex effect on the vagus nerve. If after several doses the attack of cardiac arrhythmia goes away, call emergency help.

Interruptions in the functioning of the heart cannot be ignored. If the arrhythmia frequently recurs and is accompanied by a deterioration in general health, you should consult a cardiologist. Arrhythmia with fainting is especially dangerous.

Potassium and magnesium deficiency in arrhythmia

Sometimes the cause of atrial fibrillation lies in the lack of vital trace elements in our body, especially potassium and magnesium. These two essential microelements help strengthen the heart muscle and support our heart. In addition, these substances significantly reduce the risk of complications. They help normalize cholesterol levels in the body and blood pressure. Maximum absorption of these microelements is achieved with the simultaneous intake of potassium and magnesium, so doctors recommend choosing combination preparations containing both microelements.

Potassium and magnesium deficiency are common. It is due to the fact that even with proper nutrition, our body is able to absorb no more than 35% of microelements from the daily norm. It is for this reason that a lack of potassium and magnesium is observed even in healthy people. For people who suffer from arrhythmias and other types of heart rhythm disorders, the situation is much worse. Some drugs for “heart disease” (for example, diuretics or diuretics) actively flush potassium and magnesium from the body; a lack of these microelements leads to an increased risk of side effects from taking medications.

To find out if a person has an electrolyte deficiency, a specialized blood test is needed. Unfortunately, this is often not done in clinical practice, so the lack of essential elements for the functioning of our heart remains unrecognized.

What is cardiac arrhythmia and why is it dangerous?

Arrhythmia is a pathological manifestation, which is based on a violation of the rhythm, frequency and contractility of the heart muscle. The norm of contractions is from 60 to 80 beats per minute; for certain needs, the rhythm can speed up or slow down, so any deviation from the norm is considered an arrhythmia.

The danger of arrhythmia is that it can lead to a number of other diseases - stroke, thromboembolism, heart attack, heart failure, as well as cardiac arrest, which leads to death. Therefore, timely diagnosis, treatment and maintenance will help avoid possible unpleasant consequences.

Prevention of cardiac arrhythmia

If the first signs of rhythm disturbance appear, you should not wait for more serious complications. You need to think about it and start strengthening your heart muscle. Therefore, in addition to organizing a proper diet and daily routine, it is recommended:

• do shaping or fitness;
• minimize quarrels and psycho-emotional stress;
• Take regular walks and, if possible, evening or morning jogging.

Video: How the heart works. Cardiac arrhythmia: symptoms, causes and treatment

4.25 Aug. rating ( 85 % score) – 4 votes – ratings

Treatment of cardiac arrhythmia

Depends on the specific type of pathology. In standard cases, treatment measures begin according to the following scheme:

• Antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed. Select the right drug from the group of direct antiarrhythmic drugs, some of which affect ion channels (rhythmonorm, amiodarone). Another group of antiarrhythmic drugs affects the conduction system and reduces the heart rate (beta blockers, glycosides).
• If there is no effect from drug therapy, non-antiarrhythmic drugs (statins, ACE inhibitors) are used, if necessary adding defibrillation in extreme cases.
• If a patient has frequent recurrent arrhythmia and his quality of life is severely impaired because of this, radiofrequency ablation is used or a pacemaker is implanted.

Traditional treatment

During the period of remission, in addition to the medications prescribed by the doctor, many patients practice traditional methods of treatment. These can be tablets or tinctures of hawthorn, motherwort, and valerian. If you are intolerant to alcohol, you can brew a soothing herb or prepare a folk remedy according to the following recipe:

• Finely chop a pound of lemon, pour in a pound of honey and add crushed kernels from 20 apricot kernels. The mixed product is consumed twice a day before meals.
• A grated apple is mixed with a finely chopped onion and taken twice a day for a month.
• Grated celery root is mixed with dill and parsley. Add mayonnaise and take a little throughout the day.

Video: Cardiac arrhythmia: new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Non-standard model.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing atrial fibrillation is not difficult. As a rule, already during a physical examination, the doctor can detect that something is wrong: a too frequent, irregular pulse. To definitively confirm the diagnosis, instrumental diagnostic methods are used, for example, electrocardiography. In order to identify the frequency and duration of attacks of atrial fibrillation, 24-hour monitoring is prescribed. Additionally, a transesophageal cardiac examination may be performed.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation, the symptoms of which are extremely life-threatening, is prescribed only by a cardiologist; do not self-medicate under any circumstances!

Replenishment of potassium and magnesium in atrial fibrillation

To eliminate potassium and magnesium deficiency, experts recommend reviewing your diet and including foods that contain potassium and magnesium. This measure is rather relevant for preventive purposes, for those who have not yet encountered various diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Patients suffering from atrial fibrillation are recommended to take medications that contain sufficient amounts of potassium and magnesium.

Today, the pharmacological market offers various drugs containing these microelements, but when choosing a product, an important point should be taken into account. The drug must contain two essential microelements at once - potassium and magnesium. Only under this condition will electrolytes be fully absorbed by the body. Drinking either potassium or magnesium separately is useless, since a deficiency of one is often accompanied by a deficiency of the other.

It is also very important that potassium and magnesium are well absorbed. For this purpose, drugs use “conductors” of potassium and magnesium in the form of various salts that increase their bioavailability. Potassium and magnesium aspartate is best known for its effectiveness.

It is contained in the drug Panangin, which is popular both among patients and doctors.