Cardiac arrhythmias: our treatment is at the cutting edge

Cardiac arrhythmias: symptoms

How do you know if you have a heart arrhythmia? The symptoms can be very different. Some people hardly notice the arrhythmia, others experience significant discomfort. The most common symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia include:

• heart palpitations (palpitations),
• skipping or skipping beats,
• feeling 'pressure' or discomfort in the chest,
• dizziness, fainting or even a brief loss of consciousness,
• shortness of breath and fatigue,
• feeling weak or restless.

If you don't know how to get rid of an arrhythmia and are experiencing any of the symptoms, don't wait to see our doctors. Early diagnosis and examination of the heart can save your life.

Sinus arrhythmia and other types of arrhythmias

A sinus arrhythmia is a heart rhythm disorder that originates in the sinoatrial node - the natural "transmission centre" of the heart. It most often occurs in the form of a respiratory (breathing) arrhythmia, which is quite common and physiological, especially in children and young people. A respiratory arrhythmia changes the rhythm of the heart in response to breathing - it speeds up on inspiration, slows down on expiration. In a healthy individual, this type of arrhythmia is not dangerous and usually requires no treatment.

We further distinguish several types according to the rate of heart activity:

• Bradycardia - slow heart rate (below 60 beats per minute)
• Tachycardia - accelerated heart rate (above 100 beats per minute)
• Atrial fibrillation - the most common type, very irregular and fast rhythm
• Ventricular arrhythmias - more serious disturbances arising in the lower part of the heart, can be life-threatening
• Extrasystoles - premature contractions of the heart, often benign, but can signal a more serious condition

Causes of cardiac arrhythmia: what triggers it?

The causes of cardiac arrhythmia can be different - some we can control (for example, arrhythmia from stress), others we can't. The most common include:

• stress and psychology (mental strain, anxiety, fatigue),
• excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol or nicotine,
• use of certain drugs or medicines,
• hormonal changes (for example, during pregnancy, menopause or thyroid disease),
• high blood pressure, heart failure or heart attack,
• hereditary predisposition.

If you're worried about heart arrhythmia, what to limit should be clear by now: caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, drugs and certain medications. But it's always very important to see a doctor.

Arrhythmia of the heart: treatment

Therapy depends on the type and severity of the arrhythmia. We focus on a comprehensive approach to treatment that includes:

• Electrocardiography (ECG arrhythmia) - basic diagnosis of heart rhythm, called echocardiography. The basis of the examination is the ECG curve, which captures the electrical activity of the heart and allows the doctor to detect various forms of arrhythmia.
• Holter monitoring - in some cases, monitoring over a longer period of time is needed using a device called a Holter, which monitors the ECG even during sleep and normal daily activities by continuously measuring the ECG for 24 to 48 hours.
• Laboratory tests - to check for any hormonal or metabolic causes.
• Pharmacotherapy - medication to modify the rhythm or thin the blood (a method of treatment especially for atrial fibrillation).
• Catheter ablation - elimination of cardiac arrhythmia through removal of pathological electrical pathways.
• Pacemaker or defibrillator implantation - surgery for severe rhythm disturbances.

In recent years, advanced approaches have emerged that are changing the way we look at cardiac arrhythmias - new treatments often combine modern catheterisation techniques with targeted drug therapy. Thanks to these methods, many patients can achieve a significant improvement in quality of life without the need for lifelong medication.

What happens if you don't treat the arrhythmia?

Heart arrhythmias (symptoms) should not be underestimated. Failure to treat a heart arrhythmia can lead to:

• stroke (especially in atrial fibrillation where there is a risk of blood clot formation),
• heart failure - prolonged irregular rhythms exhaust the heart muscle,
• sudden cardiac arrest - can be fatal in severe ventricular arrhythmias.