Arrhythmia Treatment

Cardiac dysrhythmia can also be called arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat. Cardiac dysrhythmia is part of a heterogeneous group of conditions that consists of abnormal electrical activity in the heart. An example of this is a heartbeat that is too fast or too slow, and a heart beat that is regular or irregular.

Arrhythmias can be medical emergencies that are life threatening and can sometimes result in cardiac arrest. Abnormal awareness of heartbeat, also known as palpitations, is a symptom that is caused by arrhythmias.  Atrial/ventricular fibrillation, wire faults, and technical and mechanical issues in cardiac defibrillators/pacemakers have been known to cause these palpitations. Some arrhythmias are not associated with any symptoms, which may incline the patient to a possible stroke or embolism.

There are arrhythmias that are minor and not life threatening at all. On occasion most people will feel their heart skip a beat or even feel their heart give an extra strong beat. Both of these situations are no reason to feel alarmed.

A frequent occurrence of pre-existing arrhythmias is known as proarrhythmia, which is paradoxically precipitated by antiarrhythmic therapy. This means that it is a side effect that is associated with the use of existing antiarrhythmic drugs, as well as any other drugs used for other indications.  In all, it is a tendency that links antiarrhythmic drugs with the emergence of new arrhythmias.

A normal phenomenon of mild acceleration and slowing of the heart rate that occurs with breathing in and out is known as sinus arrhythmia. This is very common amongst children, and is usually decreases with age. Sinus arrhythmia is also present during meditation breathing exercise that involves very deep inhaling and breath holding patterns.