The transmission of pacemaker causes heartbeat, which can effectively transport blood to all parts of the body. Some people's heart current conduction may appear "short circuit or loop", which is the cause of irregular heartbeat. This irregular heartbeat is called "arrhythmia", and there are many types and reasons for arrhythmia. Most people often have a fast heartbeat or occasionally "miss one or two heartbeats", but for most people, it is not the main sign of abnormal heart structure.
Find out how to beat your heart.
Many people go to the hospital for help when they have heart palpitations. When they hung up the phone and went to see the doctor, their heartbeat was normal again. In order to get a correct diagnosis, patients need to make some records to help doctors find out the cause. Including the seizure, is it sudden or slow? Pulse frequency, irregular? Do you have dizziness, cold sweat, chest tightness and other symptoms?
Dr. Ke Qinwen said that in addition to consultation and auscultation, cardiologists will also arrange general electrocardiogram, exercise electrocardiogram and echocardiography according to the condition. For patients with uncertain attack frequency, there are several special diagnostic tools:
◆ Holter monitor: This portable ECG recorder not only has the function of recording arrhythmia, but also has the analysis of heart rate variability, which is helpful to assess the risk of sudden death.
◆ Event monitors: wrist type, card type, ring type, etc. It's the size of a CD-ROM Walkman, which can be worn for days or even weeks. After being attacked, you can record the abnormal heartbeat by pressing the switch immediately. It is suitable for patients without daily attacks or abnormal 24-hour electrocardiogram.
◆ Inclined bed test: The patient lies on a special bed with an inclination of 70 degrees for 20 ~ 40 minutes, and observes the frequency and regularity of heartbeat and the changes of blood pressure. It can be used for the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric syncope and the evaluation of curative effect after treatment.
◆ Electrophysiological examination: It belongs to invasive examination. It is suitable for patients with severe symptoms, high-risk groups, complicated arrhythmia or recurrent attacks. In the cardiac catheterization room, electrodes were placed in the heart through inguinal vessels to record the ECG changes and heart rhythm conduction paths in the heart. If necessary, stimulate the heart to induce arrhythmia in order to find the problem, thus establishing the basis for diagnosis and treatment.
The way to keep the heart beating normally.
How should arrhythmia be treated? Mayo Medical Center in the United States pointed out that after evaluation and diagnosis, doctors will decide the treatment plan according to the degree of influence of symptoms on life (such as frequent fainting without warning) and whether arrhythmia worsens or will lead to other complications.
Some arrhythmias do not need treatment. We only need to keep a regular life routine, relax and be less angry, properly adjust emotions and pressures, and avoid sources that stimulate sympathetic nerve excitement, such as cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, cola, tea, etc., which can effectively improve symptoms.
When arrhythmia is complicated with hypertension, coronary artery obstruction or heart failure, these cardiovascular problems should be treated together with arrhythmia.
There are many antiarrhythmic drugs. Doctors will choose appropriate drugs according to the type of arrhythmia and the cause of heart disease. If you feel uncomfortable taking these drugs, you should inform your doctor immediately, because antiarrhythmic drugs sometimes induce new arrhythmia.
For arrhythmia with slow heartbeat, a pacemaker can be installed. It can adjust the heart rate of patients who sleep, walk, exercise and other activities. For arrhythmia with rapid heartbeat, we can first find abnormal conduction pathway or abnormal discharge focus through cardiac catheter, and then use electrocautery to make the focus lose conduction function and cure it.
There is a woman 19 years old who often hangs up in the emergency department because of chest pain and rapid heartbeat exceeding 150 times per minute. After examination, it was found that her heart had an extra conduction circuit than ordinary people, which would lead to arrhythmia. After electrocautery treatment, she got rid of the palpitation that had been entangled for many years.
For the most serious and potentially fatal arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, implantable ventricular defibrillators can be used to save lives. Once the attack occurs, the defibrillator will immediately sense and automatically shock ventricular fibrillation within a few seconds, restore the normal speed and regularity of heartbeat, and prevent the patient from sudden death.
In any case, extremely irregular, too fast or too slow heartbeat may cause greater danger to patients. It is suggested that if you have had these heart rhythm problems, you should see a family doctor, especially the evaluation of arrhythmia.
The examination of arrhythmia can be judged by ECG or dynamic ECG monitoring. Holt's action electrocardiogram is a portable recorder, which is placed on the patient and records the heartbeat continuously for 24 hours. Therefore, the examining doctor can determine the type and cause of arrhythmia.
However, some types of arrhythmia can be fatal. And its diagnosis and treatment must be handled by more complicated techniques. In the past 10 years, the medical field has made great progress in the field of cardiac electrophysiology. We can find out the rhythm point that causes irregular heart rhythm by inserting cardiac catheter device, and remove the "ring" that causes abnormal conduction by radiofrequency cautery.
In adults, heart diseases such as myocardial infarction, excessive alcohol, caffeine and smoking may lead to rapid heartbeat or irregular heartbeat. In pediatric patients, arrhythmia may be caused by heart inflammation, structural abnormalities, maternal diseases, drugs or other unknown reasons. In any case, when you have any symptoms of tachycardia or palpitation, especially if you don't feel tired, you should seek medical advice and assistance.