Heart Arrhythmia
This Kind of heart arrhythmia characteristically feels like a skipped beat, followed by a heavy thud. The occasional palpitation that does not affect your general health is nothing to worry about. However, consistent irregularities of the heartbeat should be investigated by a doctor.
If palpitations are accompanied by light-headedness, fainting or chest-pain, you should seek urgent medical help by calling triple zero (000).
Symptoms of Arrhythmia
The symptoms of more serious heart arrhythmia include:
- Persistent palpitations that feel like pounding, galloping or fluttering
- Chest Pain
- Dizziness or Fainting
- Sweating
- Shortness of Breath
- Light-Headedness
- Fullness in the throat or neck.
Drugs can cause Arrhythmia
Some cases of Arrhythmia can be traced to certain medications or drugs, including:
- Appetite suppressants
- Beta blockers
- Caffeine
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Nicotine in cigarettes
- Some asthma medications
- Thyroid medications.
Treatment
Depending on the kind of arrhythmia, options for treating grave cases of heart arrhythmia comprise:
- Medication - to 'stabilize' the rhythm.
- A pacemaker - A Small electronic device that electrically stimulates the heart to maintain an appropriate heart rate.
- Defibrillation - Mild electrical current to 'reset' the heartbeat.
- Electrophysiology Study - A Type of 'keyhole surgery' for the heart where the site of the arrhythmia is located with specially designed catheters and eliminated by one or more bursts of radio frequency energy.
