Dangers of irregular heartbeat
Published Nov 17, 2018 01:51 pm
Have you experienced moments when, for no reason, you feel a quick and heavy thumping in your chest and you are suddenly out of breath? Or sometimes your heartbeat seems to slow down and you feel faint and numb?
You may be experiencing arrhythmia, a warning sign for heart disease. If these are happening to you often and getting progressively worse, sit back, take a deep breath and read on.
Dr. Hsu Li Fern, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist from the Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore, reveals the causes of and treatments for this irregularity of the heartbeat.
Dr. Hsu Li Fern
(MANILA BULLETIN) Dr. Hsu is a specialist on heart rhythm abnormalities, the evaluation and treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter, as well as sudden cardiac death. He has performed procedures like catheter ablation, implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators, and has conducted lectures and teaching demonstrations in various medical schools and hospitals around the world. “Our heartbeats are controlled by electrical currents in our body. The sinus node in our heart monitors how much blood our body needs, and sends electrical impulses to our heart to contract at the correct pace our bodies need. Normally, our resting heart rate is between 60 to 100 beats per minute; and this speeds up during exercise or stressful situations. That’s completely normal,” explained Dr Hsu. An arrhythmia is a group of conditions where the rate or rhythm of the heart beating is abnormal. During an arrthythmia, the heartbeat may be too fast, too slow or irregular. Symptoms of arrhythmia include:
(MANILA BULLETIN)
● Heart palpitations (fluttering, skipped or extra heartbeats)
● Difficulty in breathing
● Tightness and chest pain
● Fainting
His advice for those who have experienced these symptoms: “If you often experience the sensation of a missed heartbeat or a random extra heartbeat, for an extended period of time, or in conjunction with other symptoms, your body may be sending you a message. Arrhythmias can be caused by stress, an infection or fever, medication and other stimulants like drugs or alcohol, but they may also be signs of potential heart diseases.”
(MANILA BULLETIN)
He explained that “you may be suffering from ectopic beats, atrial fibrillation or heart block, alone, or with other serious heart conditions. You may suffer from congenital heart defects like the long QT syndrome, an inherited disorder that can trigger sudden and severe arrhythmias. Or you may have sick sinus syndrome, where the sinus node in your heart is malfunctioning.”
Other causes of arrythmia include:
● Hypertension
● Thyroid problems
● Lung disorders
● High blood sugar
● Recent surgical procedures
What can you do if you have experienced these symptoms?
If you experience the mentioned symptoms regularly, see your doctor who will advise you to take the following tests:
- An echocardiogram: a type of ultrasound that provides a view of the structures of the heart to evaluate its condition
- An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): a test that assesses the electrical impulses of the heart
- A stress test: to monitor your heart rate while you walk, run or climb on a treadmill or a similar exercise machine.
- A heart monitor: is a battery-operated device that a patient wears for 24 to 48 hours to keep track of his heartbeat.
- A cardiac catheterisation: is a procedure where a catheter is inserted into the patient’s large blood vessel to gather information on the heart’s condition.
What are the available treatments?
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Your treatment will be determined by your doctors based on your specific condition. This may range from medication to other interventions like electrical cardioversion, a type of electrical shock used on cardiology patients to reset the heart rhythm. If you need a long-term solution, especially for conditions like supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, your doctor might recommend a catheter ablation procedure, during which a catheter is introduced into the heart to ablate/ destroy the abnormal tissue that is causing the arrhythmia.
If your heart rhythm is too slow, your doctors may recommend fitting you with a pacemaker, a fist-size electrical device that is implanted in your chest to control the beating of your heart.
In cases where your heart beats too fast or irregularly, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may be placed in your chest to monitor your heartbeat and deliver electrical pulses to restore a normal heart rhythm. As a last resort, a heart surgery may be required.
Maintaining a healthy heart
Dr Hsu’s final advice: “It is important for everyone to keep their heart healthy. Get plenty of exercise, cut out cigarettes, reduce alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, beans and lean meats. Avoid processed food high in salt and trans fats content. These are ways to protect your heart from arrhythmias and heart diseases.”
If you feel the symptoms described above, get yourself checked up by your doctor or a heart rhythm specialist.
For more information about the heart disease and other condition, visit www.mountelizabeth.com.sg/healthplus.
Dr. Hsu Li Fern(MANILA BULLETIN) Dr. Hsu is a specialist on heart rhythm abnormalities, the evaluation and treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter, as well as sudden cardiac death. He has performed procedures like catheter ablation, implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators, and has conducted lectures and teaching demonstrations in various medical schools and hospitals around the world. “Our heartbeats are controlled by electrical currents in our body. The sinus node in our heart monitors how much blood our body needs, and sends electrical impulses to our heart to contract at the correct pace our bodies need. Normally, our resting heart rate is between 60 to 100 beats per minute; and this speeds up during exercise or stressful situations. That’s completely normal,” explained Dr Hsu. An arrhythmia is a group of conditions where the rate or rhythm of the heart beating is abnormal. During an arrthythmia, the heartbeat may be too fast, too slow or irregular. Symptoms of arrhythmia include:
(MANILA BULLETIN)
● Heart palpitations (fluttering, skipped or extra heartbeats)
● Difficulty in breathing
● Tightness and chest pain
● Fainting
His advice for those who have experienced these symptoms: “If you often experience the sensation of a missed heartbeat or a random extra heartbeat, for an extended period of time, or in conjunction with other symptoms, your body may be sending you a message. Arrhythmias can be caused by stress, an infection or fever, medication and other stimulants like drugs or alcohol, but they may also be signs of potential heart diseases.”
(MANILA BULLETIN)
He explained that “you may be suffering from ectopic beats, atrial fibrillation or heart block, alone, or with other serious heart conditions. You may suffer from congenital heart defects like the long QT syndrome, an inherited disorder that can trigger sudden and severe arrhythmias. Or you may have sick sinus syndrome, where the sinus node in your heart is malfunctioning.”
Other causes of arrythmia include:
● Hypertension
● Thyroid problems
● Lung disorders
● High blood sugar
● Recent surgical procedures
What can you do if you have experienced these symptoms?
If you experience the mentioned symptoms regularly, see your doctor who will advise you to take the following tests:
- An echocardiogram: a type of ultrasound that provides a view of the structures of the heart to evaluate its condition
- An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): a test that assesses the electrical impulses of the heart
- A stress test: to monitor your heart rate while you walk, run or climb on a treadmill or a similar exercise machine.
- A heart monitor: is a battery-operated device that a patient wears for 24 to 48 hours to keep track of his heartbeat.
- A cardiac catheterisation: is a procedure where a catheter is inserted into the patient’s large blood vessel to gather information on the heart’s condition.
What are the available treatments?
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Your treatment will be determined by your doctors based on your specific condition. This may range from medication to other interventions like electrical cardioversion, a type of electrical shock used on cardiology patients to reset the heart rhythm. If you need a long-term solution, especially for conditions like supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, your doctor might recommend a catheter ablation procedure, during which a catheter is introduced into the heart to ablate/ destroy the abnormal tissue that is causing the arrhythmia.
If your heart rhythm is too slow, your doctors may recommend fitting you with a pacemaker, a fist-size electrical device that is implanted in your chest to control the beating of your heart.
In cases where your heart beats too fast or irregularly, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may be placed in your chest to monitor your heartbeat and deliver electrical pulses to restore a normal heart rhythm. As a last resort, a heart surgery may be required.
Maintaining a healthy heart
Dr Hsu’s final advice: “It is important for everyone to keep their heart healthy. Get plenty of exercise, cut out cigarettes, reduce alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, beans and lean meats. Avoid processed food high in salt and trans fats content. These are ways to protect your heart from arrhythmias and heart diseases.”
If you feel the symptoms described above, get yourself checked up by your doctor or a heart rhythm specialist.
For more information about the heart disease and other condition, visit www.mountelizabeth.com.sg/healthplus.