Arrhythmia and Dysrhythmia are the popular terms often heard associated with heart diseases. But what are they? Are they the same? Well, that is what we are going to discuss in this article.
Cardiac Arrhythmia and Dysrhythmia essentially means the same, a variation in the rhythm of the heart. To put it in simple words, it is a variation in the normal heartbeat. The word Arrhythmia is used when there is a lack of a normal rhythm which can be a chronic disease & Dysrhythmia is used when there is an abnormality with an otherwise normal rhythm.
But what causes arrhythmia & Dysrhythmia? Before we discuss the causes of cardiac arrhythmia & dysrhythmia let’s have a look at the basic working of a human heart & how does the heartbeat?
How does the heartbeat?
The human heart is an organ with 4 chambers that is responsible for the continuous circulation of oxygenated blood across a human body. What you feel as a heartbeat is an electrical impulse that is contracting/expanding the 4 chambers of your heart pushing blood in and out of the chambers.
The 4 chambers of the heart are split into two upper chambers (right & left auricle) & two lower chambers (left & right ventricle). For the heart, to normal function, the chambers in the heart have to function in a rhythm.
For a better understanding, let’s have a look at the functioning of a heart in a nutshell.
- CO2-rich blood from different body parts reaches the right auricle which is then pushed to the right ventricle.
- The right ventricle pushes the CO2-rich blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
- Oxygen-rich blood reaches the left auricle which is pumped to the left ventricle.
- Oxygen-rich blood is pumped to various organs from the left ventricle.
For this cycle to properly function it is important that the heartbeats (cardiac cycles) are in rhythm.
It is the sinus node in the heart that produces electric impulses that normally start each heartbeat. This electrical impulse first triggers the auricle, initiating the flow of blood to the ventricles. After a small delay, the electrical impulse is passed on to the ventricle to trigger the pumping out of the heart.
Cardiac arrhythmia & dysrhythmia occurs when this electrical signaling is disrupted due to many reasons such as
- Genetic reasons
- Heart attacks
- Malfunctioning of heart implants
- High blood pressure
- Possible viral infections
- Sustained medications for blood pressure, cold, or allergies
- Excessive stress
- High levels of alcohol consumption and other drugs
All these reasons can contribute to different types of arrhythmias which have to be taken care of with respective treatment methodologies. Let’s dive a little deep into this.
What are the different types of arrhythmia?
1. Supraventricular arrhythmia
Supraventricular arrhythmia affects the upper chambers of the heart. There are different types of supraventricular arrhythmia as well.
- Atrial fibrillation
The condition in which the atria contracts very quickly and at irregular intervals causing them to fall out of sync with the ventricles. This condition has an increased risk of complications such as heart failure, stroke or dementia.
- Atrial flutter
The situation is similar to that of atrial fibrillation where the atria beat faster than ventricles. Thus the atria and ventricles lose their sync, but it is not that irregular as fibrillation.
- Atrial premature complex (PAC)
In this case, premature heartbeats arise from the atria. This type of arrhythmia causes palpitations or the feeling of a skip of a beat.
- Atrial paroxysmal tachycardia (PAT)
Paroxysmal tachycardia starts and ends suddenly. It is a faster heart rate that has its origin in the atria. If it persists, it will feel like the heart skipping beats continuously.
2. Ventricular arrhythmia
As per the terminology, it affects the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. The several types of ventricular arrhythmia include:
- Ventricular fibrillation
The condition in which the electrical signals are wrongly sent to the ventricles. As a result, the heart fails to pump blood to the rest of the body. This is a serious condition that can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
- Ventricular tachycardia
It is a rapid heart rate that has its origin in ventricles, if persisted more than a few seconds can be nasty. It can lead to ventricular fibrillation if left unnoticed.
- Ventricular premature complexes (PVC)
A premature heartbeat originates from the ventricles which usually is felt as a skip of the heartbeat.
3. Bradyarrhythmia
Bradyarrhythmia is a condition where the heartbeat falls to less than 60 beats per minute.
How to measure your heart rate?
Now that we have discussed arrhythmias, let’s have a look at how to measure your heart rate.
Step 1: Relax
You should be resting while you are checking the heart rate. If you are just back from an exercise or have consumed caffeine-containing beverages, please avoid calculating the heart rate.
Step 2: Find your pulse
Find your pulse either on the inside of your wrist or on the side of your neck. These are the most common areas you can find.
Step 3: Count
Once you are confident about the pulse feel, use two fingers to count the pulse. The thumb should be avoided as there is a minor pulse over it. You can count the number of pulses per 60 seconds or 15 seconds and multiply it by 4.
Step 4: Repeat
The procedure should be repeated several times, preferably more than thrice to find an average.
What are the complications of Arrhythmias?
Arrhythmias won’t be life-threatening unless they are severe. Mild arrhythmias will cause some uncomfortable symptoms but they won’t cause major issues. Whereas, severe arrhythmias can lead to heart failure, stroke, sudden cardiac arrest, or dementia.
To sum up
As said, Arrhythmias and dysrhythmias are two interrelated terminologies used to describe ailing heart conditions. No matter what you term the variations in heartbeat rate, they have to be promptly treated.
It is advised to have an automatic pulse & BP monitor at home, especially if you have elders. Ideally, if you are over the age of 40 checking your pulse & BP once a week is highly recommended. While you can use fingers to count your heartbeat, you can’t be certain about the accuracy unless you are a professional.
This is why it is recommended to get a pulse apparatus to do the job. Feel free to visit medonthego for medical instruments and their services. Find your instrument now.
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