Comprehensive guide to Arrhythmia – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment


Arrhythmia – Introduction


A heart arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat. A heart arrhythmia occurs due to problems in the electrical signals that are responsible for the heartbeat. In a heart arrhythmia the heartbeat could be fast or slow with an inconsistent pattern. During an arrhythmia the patient experiences fluttering, pounding or racing heartbeat.

Dr. Nithin Annarapu of Isha Specialty Clinic, Hyderabad, is an expert cardiologist with more than a decade of experience in treating heart arrhythmias. Isha speciality clinics the patients are benefited from state of the art laboratories, treatment methodologies and follow up care.

Understanding the heart Arrhythmias


One should know that there will be times when the heart beats faster especially during exercise or slows down while sleeping. These are harmless scenarios. But the harmful arrhythmias are those when the heart beats faster uncontrollably and does not return to normalcy naturally.

The type of heart arrhythmias are:
  • Tachycardia is a condition where the heart beats faster than 100 beats a minute.
  • Bradycardia is the opposite where the heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.

What are the symptoms of Arrhythmia?


Symptoms of an arrhythmias are as follows:
  • A pounding, racing feeling or a flutter in the chest.
  • A fast heartbeat or a slow heartbeat.
  • Chest pain with shortness of breath.
  • Anxiety and sweating
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Fainting or almost fainting and dizziness

For any of the above symptoms please do not ignore them and consult a specialist. If a person has ventricular fibrillation which is a type of arrhythmia their blood pressure will dramatically drop and will collapse immediately. Without immediate medical attention the person’s breathing and pulse will stop.

What causes Arrhythmia?


The heart has four chambers, the upper two chambers are called the atria and the lower two chambers are called the ventricles.

The heart has a beautiful mechanism where electrical signals are generated from the sinus node located at the top of the heart. These electric signals move about resulting in a heart beat. When there are abnormalities in this system the heart either beats very fast or very slow causing arrhythmias. The causes are as follows:-
  • A heart attack
  • Scars from an earlier heart attack.
  • Coronary artery disease i.e., blocked arteries in the heart
  • Cardiomyopathy is a condition which alters the heart’s structure

Risk factors such as:

  • Uncontrolled Diabetes, high blood pressure.
  • Hyper or Hypo Thyroidism
  • Sleep apnea.
  • Some medicines, including those used to treat colds and allergies.
  • Excess consumption of alcohol and smoking
  • Using of drugs
  • Stress or anxiety.

Complications due to heart arrhythmia


Complications vary based on the type of heart arrhythmia. But in general the complications are as follows:
  • Blood clotting which can later lead to a stroke.
  • Heart failure and instant cardiac death.

Arrhythmias can be life threatening as they indicate an underlying heart condition that requires medical attention.

What Are the Tests to Diagnose Arrhythmia?


Expert cardiologists like Dr.Nithin Annarapu will examine you and enquire about your medical history and symptoms. After which the following tests are recommended:
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.
  • Echocardiogram uses sound waves and captures images of the beating heart.
  • Stress test during which the heart’s activity is monitored. The patient is asked to ride a stationary bicycle or walk on a treadmill.
  • Tilt table test is done if you are experiencing dizziness or light headedness. The patient’s heart rate and blood pressure are checked as they lie flat on a table.
  • Electrophysiological (EP) testing and mapping can find out where in the heart the faulty signaling is happening.

How to immediately help someone experiencing an Arrhythmia?


If you see someone is experiencing an arrhythmia, please stay calm and take the following actions:
  • Be with them and make them sit or lie down based on their comfort levels.
  • Let them take slow, deep breaths to regulate heart rate.
  • If you can note down their pulse rate which will be helpful to share later with their doctor.
  • Call for immediate medical help.

You can save someone’s life by taking immediate action when you see someone with an arrhythmia.

How to prevent Arrhythmia?


Leading a healthy lifestyle is the key to managing any great related complications. Try these heart healthy methods:
  • Quit smoking
  • Your diet should be low in salt and saturated fats
  • Exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week.
  • Watch out for your weight.
  • Adapt stress management methods.
  • Normalisation of your high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes is crucial.
  • Maintain 7 to 9 hours daily sleep.
  • Cut down on caffeine and alcohol.

This heart-healthy lifestyle keeps the heart’s electrical system normal.

Treatment Options for Arrhythmia at Isha Speciality Clinics


Treatment for a heart arrhythmia depends on the type of arrhythmia the person has, that is if the heart is beating faster or slower. Treatment methodology usually includes medicines, vagal maneuvers, surgery.

Medications

  • Medicines help regulate the heart beat, heart rate and rhythm. Blood thinners may be given to prevent blood clots.

Therapies

  • Vagal maneuvers are specific actions to slow down the heart rate which is accomplished by controlling the vagus nerve. This method doesn’t work for all types of arrhythmias.
  • Cardioversion where an electrical shock is given to the heart with the help of paddles or patches on the chest. This procedure helps reset the heart rhythm.

Surgery or other procedures


The surgeries used to treat heart arrhythmias include:
  • Catheter ablation is done by placing cathetes is ith sensor tips that create tiny scars in your heart. The scars help block the irregular heart signals and reset the heartbeat.
  • Pacemaker is an external device that’s placed in the chest to help control the heartbeat.
  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is an external device placed under the skin near the collarbone that continuously checks the heart rhythm. When the heart beat becomes irregular it sends out low- or high-energy shocks to reset the heart’s rhythm.
  • Coronary bypass graft surgery is done in very advanced cases of coronary artery disease along with an irregular heartbeat.

About Isha Specialty Clinic, Hyderabad


Isha Specialty Clinic is the best Hospital in Manikonda for your heart care and child care. For all your heart related care we are a one stop solution. Our expert team of doctors and state of the art labs offer you comprehensive heart care services. When you visit us you will experience the best paediatric care, children nutrition advice and best cardiologist treatment in Hyderabad. Isha Specialty clinics are located at various convenient locations in Hyderabad such as Manikonda, Gachibowli, Banjara Hills and Toli Chowki, Mehdipatnam, Narsingi, Alkapur township.

Our expert team of doctors


Dr. Nithin Annarapu – MBBS, MD – General Medicine, DM – Cardiology


Dr. Nithin Annarapu has more than a decade of heart care experience. 18 Years Experience Overall (12 years as heart specialist). Dr. Nithin Annarapu Annarapu is an Interventional Cardiologist in Manikonda Hyderabad and has an experience of 18 years in heart treatment, surgeries and cardiac procedures. He has saved many lives with his excellent treatments for heart arrhythmias. He has done numerous surgeries and other medical procedures for fixing the heart beat irregularities.Dr. Nithin Annarapu is practicing at Isha Speciality Clinics Manikonda, near Gachibowli in Hyderabad. He completed MBBS from Siddhartha Medical College & Research in 2002, MD – General Medicine from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad in 2006 and DM – Cardiology from Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad in 2010.

Dr. Swathy Talishetty – MBBS (Osmania), MD (Niloufer) – Child and Newborn Specialist (Paediatric Doctor)


Dr. Swathy Talishetty is a top rated child care specialist. Dr.Swathy is an alumnus of Osmania Medical College where she completed her MBBS in 2007 and later on pursued her MD in Pediatrics from Niloufer Hospital in 2012. Dr Talishetty Swathi has specialized in:-
  • Newborn and infant care
  • Immunization
  • Growth and development monitoring
  • Preterm baby management
  • Childhood overweight management.

Dr. Swathy Talishetty’s compassionate approach, combined with her in-depth knowledge of pediatric nutrition, enables her to offer comprehensive care that addresses both medical and nutritional needs of children, ensuring their healthy growth and development. Get children treatment and pediatric nutrition consultation with Dr. Swathy Talishetty at Isha Speciality Clinics Manikonda, nearby Gachibowli and Narsingi areas in Hyderabad.

Major Treatments at Isha Speciality Clinics


Heart treatment

  • Mitral valve replacement surgery
  • Heart valve replacement and repair
  • Coronary Angioplasty
  • Coronary Angiogram
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Angioplasty

Pain treatment

  • Thoracic epidural injections
  • Cervical epidural injections
  • Intraarticular joint injections
  • Nerve Block
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy
  • Lumbar Epidural Injections

Pediatric Care

  • Newborn and infant care
  • Immunization
  • Growth and development monitoring
  • Preterm baby management
  • Childhood overweight management.

For guidance and check-ups, call 96760 70203 today. Our expert cardiologists at Isha Specialty Clinic will guide you with personalized heart care plans.

For expert heart care and heart arrhythmias treatment, book a consultation today at Isha Specialty Clinic, Hyderabad (Call: 96760 70203).

For emergency care or appointments, contact Isha Heart Clinic, Manikonda – Hyderabad at 96760 7020 Dr. Nithin Annarapu Book an appointment today for expert heart care!

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