Irregular pulse: causes, symptoms and prevention

If the pulse beats irregularly

The pulse is the effect of the heart's action on the blood vessels and is easy to measure on the underside of the wrist. An irregular pulse is therefore not a specific disease, but can have various causes. These include, for example, stress, thyroid dysfunction and potassium deficiency. We take serious and sustained cardiac arrhythmia as rapid heartbeat or palpitations true, in severe cases, even when exposing the heart beat. If these symptoms occur, a doctor should be consulted in order to avoid life-threatening complications.

Irregular pulse: definition and symptoms

A normal heart rhythm at rest is 60 to 80 beats per minute. The heart divinebeautytips   generates the necessary electrical activity by means of the sinus node in the upper part of the right atrium. These impulses arrive at the atrioventricular nodes and via the bundles of His, the fascicles in the ventricles and the Purkinje fibers in the heart muscles. During physical work or stress, the pulse becomes faster, while sleeping, the heart beats more slowly. The autonomic nervous system sends the information responsible for this to the sinus node.

With cardiac arrhythmias, the pulse beats irregularly. If this happens only rarely, then we usually do not notice it. On the other hand, we perceive severe or marketingmediaweb   permanent cardiac arrhythmias as palpitations or palpitations. They can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures, chest pain and tightness, and even life-threatening shock.

The heart reacts to stress and exertion. When we get angry or excited, it makes the pulse faster, but when we sleep, the heartbeat decreases.

Various disorders

Heart rhythm disorders include:

1) Ventricular fibrillation : Here the ventricle contracts techcrunchblog   quickly and in an uncoordinated manner, with over 320 beats per minute. The heart can hardly pump anymore and cardiac arrest occurs. That leads to death in a few minutes.

2) AV block : Here the transmission between the atrium and the ventricle is disturbed. As a result, the heartbeat slows down to cardiac arrest.

3) In the SA block , the conduction of excitation nanobiztech    between the sinus node and the atrium is blocked.

4) In sick sinus syndrome , the sinus node is disturbed and the heartbeat is either too slow or irregular.

What is the doctor doing?

If you have symptoms of an irregulars heartbeat, you globalmarketingbusiness   should definitely consult a doctor. It recognizes from the cardiac current curve whether the heart is beating too fast, too slowly or arrhythmically. To do this, he uses an electrocardiogram.

causes

Irregular heart rate is not a specific condition, it can have various causes.

On the one hand, there are a lot of external factors: These include stress, arousal and fear. Anxiety disorders in particular are often associated with an irregular pulse. People who suffer from it repeatedly get into a state of excitement in which the pulse beats quickly. However, the body cannot keep up with this in the long term, and so the pulse often beats too slowly outside the state of excitement.

Possible triggers are caffeine, alcohol, and some drugs in excess. As a side effect, antidepressants can affect the pulse rate. A bloated stomach and febrile infections also affect the pulse rate.

Martial artists know the carotid sinus node. It sits on the carotid artery. If someone hits it, if a shirt is too tight or if we have overstretched our necks, this can slow the heartbeat. In self-defense courses, the participants learn to knock an opponent out by hitting this area with the edge of their hand.

A variety of organic causes can lead to an irregular pulse. These include, above all, various diseases of the heart: cardiac muscle diseases , coronary artery disease , myocardial infarction , an inflammation of the myocardium or a heart valve defect.

High blood pressure leads to an irregular pulse just like an electrolyte disturbance or a disturbed thyroid gland.

The causes of an irregular pulse are in detail:

1. Excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol and drugs
2. Side effects of drugs such as antidepressants
3. Infections and fever
4. Coronary artery disease
5. Heart attack
6. Heart muscle disease
7. Myocarditis
8. Valvular heart disease
9. Genetic disorders
10. high blood pressure
11. Potassium deficiency
12. Hyperthyroidism
13. Hypothyroidism
14. In women going through menopause, too, often - mostly harmless - heart stumbling occurs.

potassium

Potassium is mainly found in the cells, more precisely in the spaces between the cells. There is little of the mineral in the rest of the body. Potassium and sodium control the body's water balance.

The vital substance is essential to pass on impulses in the nerve and muscle cells, the mineral plays a very special role because this also applies to the cells of the heart muscle. It cannot function without potassium.

We still need the vital mineral to build up protein and set various enzymes in motion. Converting carbohydrates into energy is also not possible without potassium.

Acne and gas

If the potassium levels in the body falls below 3.2 mmol / l, then there is a potassium deficiency. It manifests itself with exhaustion , concentration problems, nervousness and loss of appetite. In addition, there is a sluggish bowel, flatulence and constipation . Headache , dizziness, and tired muscles are typical symptoms.

Wounds do not heal well, the skin dries up, acne spreads, and people have difficulty urinating.

Potassium is necessary for stable blood pressure, and blood pressure has a direct effect on the heartbeat.

Caution, risk of death

If we have less than 2.5 mmol / l potassium in the organism, this is no longer just unpleasant, but can lead to death. Then the transmitters between nerve and muscle cells are inoperative and the whole system collapses.

The heart rhythm is irregular or too fast, edema forms in the tissue. If you have already had a heart condition, this can mean the end. The muscle weakness turns into paralysis, you lose consciousness and fall into a coma.

How does potassium deficiency arise?

Inadequate nutrition can be responsible: if you consume too much salt and at the same time too little potassium-containing food, this can result in an undersupply.

Another cause is illness. Excessive vomiting and severe diarrhea can prevent the body from absorbing potassium. An overactive thyroid gland also blocks the supply of potassium. When the thyroid produces too much hormones, there is a mismatch between every mineral in the body, including potassium.

Laxatives and water-expelling drugs (diuretics) can also lead to potassium deficiency.

Complications from cardiac arrhythmias

Arrhythmias rarely lead to dangerous complications, namely embolism due to blood clots, a stroke , a heart attack or heart failure - in the worst case, sudden cardiac death .

therapy

The aim of treatments is to restore normal heart rhythm. This is sometimes done with medication, but a defibrillator is also used, especially for ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation. A surge of electricity interrupts the heart's electrical actions, giving the sinus node the opportunity to realign itself.

ablation

By ablation with cold or heat, the tissue from which the arrhythmia originates is obliterated so that it can no longer pass on the malfunction. This is done with a cardiac catheter and is successful with palpitations, atrial fibrillation and disorders of the heart chambers.

Pacemaker

If a temporary interruption of the pulse leads to unconsciousness , shortness of breath and reduced performance, a pacemaker is appropriate. The small devices transmit electrical impulses to the heart and thus bring the pulse back into line. This is done using thin probes that end in the superior vena cava, the right atrium, or the right ventricle. The doctor regularly checks whether the pacemaker is doing its job successfully.

prevention

Preventing an irregular heart rate goes hand in hand with methods that also promote general health. In particular, this includes reducing stress. Go for a walk more often, take breaks, even if it is difficult for you at first. Get enough sleep at night and occasionally take a nap during the day.

Resting is not passive. In fact, resting includes long walks as well as gardening or even vigorous exercise, mountain climbing or marathons. Training keeps the body fit and thus ensures that the mind is sharp. This leads to better access to the past and a reduction in stress .