Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms. In arrhythmias, the normal electrical impulses in your heart are disrupted, causing your heart to speed up or slow down, skip beats, or to otherwise behave erratically.
What are the symptoms of arrhythmias?
While some people may experience obvious symptoms suggestive of heart rhythm disturbance, such as palpitations or rapid heartbeat, arrhythmias may not feel painful and often pass unnoticed. Arrhythmias might even occur only in your sleep. Many patients who schedule consultations with Dr. Bereliani because of shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, and chest pains are surprised to find the underlying cause of their discomfort actually stems from an arrhythmia. If you are experiencing these symptoms, don’t take chances – schedule an appointment with Dr. Bereliani to get an accurate diagnosis.
What causes arrhythmias?
Arrhythmias develop when the electrical impulses of your heart stop working correctly, which causes your heart to lose track of its normal, steady rhythm. There are several major types of arrhythmias, which are categorized by their location within the heart as well as the speed and regularity of the beats.
What are the types of arrhythmias?
The most common type of arrhythmia is premature beats. In most cases they occur naturally and are not a sign of heart disease. If you have premature beats, you may feel a fluttering of the chest or a skipped beat – or nothing at all.
Supraventricular arrhythmias describe arrhythmias originating in the atria (the upper chambers of the heart). When the heart beats too fast (usually over 100 beats per minute), this is called tachycardia. A healthy heart’s beats are controlled by an electrical signal generated by a part of the right atrium called the sinoatrial node (SA node). If the beats are fast but regular, this is called supraventricular tachycardia. In one type of supraventricular arrhythmia, called atrial fibrillation, the signals coming from the SA node cause the heart’s wall to quiver in a very fast and disorganized manner instead of beating regularly. This results in the heart not being able to pump blood quickly and efficiently, and can lead to heart failure.
Ventricular arrhythmias start in the ventricles in the lower part of the heart. They can happen suddenly and are quite dangerous, requiring urgent medical attention.
- Ventricular tachycardia (“V-tach”) – fast but regular beats
- Ventricular fibrillation (“V-fib”) – fast and irregular/erratic beats
Bradyarrhythmias (also called bradycardias) represent the opposite end of the spectrum – they are abnormally slow heart rates. As with tachycardias, bradycardias can be classified as either supraventricular-(atrial) or ventricular. Bradyarrhythmias are diagnosed in a patient whose heart typically beats less than 60 times per minute. Sometimes athletes may maintain a heart rate lower than 60 beats per minute; this is normal among active individuals. A slow-beating heart may not pump sufficient blood to the brain, causing a loss of consciousness. Bradyarrhythmias may develop because of aging, weakening from heart attacks, an underactive thyroid, a potassium imbalance, and certain medicines, such as beta-blockers.
Risks of untreated arrhythmias
Though a patient diagnosed with an arrhythmia may not feel any different than someone with a normally beating heart, if left untreated, arrhythmias can lead to serious health problems. If you are worried that you might have an irregular heartbeat, see Dr. Bereliani as soon as possible. Dr. Bereliani uses the most advanced diagnostic techniques available including color Doppler echo and CardioNet, the latest in heart monitors, to ensure accurate diagnosis. After obtaining a definitive diagnosis, he will devise a comprehensive, customized plan for managing your arrhythmia.
How are arrhythmias treated?
Treatments are based on the type of arrhythmia that needs to be corrected. Having devices implanted, such as a pacemaker or an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), is a common method of restoring regular rhythms to the heart. If the condition is more serious, minimally invasive surgery may be performed. Other treatments include cardioversion or RF ablation. Cardioversion treats atrial fibrillation by restoring natural heart rhythms through electrical shocks or special medications. RF ablation sends radiofrequency energy through an ablation catheter directly to your heart.
How do I find out more information?
Call the Beverly Hills Institute for Preventive Medicine and Cardiology at 310-550-8000 or click here to make an appointment. Our friendly staff is always ready to help you; we’ll be glad to schedule a consultation for you with Dr. Bereliani, as well as to answer any questions you might have. We are conveniently located in the heart of Beverly Hills, within easy driving distance for most residents of greater Los Angeles.