Table of contents:
- Several types of arrhythmias are possible
- 1. Bradycardia
- 2. Premature heart rate
- 3. Supraventricular arrhythmias
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
- 4. Ventricular arrhythmias
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Ventricular tachycardia
When you feel or hear a heartbeat, what you actually feel is a sign that your heart is pumping blood. Unfortunately, it is possible that you have an abnormal heartbeat, a condition known as arrhythmia. Not just one, it turns out that there are several types of arrhythmias that may occur. What are the types or classifications of arrhythmias?
Several types of arrhythmias are possible
Arrhythmias are a fairly common type of heart disease (cardiovascular). This condition causes the heart rate to be faster or slower than normal (60-100 beats per minute), and even feel an irregular heartbeat.
You can detect this heart rate abnormality by counting the heart rate on the pulse on the wrist or around the neck. Usually, this condition also occurs followed by other symptoms, such as dizziness, weakness, or shortness of breath if it is severe enough.
The occurrence of this type of arrhythmia can be triggered by habits, such as smoking, drinking excessive alcohol or coffee, use of drugs and certain health problems.
Based on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website, arrhythmias are divided into several classifications, including:
1. Bradycardia
Bradycardia is characterized by a very weak heart rate, which is less than 60 beats per minute. However, a low heart rate doesn't necessarily signal a problem in some people.
However, on the condition that the person must be physically fit. It is possible that this low heart rate is caused by the ability of the heart to pump a sufficient blood supply of less than 60 beats per minute, for example in athletes.
Reported by the Mayo Clinic website, the causes of this type of arrhythmia that causes a heart rate below normal are:
- Sick sinus syndrome : This condition occurs due to the sinus node which is responsible for regulating the heart rate, not sending impulses properly so that the heartbeat becomes irregular. Sick sinus syndrome is more common in the elderly.
- Conduction block : This condition indicates a blockage in the electrical signal pathway at the antrioventricular node (the path between the atria and ventricles). As a result, the heart rate slows down or even inhibits.
2. Premature heart rate
A premature heart rate is also known as an ectopic heartbeat. This classification of arrhythmias occurs when a signal that commands the heart to beat earlier than it should.
This condition can cause the heart to beat faster due to an extra heartbeat. People who experience this type of arrhythmia initially feel a brief pause followed by a stronger than usual heartbeat, then return to a normal heart rhythm.
You may have experienced the occasional premature heartbeat and this rarely indicates a serious health problem.
However, that doesn't mean you can underestimate it. The reason is, heart rhythm disturbances that often occur for several years can cause a weak heart or indicate heart disease.
3. Supraventricular arrhythmias
This type of arrhythmia occurs in the upper atrium of the heart. The atria or hearths are the chambers of the heart where blood enters the heart.
This condition causes the heart rate to be faster, which is above 100 minutes per minute. Supraventricular arrhythmias are classified into three types, including:
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia. This condition is characterized by a very fast heart rate, which is more than 400 beats per minute. Supposedly, the blood that collects in the atria will be flowed into the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) before being pumped throughout the body. However, a very fast heart rate prevents blood from passing through the atria properly.
Due to the rapid flow of blood to the heart, this condition allows blood clots to enter and block the blood vessels of the heart. This can increase the risk of cardiomyopathy or an enlarged heart and gradually weaken the work of the heart.
In addition, the blood clot can also be carried by the bloodstream to the brain. If not treated quickly, these blood clots can clog the blood vessels in the brain. Ultimately, atrial fibrillation will cause a stroke.
This heart rate disorder is susceptible to men over 60, people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, and lung disease.
This classification of arrhythmias is briefly similar to atrial fibrillation. It's just that atrial flutter shows a more regular heart rate with more rhythmic electrical impulses. However, it is also possible to cause complications, such as a stroke.
This condition causes the upper atrium to beat 250 to 350 times per minute. Health experts say that this type of arrhythmia occurs due to disruption of the electrical signals in the heart due to damaged tissue.
The electrical signal may find an alternative pathway, thus triggering the upper atrium to beat repeatedly. Not all of the moving electrical signals flow into the lower atrium, so the number of beats between the lower and upper atria can be different.
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a type of arrhythmia that occurs in the upper atrium. This condition is caused by disruption in the electrical signal from the upper atrium to the lower part, causing an additional heart rate.
As a result, the SVT causes a normal fast heart rate and then stops suddenly. Usually this type of arrhythmia occurs when the heart is working very hard, i.e. doing strenuous exercise or abnormal heart function. In young people, SVT is sometimes not a sign of a serious condition.
4. Ventricular arrhythmias
This type of arrhythmia occurs in the lower chambers of the heart. A person who experiences this heart rhythm disorder needs immediate medical care because it can be fatal. There are 2 types of ventricular arrhythmias that you need to be familiar with, namely:
Ventricular fibrillation is a more dangerous classification of arrhythmias than atrial fibrillation. This condition is caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart muscle in the heart chambers (ventricles), so that blood flow to the heart stops.
As a result, the heart is deprived of oxygen and makes the heart beat abnormally. This puts you at a higher risk for cardiac arrest, even death if the condition is left unchecked for a long time.
This condition is a medical emergency that must be treated immediately. The medical team will usually immediately perform cardiac resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation to save the patient's life.
Ventricular tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia that occurs when the chambers of the heart beat very fast, which is more than 200 beats per minute.
Because it is so fast, the heart has not had time to receive oxygen from the rest of the body because it has to be returned to other organs. You will experience dizziness, shortness of breath, or even fainting.
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