Many people suffer from cardiac arrhythmias. There are many causes for the disturbed heart rate. Particularly common is the cause of coronary heart disease. Read all about possible causes of arrhythmia here.
Cardiac arrhythmias: causes of ventricular fibrillation
Cardiac arrhythmias occur either in the so-called atrium or in the ventricle. While cardiac arrhythmias are very dangerous, one can live quite well with atrial arrhythmia.
Arrhythmia of the chamber occurs when muscle tissue of the heart meets “rigid” tissue. Rigid tissue can be connective tissue or scar tissue. At the interface of muscle and connective tissue, electrical signals can be misdirected. This results in additional heartbeats that bring the heart out of beat.
If the heart is supplied with too little oxygen, muscle tissue can die off. It forms rigid scar tissue. Therefore, cardiac arrhythmias are very common in coronary heart disease or after a heart attack. In ventricular fibrillation, the most dangerous of all arrhythmias, the heart chambers beat so rapidly and ineffectively that the blood can no longer be pumped into the systemic circulation. Ventricular fibrillation can often occur after a heart attack.
Cardiac arrhythmia: causes are often stimulants
Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and drugs can cause heart arrhythmias. Because they stimulate the central nervous system, it also stimulates the heart to beat faster. Frequently cardiac arrhythmias are caused by stress. Sometimes they only appear during sleep, for example in sleep apnea syndrome. Obesity also plays a major role in the development of cardiac arrhythmias.
Among the causes of cardiac arrhythmia is an overactive thyroid gland. The thyroid hormones have a significant impact on blood pressure and heart rate. In a higher concentration, they cause restlessness, muscle tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.
Blood salts have an influence on the heart rhythm
The heart rhythm is also dependent on the concentration of mineral salts (electrolytes) in the blood, since the electrical signals are passed on by so-called electrolyte shifts. The electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphate. Especially changes in the potassium concentration in the blood quickly trigger cardiac arrhythmias.
Also, too low a pH of the blood is sometimes responsible for cardiac arrhythmia. Cause is also a shift in blood electrolytes. Furthermore, disorders of the blood sugar balance, for example in diabetes mellitus, can trigger cardiac arrhythmias.
Some medications promote arrhythmias
A variety of medications may promote cardiac arrhythmias. These include medicines for asthma, against hypothyroidism, antidepressants or medications for cardiac arrhythmias themselves.
In a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot clogs one or more pulmonary vessels. As a result, the heart has to pump against an increased resistance, it is heavily loaded. A stressed heart is more susceptible to arrhythmia. Causes such as pulmonary embolism are therefore common.
Sometimes cardiac arrhythmias develop after myocarditis. In infants, cardiac arrhythmias may also be due to immaturity or obstructed airways. Lastly, electrical accidents are among the causes of cardiac arrhythmias.
Many cardiac arrhythmias also have a genetic component. How strong it is, however, is not sure yet. Some suffer from cardiac arrhythmias without the cause being recognizable.
Cardiac arrhythmias: avoid causes
One can avoid the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias by preventing or treating the causative diseases. Those who eat well, move and avoid stimulants usually regulate their weight and blood sugar balance and prevent coronary heart disease.
Not always noticed Cardiac arrhythmias. causes such as hyperthyroidism or altered potassium levels are well treatable. If tachycardia or “heart stumbling” are often felt, not only should the heart function be checked, but also the blood levels for salts, sugars and thyroid hormones.