Hearts Aflutter
Proper Management Is Key to
Living with Arrhythmia

When your heart skips a beat, it's usually because you're nervous or excited or maybe even in love! But if a fluttering heart keeps you awake at night, there may be cause for concern.

Each time your heart beats, it's the result of your heart muscles squeezing to pump blood to other parts of your body. Under normal circumstances, this happens between 60 and 100 times a minute. An occasional heart palpitation is usually harmless. But when your heart beats too quickly, too slowly or erratically, this abnormal heart rhythm is known as arrhythmia.

Causes of Arrhythmia
According to the Mayo Clinic, common causes of arrhythmia include:

• Anxiety or stress
• Caffeine or nicotine use
• Fever
• Certain medications such as cold medicines and asthma drugs
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Hormone changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
• Exercise

When your heart beats too rapidly – that is, more than 100 beats a minute – this is known as tachycardia. A slower than normal heartbeat – that is, fewer than 60 beats per minute – is known as brachycardia. Premature beats, the most common type of arrhythmia, are benign and usually caused by caffeine and stress.

If you think you're experiencing abnormal heartbeat, call your doctor. There are a number of tests that can be performed to diagnose abnormal heart rhythms, including an electrocardiogram (EKG), which quickly records and measures the heart's electrical impulses; a Holter monitor, a portable monitor that can record the heart rhythm for 24 to 48 hours; an event recorder that can monitor the heart for several weeks or months; and a stress EKG, which is performed while you exercise, usually jogging on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.

Other tests may include an echocardiogram, tilt-table testing and newer electrophysiologic studies that map the electrical system of your heart. Your doctor can advise which diagnostic procedure is most appropriate for you.

Managing Arrhythmia
According to the American Heart Association, most arrhythmias are considered harmless and are left untreated. However, if you've been diagnosed with serious arrhythmia, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations for treatment. These may include:

• Medications may be used to prevent and control arrhythmias; to prevent or control blood clots; and to treat related conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and heart failure.
• Cardiac pacemakers are widely used to treat heart rhythms that are too slow, and for more serious arrhythmia, doctors may suggest an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD). A cardioversion may be used to correct erratic or excessively fast heart rhythms. Other techniques include catheter ablation, which is also used to treat certain fast rhythms.

Finally, taking better care of yourself is key to improving the condition of your heart and to living a healthy life. Reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, losing excess weight, reducing stress and eating healthier can help. Cut back on salt, caffeine and alcohol, and if you smoke, quit. Regular exercise can help reduce stress.

Sources: American Heart Association; American College of Cardiology; Stronghealth.com.