Arrhythmia The Way your Heart Beats

The human heart beats at a steady rate of 60-100 beats/minute under normal conditions. However, the
rate may vary depending on a number of factors like physical activity, emotional stress, environmental
temperature or certain environmental conditions.

Arrhythmia commonly known as heart rhythm disorder pertains to a condition where the rhythm of the
heart is irregular or abnormal under resting conditions. When the rhythm is more than 100 beats/min it is
called Rapid Arrhythmia or Tachycardia while when it is less than 60 it is called Bradycardia, irregular
arrhythmias are called Fibrillations and Premature contraction refers to a condition when a heartbeat
occurs earlier than it should be.

Arrhythmias occur when electrical impulses to the heart that coordinate heartbeats dont work properly.
Basically an electrical signal travels from the top of the heart to the bottom causing the heart to contract
and pump blood. Thus the heartbeat controls the rate & rhythm of the heart. But a disturbance in this
system leads to irregular heartbeats causing arrhythmia. When the heart doesnt pump blood effectively,
the vital organs like brain, lungs & other organs dont receive the proper supply of oxygen and as a result
shuts down or gets damaged.

Arrhythmia may or may not cause any symptoms but some common noticeable
symptoms/manifestations/observations associated with this condition are:
Shortness of Breath
Palpitations
A fluttering in the chest
Chest pain
Light headedness, dizziness
Sweating
Fainting
Certain factors also increase the risk of developing arrhythmia which include:
Coronary artery disease or previous heart surgery
High blood pressure
Congenital heart disease
Thyroid problems
Diabetes
 Electrolyte imbalance
Obstructive sleep apnea
Certain drugs
Alcohol abuse
Caffeine or Nicotine use in excess
Cardiologists use heart monitoring tests to diagnose this condition which include Electrocardiogram
(ECG), Holter monitor, Echocardiogram, Stress test, Tilt table test and Electrophysiological testing &
mapping. Certain arrhythmias are harmless while some other may increase your risk of developing
conditions like Stroke and Heart Failure. Arrhythmias may or may not necessitate a treatment. However,
pacemaker or ICD implantation, vagal maneuver, certain medications, cardioversion and catheter ablation
are some of the treatments available. In addition, surgical options such as Maze Procedure & Coronary
Bypass Surgery are also used in some cases.

Under the aegis of the Division of Cardiology, Arrhythmia Centre implements a proven, integrated
approach for the management of these heart rhythm conditions. Hospitals and Clinics of Narayana Health
group across the country are seamlessly integrated to provide a state-of-the-art management in cardiac
arrhythmias.