Heart arrhythmia is when the heart beats irregularly, too fast, or too slow. It can feel like a fluttering or racing heart and cause significant health issues if not treated properly. At Long Life Specialty Clinic, our best cardiologists in Mukundapur are equipped to diagnose and treat this condition effectively.
Understanding Heart Arrhythmia
Heart arrhythmia occurs when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heartbeats don’t work correctly. This malfunction can lead to various symptoms, including dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain and fainting. While some arrhythmias are harmless, others can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Diagnosing Heart Arrhythmia
Proper diagnosis is the first step in treating heart arrhythmia. Here’s how leading cardiologists in Mukundapur at Long Life Specialty Clinic go about it:
- Medical History and Physical Exam: The diagnosis begins with a thorough review of your medical history and a physical examination. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, lifestyle and any family history of heart disease.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): An ECG is a quick and painless test that records the electrical signals in your heart. It helps identify the type of arrhythmia and its severity.
- Holter Monitor: For more detailed information, you might be asked to wear a Holter monitor. This portable device records your heart’s activity for 24 to 48 hours, providing a comprehensive picture of your heart rhythms over an extended period.
- Event Monitor: Similar to the Holter monitor, an event monitor is used for extended periods, sometimes up to 30 days. It is beneficial if your arrhythmias are infrequent.
- Echocardiogram: This test uses ultrasound waves to create images of your heart. It helps identify underlying heart conditions that might be causing the arrhythmia.
- Stress Test: During a stress test, your heart’s activity is monitored while you exercise. This test can reveal arrhythmias that are triggered by physical activity.
Treatment Options for Heart Arrhythmia
Once diagnosed, there are several treatment options available, depending on the type and severity of your arrhythmia:
- Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes might be recommended for mild arrhythmias. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.
- Medications: Various medications can help control heart rate and rhythm. Antiarrhythmic drugs, beta-blockers, and anticoagulants are commonly prescribed to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
- Electrical Cardioversion: This procedure involves delivering a controlled electric shock to your heart to restore a normal rhythm. It’s usually done in a hospital setting and is effective for certain arrhythmias.
- Catheter Ablation: In this minimally invasive procedure, a catheter is threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. Heat or cold energy is then used to destroy the abnormal tissue causing the arrhythmia.
- Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): A small device implanted under the skin to help control abnormal heart rhythms. An ICD is similar but can also deliver shocks to correct life-threatening arrhythmias.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgical options like the Maze procedure can create scar tissue in the heart to block abnormal signals. This is usually considered when other treatments have failed.
Heart arrhythmia can be a severe condition, but with proper diagnosis and treatment, it can be managed effectively. At Long Life Specialty Clinic, we have the best cardiologists in Mukundapur who are dedicated to providing the best care to help you lead a healthy life. If you experience any arrhythmia symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.