Diagnosis:
A thorough history of symptoms suggesting irregular heart beats, medical problems, alcohol, tobacco, drug use and a physical exam that includes oscultating heat sounds, and palpating pulses are all primordial in assessing arrhythmias.An ECG of the heart is the initial and gold standard test to detect an arrhythmia; it is a cost-effective and non-invasive procedure. If an arrhythmia is suspected in a patient and it is not detected at the doctor’s office, patients may be sent home with a Holter monitor. This portable device can record the heart’s activity over a 24-hour period.
A stress test may provoke arrhythmia, so running on a treadmill as part of an assessment may make the diagnosis easier. Echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, can detect an accompanying heart muscle or valve disease.
To determine if arrhythmias are caused by coronary artery disease, a cardiac catheterization may be performed. The doctor inserts a catheter into a blood vessel and guides it to the heart via X-ray. Contrast dye is injected so that the heart can be viewed.
Other diagnostic guidelines includes: Thyroid function test, toxicology and evaluation of electrolytes disorders.
Treatment of arrhythmias varies from patient to patient and to the type of the arrhythmia. Very important is also to evaluate and treat any underlying disorder responsible for the arrhythmia such as thyroid disease, psychiatric disorder or agents like drugs or alcohol. In some cases, no treatment is necessary. These are the so-called benign arrhythmias. Physicians usually advise limiting your intake of caffeine, quitting smoking, and limiting your alcohol consumption. You should also consider relieving stress with exercise, meditation, or counseling. For people with more serious arrhythmias, your physician will discuss various treatment options.
Antiarrhythmic drugs are available, such as Quinidine and Admidarone. Your doctor may prescribe one for you, depending upon the type of arrhythmia and medical, drug and social history.
Another form of treatment is an implanted pacemaker, especially for people with bradycardia. People with ventricular tachycardias may use an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which provides shock therapy when needed. This resource is usually applied to patients who present with a compromised clinical situation such as chest pain, hymodinamically instability or heart failure.
Another option is catheter ablation. In this procedure, the part of the heart causing the interference is purposefully damaged to prevent it from sending electrical impulses.
In more serious cases, open-heart surgery may be necessary to treat heart valve disease that may cause arrhythmias.
In an emergency situation, arrhythmia is treated with electric shock.
