What medicine is used for arrhythmia?

Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
Updated on September 04, 2024
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There is still no consensus on the drugs commonly used for arrhythmia. The main classes used clinically are as follows: The first class is sodium channel blockers, which include three subclasses: moderate, mild, and significant sodium channel blockers, respectively comprising quinidine, lidocaine, and propafenone. The second class mainly consists of adrenergic receptor blockers, with propranolol being a representative drug. The third class of drugs selectively prolongs the repolarization process, among which amiodarone is commonly used clinically. The fourth class is calcium channel blockers, which mainly block calcium channels and inhibit the inflow of calcium, with verapamil being the main representative drug. Long-term use of anti-arrhythmia drugs can cause varying degrees of side effects, with severe cases possibly leading to ventricular arrhythmia or fatal cardiac conduction block. Therefore, when using these drugs clinically, it is essential to strictly control the indications, monitor adverse reactions, and strictly follow the doctor's prescription for rational medication.

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Written by Liu Yong
Cardiology
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Is arrhythmia very harmful?

Firstly, arrhythmias, whether supraventricular or ventricular, are harmful to the human body. However, ventricular arrhythmias tend to be more damaging. Supraventricular arrhythmias, including supraventricular tachycardia and atrial tachycardia, generally have a minimal impact on hemodynamics. However, they may still cause symptoms in patients such as palpitations, chest tightness, or even fatigue, a series of discomforting symptoms, but generally do not pose a life-threatening risk. However, ventricular arrhythmias are different, as they can cause disturbances in the body's hemodynamics, leading to ischemia and failure of various organs. Therefore, the harm they cause is significant, and they may even lead to sudden cardiac death. Hence, aggressive treatment and management of ventricular arrhythmias are necessary.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Why does arrhythmia cause chest pain?

The causes of chest pain due to arrhythmias primarily involve all kinds of arrhythmias reducing the blood flow in the coronary arteries. Although various arrhythmias can decrease coronary blood flow, they rarely cause myocardial ischemia. However, severe arrhythmias that cause significant myocardial ischemia can result in chest pain. For patients with coronary heart disease, various arrhythmias can induce or exacerbate myocardial ischemia, which may also manifest as chest pain and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, lead to acute heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and persistent, unbearable chest pain and tightness.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Arrhythmias include:

Arrhythmia is a very common disease in our daily life. What does arrhythmia include? Generally speaking, arrhythmia often includes the following aspects: First, irregular heartbeat, such as sinus arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and frequent premature beats. Second, tachycardia, such as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, and so on. Third, bradycardia diseases, such as sinus bradycardia, severe atrioventricular block, and sick sinus syndrome, etc.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Is ventricular arrhythmia serious?

Arrhythmias are primarily divided into sinus arrhythmias, atrial arrhythmias, and ventricular arrhythmias. Among these, ventricular arrhythmias are further categorized into ventricular premature contractions, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular flutter, and ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation are fatal types of arrhythmias. Patients generally experience loss of consciousness, generalized convulsions, and even cessation of breathing and death. If ventricular fibrillation occurs, it is imperative to immediately perform defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, among other emergency interventions.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Does arrhythmia require hospitalization?

Arrhythmia treatment should be determined based on the patient's symptoms, type of arrhythmia, and its impact on hemodynamics. For instance, minor conditions like slight sinus bradycardia, irregular sinus rhythm, occasional atrial premature contractions, and first-degree atrioventricular block, which have minimal impact on hemodynamics and no significant clinical manifestation or structural heart disease, do not necessitate hospitalization. However, more severe arrhythmias such as sick sinus syndrome, rapid atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and sustained ventricular tachycardia, which can cause symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, low blood pressure, sweating, and in severe cases, fainting, Adam-Stokes syndrome, and even sudden cardiac death, require prompt medical attention and hospitalization for treatment.