Causes of arrhythmia

Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
Updated on September 08, 2024
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There are many causes of arrhythmia, which can be physiological or pathological. Pathological causes can originate from the heart itself or from other diseases. For instance, normal individuals might experience sinus arrhythmia, and circumstances such as staying up late, emotional excitement, or excessive fatigue can lead to premature beats or sinus tachycardia, among others. Other diseases, such as hyperthyroidism or fever, can cause an increased heart rate. For example, pulmonary embolism can lead to atrial fibrillation. Heart-related diseases, like heart failure, can cause ventricular premature beats, and diseases of the sinoatrial node itself can lead to sick sinus syndrome, among others.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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What medicine to buy for arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia encompasses a large category of diseases, including sinus tachycardia, bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, as well as atrial fibrillation, flutter, premature atrial contractions, supraventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, and atrioventricular block, among others. Due to the various types of arrhythmias, the medications used also differ. It is necessary to go to a hospital for a clear diagnosis to determine the specific type of arrhythmia before using appropriate anti-arrhythmic drugs. Some arrhythmias cannot be resolved just by medication; for instance, in cases like pacemaker syndrome, a pacemaker needs to be installed. Additionally, patients with atrial fibrillation who have tachy-brady syndrome also require a pacemaker. Therefore, the decision on what medication to purchase for arrhythmia should be made by a doctor.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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Arrhythmia is what?

Arrhythmia refers to abnormalities in the frequency, rhythm, origin, or conduction of the heartbeats. It can occur in healthy individuals as well as those with related diseases, and may involve cardiac diseases or other medical conditions. The primary mechanism behind the occurrence of arrhythmias is the abnormal formation of cardiac impulses or the abnormal conduction of these impulses. It is important to actively seek the causes of arrhythmias and control the factors that trigger them. For diseases associated with arrhythmias, proactive management is necessary. When severe arrhythmias occur, timely and effective treatment is crucial to prevent adverse outcomes.

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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 Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Ventricular arrhythmias include the following types.

Common ventricular arrhythmias mainly include premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular flutter, and ventricular fibrillation. Premature ventricular contractions appear on the electrocardiogram as prematurely occurring wide and abnormal QRS complexes. If asymptomatic, no treatment is needed; if symptomatic, receptor blockers can be used for treatment. Ventricular tachycardia is clearly indicated on the electrocardiogram by wide and abnormal QRS complexes, with heart rates ranging from 140 bpm to 200 bpm. The primary treatment is to remove the cause, and electrical cardioversion can be used when hemodynamics are unstable. Ventricular flutter and fibrillation, their ventricular rates are generally above 250 bpm, and treatment is crucial.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Arrhythmia is caused by what?

Arrhythmia is caused by abnormal excitation of the sinoatrial node or excitation originating outside the sinoatrial node, with slow conduction, blockage, or conduction through abnormal pathways. This results in the frequency and (or) rhythm abnormalities of heartbeats, which are collectively referred to as arrhythmias. Most of the causes include the following: one is genetic arrhythmias, often due to gene channel mutations, such as the commonly seen long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, etc. There are also acquired arrhythmias, seen in various organic heart diseases, including coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, commonly referred to as coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and rheumatic heart disease, particularly prevalent during heart failure or acute myocardial infarction. Arrhythmias are also not uncommon in basically healthy individuals or patients with autonomic dysfunction. Other causes include electrolyte imbalance or endocrine disorders, and sometimes anesthesia, hypothermia, or surgery, such as thoracic or cardiac surgery, or medications, central nervous system diseases may also cause arrhythmias, but the specific reasons are not very clear.