What Is an Arrhythmia?

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What Is an Arrhythmia?

heart organ

Arrhythmia is a condition of the heart that impacts approximately 1.5 to 5 percent of the US population. People with the condition experience fluttering or racing heartbeats that occur due to irregular rhythms. This happens because the electrical signals coordinating heartbeats stop working properly.

Though cases of arrhythmia aren’t usually concerning, some can lead to severe and fatal complications. That’s why we recommend you consult a professional and enroll in prescription assistance programs immediately if you experience symptoms of an arrhythmia.

Today, we’ll discuss everything you should know about an arrhythmia.

What You Need to Know About Arrhythmia

A cardiac arrhythmia causes irregular heartbeats by affecting the heart’s beats and rhythms. A person with arrhythmia might experience fast-paced or irregular heartbeats. This occurs when the electrical impulses responsible for regulating heartbeats stop functioning optimally.

There are several categories of arrhythmia:

  1. Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
  2. Fibrillation, also known as flutter (irregular or erratic heartbeat).
  3. Premature contraction (early heartbeat)
  4. Tachycardia (fast-paced heartbeat)

Complications of Arrhythmia

Many people don’t feel arrhythmia symptoms, but they still require treatment to prevent complications.

Arrhythmia is unlikely to cause any complications. However, you can be at risk of a cardiac arrest if the arrhythmia is too irregular or occurs due to a weak or damaged heart. Other risks include heart failure or a stroke.

Atrial fibrillation is a condition that occurs when the heart doesn’t pump blood as it should. According to a 2021 meta-analysis, nearly 20 studies link atrial fibrillation to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

If an arrhythmia disrupts the blood flow in your body, it can damage your heart, brain, lungs, and other vital organs.

If a clot of blood moves to a brain artery, it can result in a fatal blockage or a stroke. This is a medical emergency and needs prompt treatment.

Symptoms of Arrhythmia

Unfortunately, arrhythmia might not cause extremely noticeable symptoms. That’s why it’s vital that you get yourself checked regularly.

However, common signs include:

  1. Breathlessness or difficulty in breathing
  2. Chest pain
  3. Dizziness
  4. Fainting
  5. Fatigue
  6. Feeling lightheaded
  7. Feeling weak suddenly
  8. Flutter-like sensations in the neck and the chest.
  9. Heart palpitations
  10. Low blood pressure
  11. Rapid heartbeats
  12. Slow heartbeats
  13. Skipped heart beats
  14. Sweating
  15. Tightness in the chest

Causes of Arrhythmia

Any type of disruption to electrical impulses that trigger heart contractions can cause arrhythmia. Though researchers don’t know the exact cause of why that happens, there are many genetic, physical, and medical factors that might be behind this.

  1. Alcohol abuse
  2. Allergies
  3. Depression
  4. Diabetes
  5. Electrolyte imbalances
  6. High blood pressure
  7. Scarring of the heart tissue
  8. Some medications
  9. Thyroid disorders

 

a person taking medicines12

Arrhythmias might lead to serious complications. That’s why it’s vital you get timely treatment. However, if you’re struggling to fund your treatment and need financial assistance to fill prescriptions, contact us.

At Advocate My Meds, we work as a prescription assistance organization to help uninsured Americans afford prescriptions. Our full-service prescription assistance programs offer various medicines for various medical problem. You can enroll by checking your eligibility for our Janssen prescription assistance or Lilly cares prescription assistance program today. Reach out to us today for more details.