| Arrhythmia | |||||
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An arrhythmia is a condition of the heart rate (heart rhythm), where the heart beat can be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or even irregular (skips a beat or has an extra beat).
Most people have felt their heart race or skip a beat on the rare ocassion. This heart racing or skipping a beat can be brought on by intense emotions or even exercise. If ocassional, these irregular heart beat, are not normally a cause for any concern, it is only when an arrhythmia happens more often or causes other symptoms when it needs to be checked by a medical practitioner (doctor).
- An ocassional flutter of the heart is usually not serious, as most people will experience it
- Regular fluctuations of heart beat is something that needs to be investigated thoroughly
- Arrhythmias can occur due to disrupted heart rhythm caused by a number of factors
- Any of the four chambers (the two atria and two ventricles) of the heart can be affected by the irregular heart beat
Most arrhythmias, while not particularly comfortable, are generally not detrimental to your heart. There are though, arrhythmias that are dangerous and can have serious implication - these needs to be thoroughly checked out by a medical professional.
references
- Bunker SJ, et al. "Stress" and coronary heart disease: psychosocial risk factors. MJA 2003 178 (6): 272-276, accessed 21 August 2007
- Hankey GJ, on behalf of the National Blood Pressure Advisory Committee of the National Heart Foundation. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention. MJA 2001; 174: 234-348, accessed 21 August 2007
- Kastor JA. You and Your Arrhythmia: A Guide to Heart Rhythm Problems for Patients & Their Families. 1st edition 2006. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
- Krum H, Jelinek MV, Stewart S, Sindone A, Atherton JJ, Hawkes AL. Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of people with chronic heart failure in Australia 2006 - Position Statement. MJA 2006; 185 (10): 549-556, accessed 21 August 2007
- Osiecki, Henry. The Physician's Handbook of Clinical Nutrition. 6th edition, 2001, BioConcepts Publishing
- Osiecki, Henry, The Nutrient Bible 2002, BioConcepts Publishing
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