When it comes to heart-related diseases, many people may feel that these are serious illnesses that mostly occur in adults or the elderly. However, in reality, some severe heart diseases can also occur in children, teenagers, or working-age adults. For example, “arrhythmia”, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, everyone is at risk, and we should get to know and understand it to recognize the symptoms promptly and receive treatment quickly.
What is arrhythmia? Get to know it to stay ahead
Arrhythmia has several types, such as atrial arrhythmia and ventricular arrhythmia. The main cause is an abnormality in the electrical conduction system of the heart chambers, causing the heart to beat irregularly. It beats faster than normal and faster than it should be, unrelated to any activity. Normally, when we exercise, the heart gradually beats faster, but for those with arrhythmia, even when sitting still, the heart rate can increase up to 150 beats per minute.
How to recognize symptoms that indicate a risk of arrhythmia?
The main symptoms that serve as warning signs that you might have arrhythmia include:
- Palpitations, sometimes accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness during palpitations
- Skipped beats, feeling the heart’s rhythm is interrupted, possibly with fainting
- Heart pauses, feeling unusually long gaps between heartbeats, possibly with fainting
- Fainting without any trigger, often associated with palpitations
These symptoms—palpitations, skipped beats, dizziness, fainting—can occur without any physical exertion. They may happen while resting or lying down, during exercise, or even 5-10 minutes after stopping exercise, with the heart still racing. Some may faint during exercise. These symptoms indicate a risk that could signal arrhythmia. If you notice these signs, you should consult a doctor promptly.
How is arrhythmia diagnosed?
Initially, when a patient visits a doctor with symptoms like palpitations, skipped beats, or dizziness, the doctor will take a history, perform a physical exam, and conduct various tests such as electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiography, 24-48 hour Holter monitoring, loop recorder, event recorder, and even review ECG data from devices like Apple Watch or other heart rate monitoring devices to aid diagnosis.
Once the type of arrhythmia is identified, treatment planning begins. One effective treatment with a chance of cure is electrophysiology study and radiofrequency ablation. This procedure helps diagnose the type of arrhythmia and, if detected, the doctor can perform radiofrequency ablation simultaneously.
How is Electrophysiology Study and Radiofrequency Ablation performed?
The steps for electrophysiology study to detect abnormalities in the heart’s electrical system are as follows:
- The patient lies on a bed in the procedure room, positioned for the electrophysiology study.
- An anesthesiologist administers anesthesia to the patient.
- The doctor inserts catheters through the veins in the patient’s groin and attaches three ECG leads. The veins lead directly into the heart chambers.
- After catheter insertion, the doctor uses X-ray imaging to visualize the heart’s structure and catheter position to ensure correct placement.
- The heart is stimulated to induce arrhythmia, and tests (Electrophysiology Study) are performed to locate the arrhythmia source.
- Once the abnormal site is identified, the doctor treats it with radiofrequency ablation.
Overall, Electrophysiology Study combines heart electrical system examination with treatment via radiofrequency ablation. Before performing ablation, the exact location to be treated must be identified to cure the patient and restore normal heart rhythm.
Radiation-free electrophysiology study: a better option for the body
With advanced medical technology and the expertise of medical personnel at Phyathai 3 Hospital, “electrophysiology studies” can be performed without using radiation. Doctors use 3D technology to visualize the heart’s structure and identify abnormal areas instead of X-rays. Once the abnormal electrical site is located, treatment with radiofrequency ablation follows. This radiation-free electrophysiology study is an alternative treatment that avoids the risks associated with radiation exposure.
Radiation exposure can cause side effects, with higher exposure increasing risk. Affected organs include the eyes (leading to premature cataracts), thyroid (causing dysfunction), ovaries and testes (leading to infertility). A major concern is that radiation may increase the risk of cancers such as skin cancer, breast cancer, blood cancers, lung cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal and stomach cancers, among others. If we can choose to avoid radiation altogether, it is a much safer option.
Arrhythmia can occur in anyone, and some types are congenital electrical system abnormalities. Diagnosis is generally difficult because symptoms come and go, and often disappear by the time the patient sees a doctor. It is a silent disease that requires careful self-monitoring and regular health check-ups to detect and treat abnormalities promptly.
“Suddenly, the heart beats fast and strong without any exertion
Be aware that you might be at risk
of arrhythmia”
