How are Arrhythmia Conditions Diagnosed?
Dr. Morales reviews your symptoms, active conditions, and medical history, since some other health issues may trigger arrhythmias, such as pre-existing heart disease or thyroid gland problems. There are a number of monitoring tests that may also help in diagnosis.
These include:
- Holter monitor -- A portable electrocardiogram monitor that the patient wears for a day or longer to record heart activity during day-to-day activities.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) -- A device using electrodes attached to the patient’s body to monitor electrical activity of the heart. Both the timing and duration of each cardiac electrical phase is measured.
- Event monitors -- Another portable ECG device, used only when the patient experiences an arrhythmia episode.
- Echocardiogram -- A specialized ultrasound device for producing images of the patient’s heart size, motion, and structure.
Some measurement techniques may be combined with conditions that trigger arrhythmia, such as stress tests using exercise or medication to elevate the patient’s heart rate.
How are Arrhythmia Conditions Treated?
Treatment isn’t always necessary since in some cases, apart from the feeling of the episode, there are no significant symptoms and the arrhythmia poses no serious complications to the patient. For problematic arrhythmias, several options exist. Slow heartbeats -- called bradycardias -- may be treated with a pacemaker if there’s no other way to correct the condition. Fast heartbeats, or tachycardias, have a few more alternatives. Some types of arrhythmia respond to maneuvers that affect how the nervous system controls the vagus nerves, which in turn trigger the heartbeat. Coughing, plunging the face into ice water, and holding the breath are a few vagal maneuvers that correct some arrhythmias that start in the lower half of the heart.
Can Arrhythmia Be Treated with Medication?
Yes. Many types of arrhythmia can be controlled using medication. Antiarrhythmic drugs can be delivered intravenously in emergencies or orally for ongoing, long-term control. Calcium channel blockers have a number of uses in heart health as well as controlling some arrhythmias. Beta-blockers also prove effective in some cases. Blood thinners may be combined with antiarrhythmic drugs or in patients with atrial fibrillation.
