Therapy for heart palpitations

introduction

As Palpitations This is a general term for a heart action that occurs independently of the prescribed rhythm and is therefore often perceived by the person concerned as stumbling (Cardiac arrhythmia). Formally, stumbling is often a problem more spontaneous Heartbeat out of the row (Extrasystole) or a brief stop of the heart. As long as the heart palpitations occur rarely and are symptom-free, there is disease value. But it can also be an expression of a heart disease or metabolic disease.

therapy

Whether or not therapy is necessary depends on the cause of the palpitations and the symptoms. Many patients have already felt a kind of heart palpitations without an organic cause behind it. Possible causes are excitement, nicotine or alcoholthat usually do not require any special therapy. The stumbling of the heart disappears by avoiding the triggering factors.
Relaxation methods can be helpful in stressful situations. Heart stumbling can also be caused by internal diseases can be triggered without the heart itself being structurally damaged. Especially a low one Blood sugar is not infrequently associated with heart palpitations, which, however, can be eliminated relatively easily with food.
The is particularly important thyroid to that at a Hyperfunction often leads to palpitations. The therapy in this case consists of a precise investigation and the elimination of the cause. However, if there is a heart disease that triggers the heart stumbling, or if it is so severe that the patient feels this uncomfortable, specific therapy should be initiated. After the detection of the heart stumbling and further diagnosis according to cause and extent, various approaches can be considered for therapy.

Medication for palpitations

Come medically Antiarrhythmics for use. These are different groups of active ingredients, which are divided into 4 classes. The most commonly used are those of class II (Beta blockers), Class III (Potassium Channel Blockerse.g. Amiodarone) and Class IV (Calcium Channel Blockers).
Class I substances (flecainide, ajmaline) or adenosine are further agents. You reach into that electrical conduit system on the heart that controls the pumping function. By inhibiting this system, extrasystoles or a rhythm that is too fast can be blocked and the palpitations controlled. It is important for therapy to know where the heart palpitations originate. This is a typical indication that leads to heart palpitations Atrial fibrillation. It can lead to absolute arrhythmia. Beta blockers, which are used here, slow down the transition.
Atrial fibrillation is also a typical indication for the use of amiodarone. digitalis, which was previously given for many heart diseases, can be used as a therapy for heart stumbling caused by atrial fibrillation. Other causes of heart palpitations lie in the Sinus node, the pacemaker of the heart's action. Here, too, you can intervene with medication to control the frequency.

Electrical therapy

If the administration of medication is not sufficient to stop the palpitations, it is in some cases an electric one Cardioversion required as therapy. It is mostly used for atrial fibrillation. A current is sent through the heart with electrodes from the outside, which sets all heart cells in the same state of excitation. The principle is the same DefibrillationHowever, with this form of therapy, the current is weaker and ECG-controlled at a safe point in time during the heart's action.

Invasive Therapy

In addition, there are serious cardiac arrhythmias with stumbling blocks that have structural causes. Normally, the excitation of the heart muscle cells is controlled by certain electrical pathways. In rare cases there may be additional electrical conduction pathways in the heart that disrupt the rhythm. Further invasive measures are often necessary as therapy.
Such errors can be found using a catheter that is advanced by a specialist through a vessel to the heart. Then the conduction path is deliberately deserted and made harmless with electric current. This method is the therapy of choice for relevant cardiac stumbling, e.g. in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or so-called reentry tachycardia between atrium and ventricle.
This therapy is also used in the context of atrial fibrillation in some cases, assuming an additional excitation center. Another last therapeutic approach for heart palpitations is permanent care with a pacemaker. They are used when there is a risk that the heart will develop ventricular fibrillation or when the heart is beating too slowly or too quickly. A pacemaker then takes on the function of the natural rhythm center. In addition to this, modern devices have functions such as recording the rhythm, defibrillation in an emergency and even adapting to physical activity. There are a number of different types, each with their own specific indication and showing great benefits in the treatment of heart palpitations. Heart stumbling can have many causes and differ in severity, so that the choice of therapy must always be carefully assessed.

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