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Arrhythmia. Tasha McDevitt Patient Care Sciences II Inst: Dr. Hoeff. What is It?. Arrhythmia is any change from the normal heart beat (electrical impulses) Can be minimal with little consequence or a serious medical issue Can indicate a more serious issue such as heart disease or stroke.
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Arrhythmia Tasha McDevitt Patient Care Sciences II Inst: Dr. Hoeff
What is It? • Arrhythmia is any change from the normal heart beat (electrical impulses) • Can be minimal with little consequence or a serious medical issue • Can indicate a more serious issue such as heart disease or stroke
Types of Arrhythmias • Bradycardia= too slow of a heart beat • Tachycardia = too fast of a heart beat • Fibrillation = quivering • Premature contraction = early beat
Bradycardia • Heart Rate of less than 60 bpm • Physically active adults or elderly may have lower resting heart rate with no problems occuring • Symptoms include: dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness & fainting • Cardiac arrest may occur if untreated
Causes of Bradycardia • Problems with the sinoatrial (SA) node; the hearts natural pacemaker • Problems in the conduction pathways of the heart (electrical impulses are not conducted from the atria to the ventricles) • Metabolic problems such as hypothermia • Damage to the heart from heart attack or heart disease
Bradycardia Cont. • Treatment can include an artificial pacemaker if symptoms are severe enough, but often times no treatment is needed ECG of Bradycardia Normal ECG for comparison
Tachycardia • Having a heart rate of more than 100 bpm depending on age and physical condition • Symptoms can include fainting, dizziness, palpations & pounding heart • Medications can help to control tachycardia, or an electric defibrillator can be implanted
Types of Tachycardia • Three different types: • Atrial or Supraventricular tachycardia: start either in the upper chambers (atria) or the middle region (AV node or the beginning portion of the Bundle of HIS/Purkinjie fiber system); • Produces weak contractions; most likely due to heart disease or birth defect • Sinus Tachycardia: heart rate that’s faster than normal but heart functions properly • Ventricular tachycardia: start in lower chambers (ventricles); CAN BE LIFE THREATENING;
Tachycardia Cont. ECG of Tachycardia
Fibrillation • Heart muscle quivers but does not produce enough coordinated pumping action to force blood out of the heart • Symptoms can include dizziness & fatigue, along with possible cardiac arrest • Treatment includes medication warfarin( COUMADIN) or asprin to thin blood or an electric defibrillator
Types of Fibrillation • Two types: • Atrial fibrillation: manageable condition that can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke if not controlled • Most common serious heart condition in elderly. • More likely to develop if smoking • Atria pump but do not get rid of all of the blood in the heart, allowing it to pool and clot
Types of Fibrillation Cont. • Ventricular fibrillation: life threatening condition that requires immediate emergency care • The lower chambers quiver and do not fully pump blood, causing cardiac arrest ECG of Ventricular Fibrillation
Premature Contraction • The heart produces an early beat, making the heart have a forceful sensation like its “skipping a beat” • The premature contraction can occur in the atrium or ventricles • Usually no cause is found, most people have them from time to time and they usually correct themselves-treatment only happens if it is reoccurring or a cause is found
Premature Contraction ECG of Premature Ventricular Contraction Normal ECG for comparison