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MY FLIP FLOPPING HEART

MY FLIP FLOPPING HEART. Information Session on Irregular Beating of the Heart. Do you ever feel…. Like your heart is in your throat? A fluttering sensation in your chest ? As if your heart is “flip flopping”?

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MY FLIP FLOPPING HEART

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  1. MY FLIP FLOPPING HEART Information Session on Irregular Beating of the Heart My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  2. Do you ever feel…. • Like your heart is in your throat? • A fluttering sensation in your chest ? • As if your heart is “flip flopping”? This is fairly common in seniors & it does not always mean that there is something seriously wrong with your heart. Let us start by learning a little about the heart My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  3. The rhythm of our heart • Before discussing heart rhythm problems… it is important that you understand how your heart works in its’ normal state. • A healthy heart beats regularly at a rate of 60-100 beats per minute. • It is normal for it to speed up during stress, excitement, fear & exercise. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  4. Our Pulse • The PULSE is a measurement of our heart rate. The easiest area to take the pulse is at the CAROTID ARTERY (on the side of your neck). My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  5. Taking your pulse • Place x2 fingers (not your thumb) on your “Adam’s Apple”, • Slide your fingers over a bit to the side of the neck & feel your heart beating. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  6. Let’s practice • Now that you have practiced on yourself, let’s try on a partner. • Once you feel the beating…count the beats for x15 seconds (ex: 20) • Now multiply by x4 (20 x 4= 80) • This gives you your heart beats per minute (80/min) Good job! My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  7. Our Pacemaker • The reason you feel this pulsation is because the heart has its own electrical system which is controlled by our PACEMAKER. • The pacemaker or Sinoatrial Node, is responsible for the regular beating of our heart. Our Pacemaker My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  8. Our Heartbeat Pathway • Follow the arrows… heartbeat starts at the • SA node • Travels to the AV node • Then to the bottomchambers of the heart My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  9. A little explanation • The heart beat travels across the upper chambers of the heart and causes the heart muscle to tighten or contract. • Then the impulse slows down as it travels down to the lower chambers of the heart where they in turn contract. This is all fine & dandy… but… sometimes things happen. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  10. Let’s watch our heart beat & follow it on a cardiogram My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  11. This is all fine & dandy… but… sometimes things happen Disturbances in the heart rhythm are called “ARRHYTHMIAS”. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  12. TACHYCARDIA: • Fancy word for fast beats) • Heart beats at >100/min • Can cause shortness of breath (SOB), dizziness & nausea. Too Fast Normal My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  13. BRADYCARDIA: • Fancy word for slow beats • Heart beats at less than 60/min • Can cause fainting, weakness difficulty to unable think clearly. Normal Too Slow My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  14. Common Causes for Irregular Heartbeats: Coronary Artery Disease: • Since there is less blood supplied to the heart in this case, the pacemaker stops working as well & the heart becomes more irritable. • When the heart is irritable, minor stresses such as coffee & smoking can cause an arrhythmia. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  15. Thyroid Disease • Individuals who have thyroid problems can sometimes suffer from arrhythmias since the hormones produced by the thyroid gland act as a stimulant on the heart. • Hyperactive thyroid causes tachycardia. • Hypoactive thyroid can cause bradycardia. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  16. How is a Flip Flopping Heart Disorder Diagnosed? Heart & Pulse Rate ECG (Electrocardiogram) 24hr Holter Monitor Blood test My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  17. Drugs: Many different medications are now prescribed to treat flip flopping hearts. Most act by slowing down the transmission of impulses (electricity) in the heart muscle. This calms the heart down. The type of drug chosen depends on the type of arrhythmia. *Drugs may not return he heart beat to normal, but they will relieve symptoms by helping the heart to pump more effectively. Treatment of Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmia) My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  18. Pacemakers • If medication is not applicable or effective… a PACEMAKER may be the answer. • Pacemakers are designed to treat cardiac conditions that involve bradycardia (an abnormally slow heartbeat). My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  19. Pacemakers • PACEMAKER: about the size of an “oreo” cookie & weighs about 2 - 4 ounces. • In the USA alone, tens of thousands are installed every year. • It is operated by a lithium battery My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  20. Pacemakers Insertion of Pacemaker: • A simple procedure • About 30 minutes duration • Recovery is quick • Complications are rare My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  21. More about Pacemakers • Once the pacemaker is in place, it runs on batteries (lithium) • Last approx. 5 to 10 years. • Pacemaker batteries will not run out unexpectedly. • Physicians can detect when the battery is running low during a routine office visit. • Following a pacemaker insertion, regular blood tests will be required to regulate the level of anticoagulant (blood thinner) in your blood. My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

  22. For Additional Information • http://www.heartandstroke.ca • http://stdavids.com/ebsco.aspx?chunkiid=14850 My Flip Flopping Heart Presentation

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