Broadly Defined

Cardiac Arrhythmia - Cardiac arrhythmias are any abnormality or
perturbation in the normal activation sequence of the myocardium. -An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia. Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don't necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called Brady arrhythmias -- less than 50 beats per minute).
Pathophysiology
Regardless of the specific arrhythmia, the pathogenesis of the arrhythmias falls into one of three basic mechanisms: -enhanced or suppressed automaticity, triggered activity, or re-entry. -Automaticity is a natural property of all myocytes. Ischemia, scarring, electrolyte disturbances, medications, advancing age, and other factors may suppress or enhance automaticity in various areas. -Suppression of automaticity of the sinoatrial (SA) node can result in sinus node dysfunction and in sick sinus syndrome (SSS), which is still the most common indication for permanent pacemaker implantation. - In contrast to suppressed automaticity, enhanced automaticity can result in multiple arrhythmias, both atrial and ventricular. -Triggered activity occurs when early after depolarization and delayed after depolarization initiate spontaneous multiple depolarization, precipitating ventricular arrhythmias
Causes of Arrhythmia

Coronary artery disease. Electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as sodium or potassium). Changes in your heart muscle. Injury from a heart attack. Healing process after heart surgery. Irregular heart rhythms can also occur in "normal, healthy" hearts.
Symptoms of arrhythmias

Palpitations (a feeling of skipped heart beats, fluttering or "flip-flops," or feeling that your heart is "running away"). Pounding in your chest. Dizziness or feeling light-headed. Fainting. Shortness of breath. Chest discomfort. Weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired).
Diagnostic Procedure

Electrocardiogram Holter monitor Event monitor Stress test Echocardiogram Cardiac catheterization Electrophysiology study (EPS) Head-up tilt table test
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and seriousness of your arrhythmia. Some people with arrhythmias require no treatment. For others, treatments can include medication, making lifestyle changes, and undergoing surgical procedures.
Anti arrhythmic drugs. -These drugs control heart rate and include beta-blockers.
Anticoagulant or anti platelet therapy. -These drugs reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke. These include warfarin (a "blood thinner") or aspirin. Another blood thinner called Pradaxa (dabigatran) was approved in 2010 to prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.
Lifestyle Changes

If you smoke, stop. Limit your intake of alcohol. Limit or stop using caffeine. Some people are sensitive to caffeine and may notice more symptoms when using caffeine products (such as tea, coffee, soft drinks, and some over-the-counter medications). Stay away from stimulants used in cough and cold medications. Some such medications contain ingredients that promote irregular heart rhythms. Read the label and ask your doctor or pharmacist what medication would be best for you.
Case study
(Cardiac arrhythmia)
Submitted to: Mrs.Yolanda Manuel Submitted by: Jo Marie Ingaran
Definition of Terms
ablation: purposeful destruction of heart muscle cells, usually in an attempt to control a dysrhythmia anti arrhythmic: A medication that suppresses Or prevents a dysrhythmia Automaticity: ability of the cardiac muscle to initiate an electrical impulse cardio version: electrical current administered in synchrony with the patients own QRS to stop a dysrhythmia conductivity: ability of the cardiac muscle to transmit electrical impulses defibrillation: electrical current administered to stop a dysrhythmia, not synchronized with the patients QRS complex
depolarization: process by which cardiac muscle cells change from a more negatively charged to a more positively charged intracellular state
dysrhythmia (also referred to as arrhythmia): disorder of the formation or conduction (or both) of the electrical impulse within the heart, altering the heart rate, heart rhythm, or both and potentially causing altered blood flow implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD): a device implanted into the chest to treat dysrhythmias inhibited: in reference to pacemakers, term used to describe the pacemaker withholding an impulse (not firing) P wave: the part of an electrocardiogram (ECG) that reflects conduction of an electrical impulse through the atrium; atrial depolarization
paroxysmal: a dysrhythmia that has a sudden onset and/or termination and is usually of short duration PR interval: the part of an ECG that reflects conduction of an electrical impulse from the sinoatrial (SA) node through the atrioventricular (AV) node proarrhythmic: an agent (eg, a medication) that causes or exacerbates a dysrhythmia QRS complex: the part of an ECG that reflects conduction of an electrical impulse through the ventricles; ventricular depolarization QT interval: the part of an ECG that reflects the time from ventricular depolarization to repolarization repolarization: process by which cardiac muscle cells return to a more negatively charged intracellular condition, their resting state
sinus rhythm: electrical activity of the heart initiated by the sinoatrial (SA) node ST segment: the part of an ECG that reflects the end of ventricular depolarization (end of the QRS complex) through ventricular repolarization (end of the T wave) supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): a rhythm that originates in the conduction system above the ventricles T wave: the part of an ECG that reflects repolarization of the ventricles triggered: in reference to pacemakers, term used to describe the release of an impulse in response to some stimulus U wave: the part of an ECG that may reflect Purkinje fiber repolarization; usually seen when a patients serum potassium level is low ventricular tachycardia (VT): a rhythm that originates in the ventricle

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Cardiac Arrhythmia - Cardiac arrhythmias are any abnormality or

Submitted to: Mrs.Yolanda Manuel Submitted by: Jo Marie Ingaran

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