Hyderabad, April 09: Arrhythmia, also known as irregular heart rhythm, is a condition in which the heartbeat becomes irregular due to abnormal electrical activity in the heart.
This inability of the heart to beat at the normal rate affects its functioning and prevents the heart from efficiently pumping blood to the rest of the body.
Studies show that 88 per cent of all sudden cardiac deaths amongst people in their mid-30s and 40s, are caused by arrhythmia. Yet there is very little awareness about this fatal heart condition1.
Of the various types of Arrhythmia, some such as Atrial Fibrillation can be life-threatening and increase the chances of stroke by almost five times. Arrhythmia is a signal that all is not well with the heart and therefore it is important that the symptoms are not ignored since it raises the risk of heart failure, worsens the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular risk factors and increases the risk of hospitalization by 2 to 3 fold.
Says Dr Ajay Naik, cardiac electrophysiologist, The Heart Care Clinic, “The heart beats between 60 and 90 times a minute, and anything below or above that range is considered abnormal. Often people experiencing symptoms of Arrhythmia such as palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness, fatigue or light-headedness assume it is because of physical exertion or stress and delay seeking medical help. However, this can lead to fatal medical emergencies that can result in cardiac arrest or even sudden death.”
Adds Dr Naik “Though many Indian patients suffer from some form of Arrhythmia, the awareness levels amongst people are shockingly low and very often this condition is misdiagnosed.”
“It is important for people to understand that Arrhythmia can be treated and there are various treatment options to suit a patient. More importantly, the faster a patient starts treatment the better his chances of managing the condition because the longer a patient’s heart is out of rhythm, the harder it is to get it back in rhythm.”
–Agencies