What department should I go to for arrhythmia?

Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

Updated on September 24, 2024

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Arrhythmia is generally treated in the department of cardiovascular medicine.

What is arrhythmia? It mainly refers to abnormalities in the frequency, rhythm, origin, conduction speed, or excitation sequence of the heart's impulses. Based on the principles of arrhythmia occurrences, it can be divided into two major categories: abnormalities in impulse formation and abnormalities in impulse conduction. Abnormalities in impulse formation include sinus arrhythmias and ectopic rhythms, while abnormalities in impulse conduction include interference atrioventricular dissociation, sinoatrial conduction block, intra-atrial conduction block, atrioventricular conduction block, and bundle branch block, among others.

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Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

35sec

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What tests are done for arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia is also relatively common in clinical practice, and its common detection method is mainly the electrocardiogram (ECG). ECG is a simple and non-invasive operation that helps to identify the type of arrhythmia. Another method is the 24-hour Holter monitor, which can record all heart rate changes occurring within 24 hours. If an arrhythmia occurs, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly, visiting a cardiology department. Treatment may involve antiarrhythmic medications, and if possible, a complete electrophysiological examination can be performed.

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Geriatrics

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Does arrhythmia cause nausea?

Mild arrhythmias, such as sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, occasional atrial premature contractions, and first-degree atrioventricular block, have minimal impact on hemodynamics, so they generally do not show obvious clinical symptoms. In cases of severe arrhythmias, such as sick sinus syndrome, rapid atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and sustained ventricular tachycardia, significant arrhythmias affect hemodynamics, reduce blood flow, and cause mesenteric artery spasm, which can lead to clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal ischemia, such as nausea, and even bleeding, ulcers, or paralysis.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 20sec

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Is atrial fibrillation a serious arrhythmia?

Atrial fibrillation is a type of cardiac arrhythmia, primarily feared for its potential to form blood clots within the heart. These clots can travel to other organs via the bloodstream, most commonly to the brain. Additionally, pieces of these clots can also travel to coronary arteries causing myocardial infarction, leading to organ embolism wherever they lodge. Generally, if no blood clots are formed, many individuals with atrial fibrillation may not experience symptoms. However, if combined with other cardiac conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation can exacerbate the risk of developing these heart diseases. Thus, atrial fibrillation on its own is not severe but becomes concerning when associated with other cardiac conditions, increasing the risk of other heart diseases. If atrial fibrillation occurs with left or right accessory pathways, it may also lead to ventricular fibrillation, resulting in sudden death of the patient. Moreover, if the atrial fibrillation has no apparent cause, and the heart structure is normal with no symptoms, then such isolated atrial fibrillation does not typically form blood clots and is considered relatively mild.

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Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

40sec

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How to alleviate arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is very common in clinical settings, and its treatment mainly includes etiological treatment and symptomatic treatment. If a patient experiences occasional premature beats without significant hemodynamic effects, special treatment may not be necessary at this time. However, if a patient repeatedly experiences supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and other arrhythmias, cardiac electrophysiological examination and dynamic heart rate monitoring should be conducted. Antiarrhythmic drugs or even radiofrequency ablation may be administered for symptomatic treatment, as uncontrolled arrhythmias can easily lead to sudden death in patients.

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Written by Chen Ya

Geriatrics

1min

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Can arrhythmia cause sudden death?

The clinical manifestations of hemodynamic changes caused by arrhythmias mainly depend on the nature, type, cardiac function, and the extent of impact on hemodynamics. Mild conditions such as slight sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, occasional atrial premature contractions, and first-degree atrioventricular block have minimal impact on hemodynamics and therefore do not exhibit significant clinical manifestations, and sudden death is generally not expected. However, more severe arrhythmias, such as sick sinus syndrome, rapid atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and sustained ventricular tachycardia, can lead to palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, hypotension, and sweating. In severe cases, syncope, Adams-Stokes syndrome, or even sudden death may occur.