Causes of sinus arrhythmia

Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Sinus arrhythmia, the most common cause of which is instability of the nerves that regulate the heart, referred to as the autonomic nervous system. This instability leads to sinus arrhythmia, which is commonly seen in children during their growth phase, women during menopause, or individuals who often stay up late and are under significant work stress, leading to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. It can also be caused by patterns of breathing that lead to arrhythmias; the heart rate increases during inhalation and slows during exhalation, producing this type of physiological arrhythmia. Generally, this kind of arrhythmia does not require drug treatment. By improving physical exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, and avoiding stimulating beverages or coffee, this type of heart rate can return to normal.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Causes of arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a common and frequently occurring disease in clinical practice, primarily caused by various organic heart diseases. Common heart diseases include coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, severe myocarditis, and cardiomyopathy, all of which can lead to arrhythmias that are generally severe. Arrhythmias can also occur in some healthy individuals due to instability of the autonomic nervous system. This type of arrhythmia can be clinically cured through lifestyle adjustments, appropriate exercise, and improvements in myocardial contractility and conductivity.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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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
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How to relieve arrhythmia

The relief of arrhythmia mainly involves removing any triggers if they exist, as well as using non-pharmacological methods, including ocular compression, carotid sinus massage, pinching the nose and forcefully exhaling, and breath-holding, which are methods to reflexively stimulate the vagus nerve. If relief is unachievable and the episodes are accompanied by hypotension, fainting or near-fainting, seizures, angina, or heart failure, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly for pharmacological interventions against arrhythmias, or even consider electrical treatments such as cardioversion, defibrillation, pacemaker implantation, and ablation, as well as surgical options.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Why does arrhythmia cause chest pain?

The causes of chest pain due to arrhythmias primarily involve all kinds of arrhythmias reducing the blood flow in the coronary arteries. Although various arrhythmias can decrease coronary blood flow, they rarely cause myocardial ischemia. However, severe arrhythmias that cause significant myocardial ischemia can result in chest pain. For patients with coronary heart disease, various arrhythmias can induce or exacerbate myocardial ischemia, which may also manifest as chest pain and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, lead to acute heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and persistent, unbearable chest pain and tightness.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Can people with arrhythmia eat ginseng?

Arrhythmia falls under the categories of palpitations and throbbing in traditional Chinese medicine. The common differential diagnoses are as follows: For Blood Stasis Obstruction type, the treatment focuses on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis, and regulating qi to unblock the collaterals. For Blood Deficiency type, the treatment is to nourish qi and calm the spirit, and to nourish the heart and supplement blood. For Yang Deficiency type, the treatment aims to warm and supplement heart yang, and calm the spirit and stabilize the will. For Heart Deficiency and Timid Gallbladder type, the treatment is to nourish the heart and calm the spirit, and to stabilize fright and fix the will. For Yin Deficiency and Exuberant Fire type, the treatment focuses on nourishing the heart and calming the spirit, and nourishing yin to clear the fire. For Water Dampness Overwhelming the Heart type, the treatment aims to invigorate heart yang and transform qi to promote water movement. For Qi and Blood Deficiency type, the treatment is to supplement both qi and blood simultaneously. Ginseng's main therapeutic effect is to greatly supplement the primal qi, secure and stop prolapse, generate fluids, and calm the spirit. Therefore, ginseng can be used when arrhythmia differentiation indicates qi deficiency, but it is recommended to use it under the guidance of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.