Understanding and Caring for Your Heart

     In our fast-paced lives, stress is common, making heart health more important than ever. The heart, a fist-sized organ, pumps blood throughout the body. The left side handles oxygen-rich blood, while the right side manages oxygen-depleted blood. The heart's four valves prevent blood from flowing backward.

The Heart's Electrical System

     Your heart has its own electrical system that controls its rhythm. An electrical impulse starts in the upper chambers and travels to the lower chambers, causing them to contract in a steady rhythm.

Arrhythmia: An Irregular Heartbeat

     Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. It's caused by a problem with the heart's electrical system.

Symptoms

     The Symptoms can include a fluttering or racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting. It's possible to have an arrhythmia without noticeable symptoms.

Causes

• Direct heart issues: Conditions like a previous heart attack can leave scars that disrupt the electrical system.
• Other factors: Lifestyle or other health conditions can increase risk. These include high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, snoring, and smoking or alcohol use.

Diagnosis

     The diagnosis can be challenging because arrhythmias are not constant. Doctors rely on patient history, and may use a portable heart monitor to capture irregular heartbeats over time.

Treatment

options depend on the severity and cause:

• Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, reducing caffeine, and avoiding certain medications.
• Medication: For less severe cases.
• Medical devices: For severe conditions, a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may be used.
• Catheter ablation: A procedure where a catheter is used to find and destroy the specific tissue causing the irregular electrical signals, often providing a permanent cure without the need for lifelong medication.

Understanding your heart and its functions is the first step toward a long, healthy life.