Treatment Options
Heart rhythm problems, also called arrhythmias, are where the heart beats too fast, too slowly or irregularly due to a fault with the heart’s electrical system. Arrhythmias are the most common cause of sudden death in the UK. Despite this, very few people are aware that an arrhythmia can usually be treated safely and effectively.
Lifestyle Advice
Certain things can induce the symptoms of an arrhythmia, such as caffeine or alcohol and these should be avoided. Weight gain is also a risk factor for arrhythmias, so maintaining a healthy weight is also advisable.
Drug Treatments
Drugs can be an effective treatment for many arrhythmias but are not a cure. They can have side-effects and some drugs have risks associated with their use. Doctors will often try drug treatments for conditions that are not life threatening.
There are many different drugs used to treat arrhythmias, and each drug may affect different people in different ways.
Beta-Blockers
When you are physically active your body increases your heart rate; partly by releasing adrenaline. Once adrenaline is released it will activate specific receptors (beta adrenergic receptors) which make the organ more active. Beta blockers exert their effect on these beta adrenergic receptors, reducing the effect of adrenaline on the heart rate.
Flecainide
Flecainide is used effectively to reduce the heart rate. It impairs the movement of sodium through channels in the cell membrane of heart muscle tissue, which slows the electrical conduction of the heart cells. The efficiency of flecainide increases with increasing heart rate so it is particularly useful in the treatment of tachycardias.
For more information regarding drug treatments please consult the:
Arrhythmia Alliance Drug Treatment for Heart Rhythm Disorders Factsheet
Surgical Procedures
Pacemaker
A pacemaker is a small, battery operated box which can treat some abnormal heart rhythms. A pacemaker is implanted under the skin just below the collarbone leaving a scar approximately two inches long, in a procedure that lasts approximately one hour. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, and you will be sedated to make you sleepy and relaxed. The majority of patients are able to go home on the same day, and once the wound has fully healed a relatively normal life can resume. Serious complications from pacemakers are very unusual.
For more information regarding pacemakers please consult the Arrhythmia Alliance:
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
An ICD is a small, battery operated box which can either work as a normal pacemaker if your heart rate is too slow, can return your heart to a normal rate if it is beating too fast, and can give a shock if the heart has a dangerous rhythm. An ICD is implanted under the skin just below the collarbone leaving a scar approximately three inches long, in a procedure that lasts approximately two hours. The implantation of an ICD is usually done using sedation and a local anaesthetic. Most patients are able to go home on the same day, and once the wound has fully healed a near-normal life can be resumed.
For more information regarding ICDs please consult the Arrhythmia Alliance:
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Catheter Ablation
Catheter Ablation is a technique used to treat a variety of heart rhythm disorders by removing the extra electrical cells which are causing the arrhythmia. It is a minimally invasive procedure, which is usually performed using local anaesthetic. Most patients are also given some sedation to make them relaxed and sleepy. Fine tubes are inserted into the blood vessel at the top of the right leg, and fine wires are then passed through the tubes and positioned at certain positions within the heart. The extra electrical cells are then ablated by the delivery of a form of energy down the wire to the target area within the heart. Most people recover quickly from the procedure and feel well enough to carry on with normal activities the following day. A small number of individuals will need more than one session of treatment.
For more information regarding Catheter Ablation please consult the:
Arrhythmia Alliance Catheter Ablation Factsheet
