Cardiac Arrhythmias - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Cardiac arrhythmia is a group of conditions in which the electrical activity of the heart is irregular or is faster or slower than normal. Cardiac arrhythmias comprise any abnormality or pertubation in the normal activation sequence of the myocardium. Arrhythmias stem from several causes. The heart’s natural timekeeper—a small mass of special cells called the sinus node—can malfunction and develop an abnormal electrical impulse rate. CPR can prolong the survival of the brain in the lack of a normal pulse, but defibrillation is the intervention which is most likely to restore a more healthy heart rhythm. A slow rhythm, known as bradycardia (less than 60 beats/min), is usually not life threatening, but may cause symptoms. When it causes symptoms implantation of a permanent pacemaker may be needed. Either dysrhythmia requires medical attention to evaluate the risks associated with the arrhythmia. The signs and symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias can range from completely asymptomatic to loss of consciousness or sudden cardiac death.
Complaints such as lightheadedness, dizziness, quivering, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, heart fluttering or pounding, and forceful or painful extra beats are commonly reported with a variety of arrhythmias. Beats are generated by electrical impulses in the atria (top chambers of the heart) and are then conducted to the ventricles, where they produce the powerful muscle contraction that pumps blood. People may have allergies or idiosyncratic reactions to many other foods and beverages that cause transitory arrhythmias. Long-term nicotine exposure and any cocaine exposure can cause much more serious arrhythmias. Oxidative stress is a common feature of ischemic-reperfusion injuries, which occur when the heart is temporarily deprived of oxygenated blood (a state known as ischemia), followed by the reintroduction of oxygenated blood (reperfusion). The development of arrhythmias include congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure (hypertension).
Advances in medicine and technology have created new treatment options for cardiac arrhythmia (commonly known as heart rhythm disturbances). Cardioversion is the application of electrical current across the chest wall to the heart and it is used for treatment of supraventricular or pulsed ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation differs in that it is used for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and more electricity is delivered with defibrillation than with cardioversion. Arrhythmias may involve medications (anti-arrhythmic therapy), catheter ablations, and implantation of pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or CRT-D (CRT with defibrillator therapy) is an innovative therapeutic option for patients with refractory HF. Defibrillation differs in that it is used for ventricular fibrillation and more electricity is delivered with defibrillation than with cardioversion. Antiarrhythmic medications help to change the electrical signals within the heart to suppress or prevent the arrhythmia.
Treatment for Cardiac Arrhythmias Tips
1. Using a small, battery-powered generator to deliver timed, electrical impulses to the heart muscle through tiny wire leads.
2. The treatment for some patients is a technique called cardiac ablation.
3. Magnetic Guidance in the Heart While transcatheter ablation is very effective, it can be difficult.
4. Stereotaxis Niobe Magnetic Navigation System uses two superconductive magnets, a magnetic-tipped guide wire and advanced computer imaging techniques.
5. Atrial fibrillation can also be treated through a procedure, e.g. pulmonary vein isolation.
6. Fibrillation differs in that it is used for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
Juliet Cohen writes article sfor http://www.healthatoz.info/ and http://www.health-disease.org/


Myocarditis - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. Myocarditis is collection of diseases of infectious, toxic, and autoimmune. Myocarditis may develop as a complication of an infectious disease, usually caused by a virus. It can occur in people of all ages and is diagnosed more often in men than in women. Myocarditis is likely caused by a wide variety of infectious organisms, autoimmune disorders, and exogenous agents, with genetic and environmental predisposition. Myocarditis is defined as inflammatory changes in the heart muscle and is characterized by myocyte necrosis. Many organisms can infect and injure the heart. Type B, a virus among those that usually infect the gastrointestinal tract, is believed to be the most common offending agent. Many other viruses, such as those of polio, rubella and influenza, have been associated with myocarditis. Myocarditis can occur as a rare complication of bacterial infections, including diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and tetanus. Other infectious organisms, such as rickettsiae and parasites, may also cause inflammation in the heart muscle.
Myocarditis is often associated with pericarditis, and many patients present with signs and symptoms that suggest concurrent myocarditis and pericarditis. Myocarditis can be caused by a variety of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Some people have an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or trouble breathing. Usually, a mild case of myocarditis will go away without any lasting damage. Myocarditis can then cause heart failure (with symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, fluid accumulation in the lungs, etc.) as well as heart rhythm irregularities from inflammation and/or scarring of the electrical system of the heart. Most cases of myocarditis are subclinical; therefore, the patient rarely seeks medical attention during acute illness. These subclinical cases may have transient ECG abnormalities. Certain chemicals. These may include substances such as arsenic and hydrocarbons. Medications that may cause an allergic or toxic reaction. These include antibiotics such as penicillin and sulfonamide drugs, as well as some illegal substances, such as cocaine.
Myocarditis may start as a flu-like illness that lingers longer than the usual several days. In series of routine autopsies, 1–9% of all patients had evidence of myocardial inflammation. In young adults, up to 20% of all cases of sudden death are due to myocarditis. In South America, Chagas' disease (caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is the main cause of myocarditis. As most viral infections cannot be treated with directed therapy, symptomatic treatment is the only form of therapy for those forms of myocarditis, e.g. NSAIDs for the inflammatory component and diuretics and/or inotropes for ventricular failure. ACE inhibitor therapy may aid in the healing process. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil) and ramipril (Altace). Beta blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and carvedilol (Coreg). Diuretics and Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin), which increases the strength of your heart muscle contractions and tends to slow the heartbeat.
Treatment for Myocarditis Tips
1. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil) and ramipril (Altace).
2. Beta blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and carvedilol (Coreg).
3. Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin), which increases the strength of your heart muscle contractions and tends to slow the heartbeat.
4. NSAIDs for the inflammatory component and diuretics and/or inotropes for ventricular failure.
5. ACE inhibitor therapy may aid in the healing process.
6. Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) .
7. Use of a temporary artificial heart (assist device).
Juliet Cohen writes article sfor http://www.healthatoz.info/ and http://www.health-disease.org/


Heart Failure - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Heart failure also called is congestive heart failure. Heart failure becomes more common with advancing age. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure develops over time as the pumping action of the heart grows weaker. Heart failure is a serious condition. It contributes to or causes about 300,000 deaths each year. About 5 million people in the U.S. have heart failure. It contributes to 300,000 deaths each year. It can affect the left side, the right side, or both sides of the heart. Most cases involve the left side where the heart can’t pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. The most common causes of heart failure are hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary artery disease (for example, you have had a heart attack). Arterial plaque lines the inside of the arteries that supply the heart and the rest of the body, meaning less blood gets to the heart itself, as well as the heart having to work harder to push blood through the thinner systemic arteries.
Heart failure may result from disorders that cause the heart's walls to stiffen, such as infiltrations and infections. Heart failure due to systolic dysfunction usually develops because the heart cannot contract normally. Heart failure has two main forms: systolic dysfunction (which is more common) and diastolic dysfunction. In systolic dysfunction, the heart contracts less forcefully and cannot pump out as much of the blood that is returned to it as it normally does. Heart valve disorders—narrowing (stenosis) of a valve, which hinders blood flow through the heart, or leakage of blood backward (regurgitation) through a valve—can cause heart failure. Some heart valve disorders, such as aortic valve stenosis, hinder blood flow out of the heart. Other causes may include diseases of the heart valves and weakened heart muscle due to viral infections or their poisonous products (called toxins). Individuals with heart failure are sensitive to small shifts in their intravascular volume status (the amount of fluid in their circulatory system). Often left heart failure leads to right heart failure and then both sides are affected.
Left-sided heart failure leads to fluid accumulation in the lungs, which causes shortness of breath. Heart failure is a major cause of sudden death due to production of arrhythmias. Persons with diabetes have a much greater risk of developing heart failure than those without because diabetes is associated with other heart failure risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol levels. Weight reduction – through physical activity and dietary modification, as obesity is a risk factor for heart failure and ventricular hypertrophy. Fluid restriction – patients with CHF have a diminished ability to excrete free water load. Sodium restriction – excessive sodium intake may precipitate or exacerbate heart failure. Moderate physical activity, when symptoms are mild or moderate; or bed rest when symptoms are severe. Another current treatment involves the use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Smoking and drinking alcohol can worsen heart failure and should be stopped. Exercise, weight loss, and stopping smoking help reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, as do good control of diabetes and lowering of cholesterol levels.
Treatment for Heart Failure Tips
1. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors drugs help people with heart failure live longer and feel better.
2. Diuretics are often called "water pills" because they make you urinate more often and help keep fluid from building up in your body.
3. Diuretics, or water tablets, which work on the kidneys to remove the extra fluid and salt from the body and lower blood pressure.
4. ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, which lower blood pressure and help the heart to pump more easily.
5. Digoxin helps the heart by making it beat more strongly and pump more blood.
6. Nitrates help with shortness of breath because they reduce the blood pressure in the lungs by widening (dilating) blood vessels and allow the heart to work more efficiently.
7.Warfarin stops blood clots from forming and Aspirin also stops blood clots from forming
Juliet Cohen writes article sfor http://www.healthatoz.info/ and http://www.health-disease.org/