It may come as a surprise, but certain types of arrhythmia affect many people. Atrial fibrillation is estimated to affect hundreds of thousands of people in Hungary alone. This irregular heart muscle contraction condition is not always dangerous in itself, but without treatment it can lead to serious complications. The Arrhythmia Outpatient Clinic at the Wáberer Cardiology Centre was set up precisely to help people with arrhythmia problems to get help as soon as possible. Anyone who comes to us with such a problem or suspicion of one is assessed for a medical history, a 12-lead ECG is performed and detailed physical examinations are carried out. However, these solutions can only provide specialists with data for the short period of time at hand, meaning that they cannot always detect infrequent, discontinuous arrhythmias. Therefore, in outpatient clinics, we continue to investigate and identify the problem by using multi-day ECG monitoring (Holter) and smart devices for continuous heart rate monitoring.
To understand the background of the arrhythmia, we also use laboratory tests, cardiac ultrasound, exercise ECG and, if necessary, cardiac CT scans. The latter may also find myocardial abnormalities, valvular heart disease or coronary artery disease in the background of the arrhythmia. After analysing the abnormalities found during the scan, we will decide on the therapies needed. If we do not find the cause of the arrhythmia, the problem to be treated, or if the arrhythmia persists despite the treatment started, we may recommend medication, catheterisation or pacemaker/defibrillator implantation, depending on the type of arrhythmia.
In a good proportion of cases, the arrhythmia found may be benign or harmless.
The heart is controlled by an electric current that travels from the electrical centre of the heart, the sinus node in the right atrium, to all the heart muscle cells, triggering the rhythmic contractions of the heart. Arrhythmia can be caused by damage to the pacemaker centre as well as to the conduction system or to the heart muscle cells. Cardiac arrhythmias can be associated with very slow, very fast or irregular heartbeats. They may be permanent or of short duration. They are most often characterised by a violent rapid, regular or irregular heartbeat, slow heart rate, frequent or infrequent skipping of the heartbeat.
Depending on the duration and nature of the arrhythmia, it may cause fatigue, chest pain, dyspnoea, sudden dizziness, even loss of consciousness. If symptoms suggest an arrhythmia, a cardiological examination is necessary, harmless arrhythmias may also indicate serious heart disease, and pre-existing heart disease from other causes is often accompanied by arrhythmia.
– It may be harmless, but without treatment it can lead to complications.
To help, we call the Trident Nano, a Holter monitor so convenient you won’t even notice it.
