Heart rhythm disorders, also known as arrhythmias, occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don’t work properly.
This can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
These conditions can be merely annoying, or in severe cases, life-threatening. Understanding what causes these heart rhythm disorders is crucial for both prevention and treatment.
This review explains the common causes in simple terms and provides insights into how they can impact heart health.
At the heart of arrhythmia lies the heart’s electrical system, which controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. When something disrupts this system, it can lead to an arrhythmia.
There are many potential causes of these disruptions, ranging from lifestyle factors to underlying conditions and genetic predispositions.
Heart Disease: The most common cause of arrhythmias is heart disease. Conditions like coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, and previous heart attacks can damage or put stress on the heart, disrupting its electrical system.
For example, scar tissue from a heart attack might interfere with the heart’s electrical signals, leading to arrhythmias.
High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can strain the heart and blood vessels, leading to changes in the heart muscle. These changes can affect how electrical impulses travel through the heart, potentially causing irregular heartbeats.
Thyroid Problems: Both an overactive and an underactive thyroid gland can cause heart rhythm disturbances. The thyroid hormones have a direct effect on heart rate and rhythm.
Too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can cause the heart to beat faster or irregularly, while too little (hypothyroidism) can cause a slower-than-normal heart rate.
Substance Use: Certain substances can trigger arrhythmias, including alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and illegal drugs like amphetamines and cocaine.
These substances can alter the heart’s electrical impulses and lead to arrhythmias, especially in large quantities or with frequent use.
Medications: Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can contribute to arrhythmias. For instance, drugs like decongestants and some asthma inhalers can increase heart rate.
Moreover, even medications meant to control the heart rate and rhythm, if not properly managed, can paradoxically cause arrhythmias.
Electrolyte Imbalances: The heart’s rhythm depends on the proper balance of electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the body. If these levels are too high or too low, it can affect the heart’s ability to send electrical signals properly, leading to arrhythmias.
Genetics: In some cases, arrhythmias may be inherited. Certain types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, can run in families. Genetic predispositions can affect the heart’s structure or the way heart cells conduct electricity.
Age: As people get older, they are more likely to develop arrhythmias. Age-related changes in the heart, such as the loss of heart muscle cells or degeneration of the heart’s electrical system, can increase the risk of arrhythmias.
Stress and Anxiety: Emotional stress and anxiety can also lead to arrhythmias by increasing adrenaline in the body, which can affect heart rate and rhythm.
While the causes of heart rhythm disorders are varied, understanding them is a crucial step in managing and potentially preventing these conditions.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that might suggest an arrhythmia—such as palpitations, feeling dizzy, shortness of breath, or fainting—it’s important to see a healthcare provider.
They can determine if an arrhythmia is present, what might be causing it, and how best to treat it. Living a healthy lifestyle, managing stress, and treating underlying conditions can also help maintain a regular heart rhythm and improve overall heart health.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to higher risk of heart failure, and results showing Blackcurrants could improve artery functions, blood pressure in older people.
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