Arrhythmias

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease that mainly affects the apex of the heart and does not cause any obstruction. [1] These abnormalities in the heart muscle can cause a wide variety of symptoms. As the heart becomes stiff it increases the pressure in the left ventricle which can push blood back into the lungs, causing shortness of breath in exercise. Chest pain can occur as there is not enough oxygen available to the cardiac muscle due to insufficient blood supply. Palpitations and lightheadedness, along with other conditions can occur as a result of HCM. In addition to these discomforting symptoms, the patient may develop an arrhythmias that often goes unnoticed. An arrhythmia takes place as the electrical conduction of the heart is disturbed by the abnormal scattering of myocytes. The two most common arrhythmias are atrial fibrillation causing palpitations, and ventricular tachycardia that can be life threatening causing sudden death. Both conditions can be controlled with medication. [4]

This case study discusses the management of a 68 year old male who presented with chest palpitations secondary to rapid atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia with serious complications if not treated correctly. This essay will discuss the initial clinical presentation of the patient and examine the management and outcome of the interventions applied. The significance of atrial fibrillation including its pathophysiology and aetiology will also be discussed.

Arrhythmias are irregular rhythms of the heartbeat which can be fast paced or slow paced.

- The goals of treatment include a decrease in ventricular response (to less than 100 beats/minute), prevention of stroke, and conversion to normal sinus rhythm, if possible. To accomplish this, I would expect the health care provider to initially order drugs to control the ventricular rate, such as calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenergic blockers, digoxin, and dronedarone. For some patients, pharmacologic or electrical conversion of the atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm may then also be considered, such as by using amiodarone or electrical cardioversion. If the atrial fibrillation lasts for longer than 48 hours, anticoagulation therapy will be needed for 3-4 weeks before the cardioversion and for weeks after as well. If drugs or cardioversion do not work, radiofrequency catheter ablation and the Maze procedure would be expected as further options.

| |Coronary circulation |that pushes blood to the organs, |Abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias |

Most physicians and people who acquired the problem usually know it as A-FIB, a shorter term for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation deals with the cardiovascular system, in particular, the heart in the body. It is defined as, “the electrical signals that control this system are off-kilter. Instead of working together the atria do their own thing, causing fast fluttering heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia” (WEBMD). In a normal pumping blood of the heart the atria would squeeze first, followed by the ventricles of the heart. A-fib can be a serious issue if not treated, due to the inadequate pumping of the blood, causing a higher chance of heart failure. It is also a higher chance in getting a stroke, because improper flow of the blood can cause clots in the

If the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly, it may not be able to pump enough blood to all of the body.

Ablation. During this procedure the heart tissue causing the problem is destroyed. This procedure may be done if atrial flutter lasts a long time or happens often.

Nonsurgical treatment usually involves medications such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), nitrates, digitalis, potassium, aspirin, calcium channel blockers, blood thinners, and beta blockers. Some surgical treatments include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), intra-aortic balloon pump, ventricular assist devices (VADs), an implantable artificial heart, angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery, heart-valve surgery, heart transplantation, and myocardial replacement therapy. Some alternative medicines include antioxidants, homocysteine metabolism, magnesium, taurine, carnitine, essential fatty acids, diet, herbs, acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, and

Cardiac dysrhythmias come in different degrees of severity. There are heart conditions that you are able to live with and manage on a daily basis and those that require immediate attention. Atrial Fibrillation is one of the more frequently seen types of dysrhythmias (NIH, 2011). The best way to diagnosis a heart condition is by reading a cardiac strip (Ignatavicius &Workman, 2013). Cardiac strips play an chief part in the nursing world allowing the nurse and other trained medical professionals to interpret what the heart is doing. In a normal strip, one can clearly identify a P wave before every QRS complex, which is then followed by a T wave; in Atrial Fibrillation, the Sinoatrial node fires irregularly causing there to be no clear P

of atria and ventricle. Impulses not being transmitted from atria to the ventricle; no whole number relationship between atrial and ventricular contractions was demonstrated.

Today millions of Americans live or have lived with Atrial fibrillation. The main concern with this health issue is that many people who lived with it sometimes are not aware of it. Atrial fibrillation is defined by Mayo Clinic (2012) as “an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to the body”. It occurs when the four chambers of the heart have a disrupted rhythm. The abnormal functionality of health may lead to a stroke because of the possible blood clot that will be formed. The Atrial fibrillation or Afib put the body in a situation without oxygen and nutrients because the body is not well supplied by a heart that is became weak. In general, only few people will feel change in their heartbeat. They may verbalize

Particularly heart beat irregularities (atrial fibrillation), disease of the heart valves, congestive heart failure or recent heart attack.

An dysrhythmia of the heart is an irregular heartbeat rhythm. Ventricular tachycardia is an dysrhythmia in which the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles, beat unusually fast.

The heart is one of the most important organs in an organism’s body, no matter if they are aquatic, amphibian, or a mammal. This super organ works automatically, able to pump massive amounts of oxygen rich blood through the body by means of electrical impulses and the opening and closing of valves within its many layers. It is what keeps us and every other creature on this earth alive; so it is only natural for one to fear when there might be a problem with one’s heart. A cardiac arrhythmia can happen to anyone, no matter the age, race, or gender, and as such, doctors and scientist have spent years trying to better understand the heart and the way it functions so that they can try to prevent these problems and save millions of lives.