Arrhythmia refers to a heartbeat that is unusually fast or slow than normal. You might describe your heartbeat as unpredictable and chaotic.
There are many types of arrhythmias. Some arrhythmias are more deadly than others. Arrhythmias that occur in the ventricles, which are your heart’s lower chambers, can be especially deadly.
Other arrhythmias may also lead to serious complications. If they aren’t managed effectively with medication, procedures, and implantable devices, this could be a problem.
Is arrhythmia considered fatal?
A significant change in the rhythm of your heart could mean that your heart is unable to pump blood efficiently throughout your body.
Blood can build up in the atria, which are the upper chambers of your hearts. A stroke can be caused by a large-sized blood clot. If not treated quickly, a severe stroke could be fatal.
Your ventricles may also be affected by a malfunctioning atria. A malfunctioning atria can also cause your ventricles to stop pumping blood. Sudden cardiac arrest is a common and often fatal outcome. This can cause dizziness or fainting.
What about arrhythmia or COVID-19?
While COVID-19 is still considered a respiratory disease, there are clear signs that it can lead to cardiac complications. COVID-19 symptoms can linger for several months, even if the infection is gone.
Dysautonomia, an autonomic nervous systems condition, is the most common arrhythmia in patients with COVID-19. Dysautonomia is a dangerous condition, but it’s not usually serious when it’s associated with COVID-19.
What is arrhythmia?
A healthy heart beats about 100,000 times per day. The ventricles, atria and blood vessels work together in sync to draw blood from other parts of the body, transport it to your lungs, and then return it to your rest of the body.
Arrhythmia can occur when the electrical system controlling your heart rate stops working correctly.
- Arrhythmia may originate in various parts of the heart.
- Your blood is pumped to your atria.
- The ventricles pump blood from your heart to the ventricles
- Sinoatrial node: This sends electrical impulses through the atria to cause them to contract and move blood to the ventricles.
- The atrioventricular Node sends impulses through the ventricles to cause them to contract and pump blood from your heart.
- Right bundle branch, which transmits electrical signals to right ventricle
- Left bundle branch, which transmits electrical signals to the left ventricle
The type of arrhythmia that affects your heart may have different symptoms. The symptoms of this condition may include any one or more of these:
- An irregular heartbeat
- rapid heartbeat
- Slow heart beat
- Feel like your heart “skips” at a beat
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Fatigue
- Exercise intolerance
Arrhythmias that can lead to death are more severe
- Breathing difficulty
- chest pain
- Anxiety
- Near fainting, fainting
Sudden cardiac arrest can occur in cases of life-threatening arrhythmias. A person in cardiac arrest may become unconscious and unresponsive. They may also gasp for air.