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- What is arrhythmia?
- Symptoms of arrhythmia
- Causes of arrhythmia
- Prevention of arrhythmia
- Risk factors for arrhythmia
- Complications of arrhythmia
- When to see a doctor about arrhythmia
- Diagnosis of arrhythmia
- Conventional treatment of arrhythmia
- Alternative/complementary treatment of arrhythmia
- Living with arrhythmia
- Caring for someone with arrhythmia
Arrhythmia may be unpreventable in certain circumstances:
- Congenital disorder - the long QT syndrome arrhythmia is most often caused by a congenital (inherited) heart condition, which a person is born with, so it is probably not possible to prevent this type of arrhythmia
- Overactive thyroid - people who have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) often also experience a fast heart rate due to their condition. This is not preventable as it is part of the thyroid disorder. The only way people with hyperthyroidism can reduce their heart rate to become more normal is through the medications they are prescribed for their condition, which reduces the action of their thyroid gland to become somewhat more normal
- Underactive thyroid - people who have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) are often prescribed medication to increase the function of the thyroid. One of the side effects of this medication is to increase heart rate as the thyroid gland starts to function more. People with this problem should consult their doctor to determine if they can reduce their dosage, or take a different type of medication to reduce the arrhythmia symptoms
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There are though, many ways to prevent arrhythmia from occurring:
- Anxiety and stress - recent studies suggest that intense emotions, anxiety, grief, depression and chronic stress may be associated with arrhythmia, even without any underlying heart disease. There are a number of relaxation strategies that can be used to reduce depression, intense emotions, anxiety and/or stress so that the abnormal heart beats are at least abated or do not happen at all. Some good relaxation strategies are: meditation, tai chi, yoga, visualisation
- Caffeine - people who drink too much coffee, could reduce their caffeine intake by trying an alternate drink, such as roasted dandelion root, which has a very similar, bitter taste to coffee. The dandelion not only does not contain any caffeine, but it is actually really good for the liver, as it helps to detoxify the liver. Tea drinkers can try to decrease intake and drink herbal teas (such as peppermint or rose hip) which contain no caffeine and also have a beneficial effect on the body. People who eat a lot of chocolate can try to eat only a small amount of organic, dark chocolate, which is packed full of antioxidants and is actually beneficial for the heart. Those people who drink energy drinks packed with caffeine should swap these with plain water or juice instead to immediately reduce their caffeine intake to prevent further arrhythmia
- Medications - certain over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription can cause arrhythmias, especially if taken over a longer term. If any medications are causing arrhythmia as a side effect, this should be discussed with the treating doctor to find an alternative medication that is not going to cause these symptoms. People taking illicit drugs (speed or cocaine) should cut down on their intake to reduce their symptoms and to prevent any future heart problems
- Nutrient deficiencies - the only way to determine if the arrhythmia (palpitations, fast heart beat) are caused by a nutrient deficiency (omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B1), is to have a blood test. Once confirmed, then the only way to prevent this is to eat more foods rich in these nutrients and/or use some supplements (as advised)
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Sections: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
< 3: causes 5: risk factors > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 9 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
