(Arrhythmia)
Arrhythmia is caused by an abnormal electrical current or short circuit in the heart, which affects blood circulation in the area where the abnormal electrical current occurs. Some types of arrhythmia cause blood to remain and form blood clots in the heart’s chambers. These clots can break free from the heart and travel to various organs in the body. They usually break free and travel to the brain, causing cerebral blood vessel blockage and ultimately leading to paralysis.
Symptoms of arrhythmia can vary from person to person, including
- Palpitations or abnormal heartbeat
- Easily tired
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Chest tightness or chest pain
- Sometimes unconscious
- Some people may have no symptoms at all, which can be detected during a health checkup.
Arrhythmias can be caused by a number of factors, including
- Heart disease, such as coronary artery disease and weak heart muscle
- Electrical abnormalities in the heart
- Stress or anxiety
- Drinking caffeine, alcohol or using drugs
- Mineral imbalance in the body
- Side effects of certain medications
Diagnosis of arrhythmia may involve the following methods
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Portable electrocardiogram (Holter monitor)
- Wearable devices such as smart watches
- Exercise stress test
- Echocardiogram
- Blood tests or further diagnostic tests at the doctor’s discretion
- Treatment of arrhythmias
Treatment at Bangkok Rayong Hospital depends on the type and severity of the condition.
- Use of medications to control heart rhythm
- Permanent pacemaker implantation
- Procedures such as catheter ablation
Prevention of arrhythmias
- Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes.
- Exercise regularly
- Control stress
- Get regular heart checkups, especially for those with a family history of heart disease.
- Eat a healthy diet and avoid foods that are high in salt or fat.
- If you suspect an irregular heartbeat, see a doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
(Coronary Artery Disease: CAD or Coronary Heart Disease)
It is a group of cardiovascular disease symptoms that covers three groups of diseases: coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease, which is the third leading cause of death among Thai people after cancer and accidents.
Coronary artery disease is caused by the degeneration of the walls of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, as well as the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. Initially, the coronary arteries will adjust and expand to allow blood to flow well to the heart muscle. However, if more and more fatty deposits accumulate in the artery walls, it will impede blood flow to the heart muscle and prevent it from delivering oxygen to the heart, resulting in angina. If the blockage of the arteries occurs suddenly (heart attack), causing the heart muscle to die due to lack of oxygen, the patient may die immediately.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease
Most patients with coronary artery disease are unaware that they have a problem if they do not have symptoms. Patients will experience pain in the heart area, which may radiate to the arm, left shoulder, elbow, jaw, or back. Other symptoms may also occur, such as chest tightness, difficulty breathing, palpitations, paleness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and loss of consciousness. Patients need to receive treatment with angioplasty, medication, or surgery, depending on the level of the disease.
Causes / Risk factors for coronary artery disease
- heredity
- Gender
- Age
- high blood pressure
- High blood fat
- diabetes
- Smoking
- Little exercise
- Eat less vegetables and fruits
- Overweight/obese
- Drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages
- Negative mental states such as stress, depression, and dejection
Diagnosis of coronary artery disease
One of the most important diagnostic methods is cardiac catheterization, which involves inserting a catheter through a blood vessel in the groin or wrist into the heart to check for stenosis or blockage of the coronary arteries. The most popular location is the femoral artery, but there are limitations regarding recovery. Currently, the radial artery in the wrist is more commonly used to reduce complications and allow patients to recover quickly.
Coronary artery disease treatment at Bangkok Rayong Hospital
Balloon angioplasty is a procedure that involves pushing fatty plaques that are clogging blood vessels back against the artery wall to widen the blood flow path, which reduces the risk of heart failure.
Prevention of cardiovascular disease includes:
- Eat a complete diet of all five food groups.
- No smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Abstain from alcoholic beverages
- Keep your mind refreshed and don’t get stressed often.
