How Caffeine Affects Your Heart
If you’ve been diagnosed with a heart problem, you may wonder whether it’s dangerous for you to consume caffeine. Here we discuss the most recent research regarding heart disease and caffeine consumption.
The Major Symptoms of Arrhythmia and What You Need to Do About Them
If you’ve been told you have arrhythmia, or you’re having odd symptoms, you probably have some questions. At Heart & Vascular Institute, our experts have the answers. We can help you understand what arrhythmia is, what treatments are available, and what a diagnosis of arrhythmia means in your specific situation. Blogs are important because there is a way for you to communicate with your audience. All the information that you need is available to you. Every month we can include something different.
Normal heart rhythm vs. arrhythmia
Your heart has a built-in pacemaker, located in the upper left chamber, or atrium. That natural pacemaker sends electrical signals telling both upper chambers, or atria, when to contract and pump blood into the two lower chambers, or ventricles. There’s a brief pause, allowing the ventricles to fill with blood, then the electrical signals tell the ventricles to contract.
Most of the time, a person with normal heart function has a heart rate of 60-100 beats per minute, in a steady rhythm, thanks to your built-in pacemaker. Of course, when you’re exercising or sleeping, your heart rate may be faster or slower.
When you have arrhythmia, you have a problem either with the number of beats per minute or with your heart’s rhythm. A tachycardia is a fast heart rate, and a bradycardia is a slow heart rate. Arrhythmias are classified as tachycardias or bradycardias, as well as by where they happen in the heart.
When your heart rhythm is off in the atria, it could be because you have:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
When your heart rhythm is off in your ventricles, it could be because of:
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Long QT syndrome
At Heart & Vascular Institute, we offer a wide range of diagnostic testing to identify and assess your arrhythmia.
Symptoms of arrhythmia
The symptoms you feel depend on the type and location of your arrhythmia. Some common ones include:
- Your heart skipping beats, or palpitations
- A fluttering feeling in your chest
- Feeling like your heart is racing, even if you’re sitting still
- Feeling exceptionally fatigued
- Dizziness, light-headedness, fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or discomfort in your chest
If you’ve had a heart attack in the past, or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or some other underlying condition, you’re more likely to develop arrhythmia. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and other lifestyle factors can also lead to arrhythmia.
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you should book an appointment at Heart & Vascular Institute. Sometimes arrhythmia isn’t a threat to your health, but sometimes you need testing and treatment.
When you come to Heart & Vascular Institute, you get personalized treatment. Your treatment depends on many factors, including your age and overall health. All of those factors, plus your lifestyle and circumstances, make you the unique individual you are. Your care at Heart & Vascular Institute reflects that individuality.
Don’t just worry about your symptoms, book your appointment today. We have three locations for your convenience, in Dearborn, Detroit, and Southfield, Michigan. You can schedule online at the location of your choice, or call the office directly.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Who’s at Risk of Dyspnea?
Nearly everyone feels breathless at one time or another, but for some people, shortness of breath becomes commonplace. It’s uncomfortable and can be scary. Here’s what you need to know about dyspnea and your risk.
What’s the Difference Between Good and Bad Cholesterol?
You’ve probably heard the phrase “good cholesterol.” And you’ve probably also heard you need to lower your cholesterol. What does it all mean? Why is some cholesterol deemed “good” and some “bad”?
Is a Stress Test Painful?
If your doctor recommends a stress test, you naturally may have concerns. In this post, we discuss what you should expect during a stress test, including whether it hurts.
Do You Have Shortness of Breath? Here Are the Tests You Might Need
When you jog up a flight of stairs, you expect to be short of breath at the top. But what about walking across your kitchen? Or sitting on the sofa? If you’re short of breath in those situations, you need some tests to find out why.
The Dangers of High Blood Pressure
You almost certainly know a few people with high blood pressure, or you may have it yourself. It’s such a common problem it may not seem serious. But high blood pressure presents dangers.