Cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormality in the electrical circuit that activates and regulates the contraction of the heart causing it to beat too fast, too slowly or irregularly. Almost everyone can experience an alteration in the normal beat sequence without threatening their health. However, arrhythmia can become dangerous when it interferes with the blood supply to vital organs resulting in severe damage to the brain, heart and lungs. Therefore, it is important to learn to minimize this risk.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Making Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Exercise
If you want to avoid the onset of diseases that cause cardiac arrhythmias, the first step is to strengthen the heart and, to do this, you must train at least 30 minutes, five times a week. Heart problems are common in obese people, so exercise can help overweight people lose and control their weight. In addition, the movement helps the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
- The simplest cardiovascular activities include walking, running, swimming, and cycling. It is necessary to practice them 4-5 times a week, for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Those who already suffer from heart disease or arrhythmia should consult their doctor before planning an exercise routine. In fact, the exercises may differ from those that are normally assigned. Those who are not perfectly healthy should start with moderate activity and slowly increase its intensity over time.
Step 2. Stop drinking
Alcohol can promote vasoconstriction, causing the heart to overexert itself to oxygenate the body. This state can trigger electrical imbalances that cause arrhythmia. To avoid this, stop drinking so that you don't suffer further damage.
If you risk suffering from altered heart rate, you should not consume alcohol as it can in itself make it irregular
Step 3. Stop smoking
Carbon monoxide can increase ventricular fibrillation (VF), which is an arrhythmia characterized by rapid contractions until the blood supply to the brain, lungs, kidneys, or inside the heart stops and stops. It is lethal and leads to death.
Ask your doctor about the best ways to quit smoking, including gums, patches, lozenges, injections, medications, or group therapy
Step 4. Eliminate caffeine
Coffee has a stimulating action that increases heart contractions. This additional stress can trigger an arrhythmia. This is especially true if taken in large doses, but any quantity can cause an irregular heartbeat in those at risk.
In general, there is no need to completely eliminate it from your diet. Rather, make sure you take it in the daily amounts considered normal for adults, which is around 400 mg
Step 5. Watch out for medications
Some medications, such as those for coughs and colds, produce negative side effects that can trigger arrhythmias because they contain ingredients that change the heart rate. Antibiotics, antifungals, psychotropic drugs including serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), diuretics and active ingredients used to keep glycemia.
Always consult your doctor before taking any medications, as some can increase your heart rate
Step 6. Avoid stress
When strong, it can affect heart health, although it doesn't have a direct effect on arrhythmia. Stress increases cortisol levels, which constricts blood vessels and causes the heart to pump faster.
- Learn to cope with stressful situations by sharing your anxieties and worries with someone, attending spas, or practicing yoga and meditation.
- You can also avoid stress by reducing your workload, taking a vacation, spending more time with friends and loved ones.
Method 2 of 4: Get Medical Treatment
Step 1. Take your prescribed medications
If you are at risk for arrhythmia, your doctor may prescribe certain medicines to help keep your heart rate under control. They are not over-the-counter drugs and are sold by prescription only.
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, amiodarone and procainamide are some of the drugs that target beta receptors and certain ion channels located in the heart to normalize heart rate and keep blood pressure at bay
Step 2. Learn about cardioversion
This is a procedure that involves the use of a device that gives the heart an electric shock to help restore normal heart rhythm. Conduction takes place by means of electrodes placed on the chest.
This procedure is used in cases where there is no emergency intervention to correct arrhythmias, especially if the pacemaker is blocked
Step 3. Undergo catheter ablation
Doctors can identify a specific area of the heart where arrhythmias occur most often. This procedure involves introducing a flexible tube (catheter) into the blood vessels, which is maneuvered to reach the heart. By means of radiofrequency ablation (emission of radiofrequency electric current) or cryoablation (use of cold) the heart region causing the abnormal rhythm is blocked.
Step 4. Consider the pacemaker
It can be implanted by a surgical procedure. It is a small device that facilitates electrical impulses in the damaged region of the heart in order to make it pump more slowly. Nodes are small components of the heart's neuro-electrical system that allow the heart to pump blood.
- When the pacemaker detects an irregular heartbeat, it emits an electrical pulse that stimulates the heart to beat properly.
- Also inquire about the implantable cardiac defibrillator (or implantable cardioverter defibrillator). It is very similar to the pacemaker, but it recognizes ventricular arrhythmias. It also emits electrical impulses to protect the heart when the beat is not regular.
Method 3 of 4: Know the Risks
Step 1. Find out what the word arrhythmia means
When the heart does not beat properly, blood does not circulate efficiently, especially to vital organs that are closely dependent on its supply, including the brain, lungs and kidneys. Insufficient intake can damage them in the long run and ultimately compromise their functionality.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States Public Health Control Body), about 600,000 people per year die from sudden heart problems and it is estimated that the first manifestation of heart disease is the sudden death in 50% of cases
Step 2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of arrhythmia
Normally, the heart sends impulses that start from the sinoatrial node. However, some conditions, such as impulse conduction disorders, predispose it to send out abnormal signals that cause irregular beats. The latter can reduce the blood supply to vital organs.
Heart palpitations, fatigue, slow heart rate, chest pain, loss of consciousness, dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, fainting, shortness of breath and sudden death may occur in such circumstances
Step 3. Build family history
Medical familiarity is the most important risk factor in cases of arrhythmia. Then, try to find out if a very close relative has suffered from heart disease and how old they were when they were diagnosed with arrhythmia. It can be decisive: an arrhythmia in an 80-year-old person is almost certainly not genetic, but in a 20-year-old it is very likely that it is. Watch out for heart attack, angina pectoris, angioplasty or arterial occlusion - these are genetic conditions that cannot be changed.
Genetics play a very important role in how you should manage yourself because it involves non-modifiable risk factors. However, you can follow a healthy lifestyle to reduce any additional risk of arrhythmia over time
Step 4. Check your blood pressure
High blood pressure can put you at an increased risk of arrhythmia. To keep your blood pressure under control, measure it systematically. You can go to pharmacies, some health centers or your doctor.
If your systolic blood pressure, or maximum blood pressure, reaches 140 or exceeds this value, you need to change your lifestyle, such as losing weight on a low-sodium diet, and measure it regularly. If there have been cases of coronary heart disease in the family, you will most likely have to change your lifestyle and follow drug therapy to lower it
Step 5. Pay attention to other risk factors
There are other conditions that can cause arrhythmia, such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Heart arrhythmia problems can also occur in people with obstructive sleep apnea, as well as in those with electrolyte imbalances.
Each dysfunction or disease involves a specific treatment protocol, so ask your doctor to treat the underlying condition that puts you at risk of arrhythmia
Step 6. Consider your personal risk factors
The risk factors affecting arrhythmia are varied and can affect the health of patients in several ways. So, be aware of yours and, if you have any doubts about them, talk to your doctor.
Then set personal goals based on your personal risk factors to improve your physical condition
Method 4 of 4: Follow a Heart-Healthy Diet
Step 1. Know the limitations of the diet
To improve heart health, it is a good idea to adopt a diet that is good for the heart, but keep in mind that arrhythmia - which is an anomaly in the electrical circuit - is a congenital problem that cannot be changed through nutrition..
Step 2. Eat a balanced diet
Eating healthy is the simplest way to minimize the risk of arrhythmia. Hence, consume a large amount of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein sources from meat, chicken and dairy products.
Consult your doctor or nutritionist to plan a heart-healthy diet that suits your needs
Step 3. Increase omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3s make up a category of essential fatty acids that are good for the heart. They sweep LDL cholesterol out of the arteries and also help keep the heart rate in balance. Eat oatmeal for breakfast as they are high in omega-3s. For dinner, prepare a dish of baked or steamed salmon because, being a deep-sea fish, it is rich in these fatty acids.
- To promote coronary circulation - the one that carries blood to the heart - it is very important to lower bad LDL cholesterol, because atherosclerotic plaques are a frequent cause of heart disease.
- Add some fruit for breakfast or some vegetables and wholemeal bread to the salmon platter for a wholesome and complete meal.
- If you don't like salmon, try tuna, mackerel or herring.
Step 4. Add avocado to your diet
Avocado is a rich source of monosaturated fats, which help raise HDL (high-density lipoprotein, aka "good cholesterol"), while lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels. Use it to enrich salads and sandwiches or cut a few slices to fill your snacks.
You can also use it to make a dessert, such as chocolate mousse. This way, you will get a dessert with healthier ingredients
Step 5. Use olive oil
Like avocado, olive oil is also a rich source of monounsaturated fats, which lower LDL cholesterol. Use it to marinate your dishes, dress salads or sauté vegetables. By doing this, you will be able to consume it in sufficient quantities and gain health benefits without dramatically increasing your lipid intake.
- When shopping, look for "extra virgin" olive oil as it undergoes less treatment than normal olive oil.
- Olive oil is a great substitute for butter or other fats in cooking.
Step 6. Snack on dried fruit
In addition to fish and oatmeal, nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy fats, which help you lose weight and gain more energy. In addition, it contains fiber useful for health. Try eating a handful of hazelnuts, pecans, macadamias, or almonds if you want to have a tasty and healthy snack.
You can also use dried fruit in cooking. For example, prepare almond-crusted fish or sauteed green beans topped with toasted hazelnuts
Step 7. Increase your consumption of fresh berries
Typically, berries are full of antioxidants and as such are capable of reducing harmful substances and toxins in the body. Additionally, they have anti-inflammatory properties that decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. Grab a handful for a healthy and delicious snack instead of eating a snack made up of refined sugars.
Also try sprinkling blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries on your breakfast cereals or adding them to yogurt
Step 8. Try to eat more beans
Beans are high in fiber and therefore help lower LDL cholesterol. Moreover, thanks to their content of omega-3 fatty acids and calcium, they help fight heart ailments and any arrhythmias.
Try adding black beans to Mexican dishes, chickpeas or cannellini beans to salads, and red beans to soups and stews. You can also eat them absolute, as a side dish to steamed salmon or baked chicken
Step 9. Include flax seeds in your diet
Flax seeds are rich in fiber and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which are useful for heart health. You can combine them with oatmeal when you have breakfast or add a teaspoon of them to your desserts.
Also try flaxseed flour to prepare delicious sweet and savory recipes
Advice
- Normal heart rate is around 60-100 beats per minute. When the heart beats very fast (more than 100 beats per minute), it is called tachycardia, while when it beats very slowly (less than 60 beats per minute), it is called bradycardia.
- There is no literature on herbal remedies capable of reducing the risk of arrhythmias. However, there is a strong case history corroborated by numerous publications on the dangers induced by herbal products that can trigger arrhythmias.
