Disorders in the formation and/or
conduction of the electrical impulse within the heart. These
can cause disturbance of the heart rate, the heart rhythm
or both.
Supra Ventricular Arrhythmias These are Arrhythmias arising from atria or AV node.
Types
Sinus Bradycardia (low heart
rate) Heart rate is slow. Below
50 beats per minute
Occurs in trained athletes, by use of drugs, certain cardiac
diseases etc.
Sinus Tachycardia (increased
heart rate) 120 beats per minute
Occurs during anxiety, fever, exercise, drugs, shock,
electrolyte imbalances etc.
Premature Atrial complex (premature
atrial beat) Generally doesn't require
any treatment. Monitored for increased frequency.
Supra Ventricular Tachycardia
(fast rate atrial arrhythmias) Includes Atrial Fibrillation,
Atrial Flutter & Atrial Tachycardia. The most common
of these is Atrial fibrillation.
Atrial
Fibrillation
Is an extremely rapid
and disorganized pattern of atrial contraction where atrial
rate is 400-600 beats per minute.
Ventricular Arrhythmias
Originate
in the ventricular muscle and considered to be the more dangerous.
These arrhythmias include premature ventricular complex, ventricular
tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular flutter
and ventricular asystole.
Causes
Myocardial
Ischemia, electrolyte imbalance, hypoxia, acidosis, cardiomyopathies,
ventricular aneurysms, previous MI and certain drugs, SA node
and AV node damage.
