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Conditions & Diseases: Cardiovascular System

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Arrhythmia

See Also:
Arrhythmia: Introduction & Pictures
Arrhythmia: Types
Arrhythmia: Causes & Risk Factors
Arrhythmia: Signs & Symptoms
Arrhythmia: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Arrhythmia: Treatment & Prevention Options

Causes & Risk Factors

Causes: There are various causes for arrhythmia which include:

1. Abnormal functioning of the sinoatrial node leads to misfiring or improper transmission of impulses which leads to arrhythmia.

2. Delayed or improper production/conduction of pulses through the atrioventricular node or the ventricles.

3. An extra pathway in the conduction system could lead to additional heartbeats.

4. Electrical impulses arising from places other than the sinoatrial node may interfere with the heartbeat.

5. Heart damage due to atherosclerosis or heart attack.

6. Congenital heart defects or disease.

7. Abnormality of the heart's structure or function such as Cardiomyopathy (abnormal enlargement, thickening and stiffening of heart muscles) or valvular heart disease.

8. Some non-heart related causes are high stress, anger, hostility, consumption of caffeine, alcohol and over the counter medications such as those for cold, cough or weight loss.

9. Certain stimulants such as guarana, ginseng and ephedra can increase the heart rate, cause palpitations and interfere with sleeping (2).

  

Risks: Some of the risk factors are as follows:

  1. Diabetes leads to hypertension and Coronary Artery Disease. (CAD)

  2. Pulmonary disease.

  3. Heart attack or Cardiomyopathy – weakens the heart and changes the electrical signals.

  4. Defective heart valves.

  5. Sleep apnea – when breathing becomes shallow leading to lesser oxygen supply to the heart.

  6. Overactive or underactive thyroid gland.

  7. Usage of certain drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines. (4)

See Also:
Arrhythmia: Introduction & Pictures
Arrhythmia: Types
Arrhythmia: Causes & Risk Factors
Arrhythmia: Signs & Symptoms
Arrhythmia: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Arrhythmia: Treatment & Prevention Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
01/06/2011