Classification of cardiac arrhythmias

In bradycardia, the heart beats slowly and the pulse is less than 60 beats per minute. Bradycardia is often observed in competitive athletes without being pathological. The two most important cardiac dysrhythmias associated with bradycardia Bradycardia = In tachycardia the heart beats unusually fast, the pulse is over 100 beats per minute.

Tachycardia can also occur during intense excitement and physical exertion. Tachycardic rhythm disturbances are further subdivided according to their origin: Tachycardic supraventricular rhythm disturbances (supraventricular = supra- = over -ventricular = from the ventricles (chambers), i.e. in the atria). Tachycardic ventricular dysrhythmia Causes: Cardiac arrhythmia can also occur in physically healthy people, as already mentioned.

They then usually occur only occasionally in special situations and are of short duration. Frequently occurring or longer-lasting arrhythmias, on the other hand, can usually be attributed to three specific areas of cause: Various heart diseases are the most common cause for the development of cardiac arrhythmias. Due to reduced oxygen supply or direct damage to the heart muscle cells, they can no longer function properly. Heart diseases that can lead to arrhythmias are

Coronary heart disease (CHD),
Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency),
Heart valve defect,
Heart muscle inflammation or
High blood pressure.
Sick sinus syndrome
AV block
Supraventricular extrasystoles
Supraventricular tachycardia
AV node reentry tachycardia = Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome
Atrial flutter
Atrial fibrillation
Ventricular extrasystoles
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular flutter
Ventricular fibrillation
Metabolic disorders e.g. due to medication or hyperthyroidism
Heart diseases e.g. a heart attack
Congenital anomalies

Diseases that can lead to arrhythmias

This includes metabolic disorders, the risk factors for the previously mentioned heart diseases, especially for CHD.

Hyperthyroidism: In the case of hyperthyroidism, the increased secretion of thyroid hormones can lead to tachycardic arrhythmias.
Sleep apnoea syndrome: sleep apnoea syndrome refers to the occurrence of short pauses in breathing during sleep. This can lead to bradycardia and other cardiac arrhythmia.
Hypoxia (reduced oxygen supply): the heart can be damaged secondarily by diseases of the lungs, which lead to a reduced supply of oxygen to the organism, or shock conditions.
This in turn can lead to the occurrence of arrhythmias.
Obesity (pathological overweight): It is a risk factor for arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation, as well as for CHD
Diabetes mellitus (“sugar”): the large and small vessels of the body are damaged by diabetes mellitus, it is a risk factor for CHD
Medication: many medications can cause arrhythmias as a side effect, so an accurate medication history is essential when arrhythmias occur.
Alcohol: the excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to cardiac arrhythmia.
Stress: at first, tachycardia can occur due to stress, which can develop into cardiac arrhythmia if the stress is prolonged and the tachycardia persists.
Pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary hypertension): The right half of the heart has to permanently pump against the high blood pressure in the lungs. However, if the heart can no longer apply the necessary pressure, the right ventricle and the right atrium in the heart become enlarged. The result is cardiac arrhythmia.