General information
Whether and how heart rhythm disturbances are perceived varies greatly from individual to individual. Some people perceive cardiac dysrhythmia as something very frightening and dangerous. Especially occasional cardiac arrhythmias or even mild cardiac arrhythmias often go unnoticed.
In these cases treatment is usually not necessary. Complaints expressed by the affected person can help to recognize a cardiac arrhythmia. However, the symptoms are manifold and often not only an expression of a cardiac dysrhythmia.
Depending on whether the heart beats too fast or too slowly, symptoms such as heart stumbling (so-called palpitations), palpitations or even heart failure, which manifest themselves with a suspension of the pulse, can also occur. Palpitations must be distinguished from palpitations, because palpitations are not an expression of a cardiac arrhythmia. Although it is usually perceived in a similar way to palpitations, if you pay closer attention to it, you will notice that the heartbeat is not accelerated, only the pulse is stronger.
If a structural heart disease is the cause of the cardiac arrhythmia, further symptoms can occur when the heartbeat is over 130 beats per minute. To be mentioned here: Angina pectoris (chest pain) or a heart attack can also be observed. In extreme cases, a cardiogenic shock, i.e. a loss of consciousness caused by the pumping failure of the heart, or even sudden cardiac death can occur.
Especially in atrial fibrillation, a certain form of cardiac arrhythmia with chaotic activity of the atria, blood clots can detach from the heart and cause further discomfort. These include blockage of the arteries by material that has been infiltrated (arterial embolism), which can be manifested, for example, by a stroke. If you personally suspect the presence of a cardiac dysrhythmia, you should consult a cardiologist, who can detect a cardiac dysrhythmia with special diagnostic measures, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG).
- Vertigo (dizziness or uncharacteristic vertigo)
- Confusion
- Temporary speech and visual disturbances and
- Loss of consciousness
