Diagnosis

A cardiac dysrhythmia can generally be recognized by an altered pulse rate.The heart rate measurement can already be used to differentiate whether the heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. In order to find out whether stress is the trigger for the cardiac dysrhythmia, a precise survey of the patient’s medical history is first conducted (anamnesis). In this context, medications taken (e.g. thyroid hormones) and known heart diseases as well as an assessment of the stress level are particularly important.

If a cardiac arrhythmia due to stress is suspected, an electrocardiography (ECG) is performed. Under certain circumstances, further examinations are carried out, since the diagnosis that the cardiac dysrhythmia is caused by stress can only be made once organic causes have been ruled out. Cardiac arrhythmias in a lying position can basically have two causes.

In one case it is a real cause, in the second case it is rather an increased perception. Cardiac arrhythmias are generally perceived much more strongly by the person affected if he or she concentrates on them. If he now lies down and lets his body come to rest, the disturbances are perceived much earlier and much more clearly than in moments of physical activity.

In the second case, the circumstance is based on so-called body anomalies. By lying down, the affected persons provide stimulation to the pacemaker centers of the heart. However, this circumstance is an absolute rarity and therefore rather unlikely.

Therapy with medication

The treatment of cardiac arrhythmias depends on the causative factors. If the underlying disease is stress, there are various drug treatment methods. For example, stress may have caused high blood pressure, which can be treated with antihypertensive drugs.

Certain other diseases can also promote stress and must be treated. If, for example, there is a thyroid gland dysfunction, the therapy of this disease usually also leads to the disappearance of the cardiac dysrhythmia. The choice of suitable medication depends on the type of cardiac dysrhythmia.

Various drugs influence the ion channels in the heart and thus the heart rhythm (e.g. beta-blockers, sodium channel blockers). Drugs that prevent blood clotting may also be considered. Diazepam is a drug which belongs to the group of so-called benzodiazepines.

It is prescribed as a sleeping pill or sedative and has a high potential for addiction if taken over a long period of time. A known side effect of the drug is the so-called QT time prolongation. In the ECG, the distance that represents the excitation of the heart chambers is extended compared to the normal value. This circumstance bears the risk of a renewed excitation of the heart muscle, which, however, does not come from the sinus node – the actual clock generator of the heart. The longer the QT time, the greater the risk of extrasystoles.