Therapy
Most arrhythmias are harmless and do not require treatment. However, if there is a manifest heart disease behind it or if the rhythm disturbances have consequences for the circulatory function, intervention is necessary. The only antiarrhythmic agent (drugs against cardiac arrhythmias) that has been proven to prolong the life span of patients is the cardioselective beta-blocker.
As the name suggests, the drug blocks the beta-adrenoreceptors, receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline. These two messenger substances increase the heart rate and the volume that the heart pumps. When these receptors are switched off, the heart rate in particular is slowed down.
This lowers the excessively high frequency to a natural level in tachycardic arrhythmia – the problem is solved. Beta-blockers also help against extrasystoles, because a slower heart rate makes them more difficult to achieve. However, one should be careful with already low blood pressure, because beta-blockers also lower blood pressure. All other antiarrhythmics interfere with the natural heart excitation. Although they can be used to perform impressive ECG cosmetics, they disturb the flow of the excitation wave of the clock in the heart, the sinus node.
Prognosis
The prognosis depends of course on the cause. Since most rhythm disturbances are benign and do not have serious consequences, they have a good prognosis and no further limitations. They are merely unpleasant.
Prophylaxis
Endurance sports can be very useful for the prevention (prevention) or improvement of cardiac arrhythmias and can partly replace drug therapy. With time, the heart rate decreases due to the endurance training. Since a fast pulse promotes arrhythmia, this can be counteracted by a “natural” lowering of the heart rate. After all, beta-blockers do nothing else but slow down the heart rate.