Caffeine, caffeine or tein is a xanthine alkaloid with stimulant, psychoactive effects. Caffeine has a stimulating effect in humans. In its pure form, the white, odorless powder was first extracted from coffee beans in 1820 and has a bitter taste. Caffeine occurs naturally in various plants and there in different parts of the plant. It … Caffeine: Effects, Uses & Risks
Synonyms in the broadest sense Extra heartbeat, heart stutter, ventricular extrasystoles, supraventricular extrasystoles, palpitations, palpitation Definition An extrasystole is a heartbeat that occurs outside of the normal heart rate in the normal rhythm. Extrasystoles occur very frequently, even in healthy people. In most cases, extrasystoles go unnoticed or they manifest themselves as “heart stumbling or … Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart)
Causes As already described, extrasystoles can occur without any disease value. Mostly they are triggered in healthy people by arousal or by stimulants such as coffee, alcohol or nicotine. However, an extrasystole can also be an indication of heart disease. Sick heart cells tend to produce false potentials. If there is underlying heart disease such … Causes | Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart)
Definition of ventricular extrasystoles Just like SVES, ventricular extrasystoles denote additional potentials that fall within the normal heart rhythm. In contrast to SVES, however, the potential here arises in ectopic (outside the normal ranges) excitation centers, which are located in the ventricles. A distinction is made between the VES in: Monomorphic extrasystoles: i.e. each extrasystole … Definition of ventricular extrasystoles | Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart)
LOWN Classification Simple VES Complex VES Grade I: Monomorphic VES under 30 times per hour Grade II: Monomorphic VES over 30 times per hour Grade III: Polymorphic VES Grade IVa: Trigeminus/Couplets Grade IVb: Salvos Grade V: “R-on-T phenomenon Symptoms of ventricular extrasystoles As in SVES, ventricular extrasystoles often lack symptoms. In some cases, a feeling … LOWN Classification | Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart)
Diagnosis of ventricular extrasystoles The diagnosis of ventricular extrasystoles is made by means of long-term and exercise ECG. Since VES can be the first expression of heart disease, a careful clinical examination follows. On the ECG, ventricular extrasystoles are recognized as QRS complexes that occur too early in the beat and may be slightly widened. … Diagnosis of ventricular extrasystoles | Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart)
Prognosis In healthy individuals, ventricular extrasystoles have a good prognosis. In cardiac patients, they are risk factors for sudden cardiac death and, depending on the LOWN classification, can also be considered warning arrhythmias for ventricular fibrillation. All articles in this series: Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart) Causes Definition of ventricular extrasystoles LOWN Classification Diagnosis of … Prognosis | Extrasystoles (tripping of the heart)
Definition Hypokalemia is the condition when there is too little (lat. “hypo”) potassium in the blood (lat. “-emia”). Potassium is a metal from the periodic table, which occurs in the blood along with some other metals. Potassium is present throughout the body inside and outside of every cell and, together with sodium and calcium and … Hypokalemia
Therapy A permanent disturbance of the potassium level must be avoided at all costs. Not only does the imbalance in many physical processes represent a restriction in everyday life, but it can also cause life-threatening situations, especially in connection with heart excitation, and cause lasting damage to the heart muscle. The cause of hypokalemia must … Therapy | Hypokalemia
Alkalosis Hypokalemia has metabolic effects on the organism. In particular, the electrolyte concentrations and the pH value of the blood change. If the potassium concentration in the blood is too low, the organism activates compensation mechanisms to stabilize the concentration, as the serum potassium must be kept within a narrow concentration range to prevent cardiac … Alkalosis | Hypokalemia
Definition A heart stumble is a clearly perceptible heartbeat that is not in time with the normal pulse. This phenomenon is based on so-called extrasystoles, i.e. excitation of the ventricle, which are accompanied by additional contractions of the heart muscles. A heart stumble that occurs only occasionally and lasts only a few heartbeats is not … Heart stumbling – How dangerous is that?
Treatment The treatment depends on the cause and extent of the heart stumble. If the stuttering has occurred in a healthy heart, there is usually no need for treatment as long as it is not accompanied by other symptoms indicating a more severe heart disease and it does not exceed a certain frequency.However, if the … Treatment | Heart stumbling – How dangerous is that?
