While arrhythmia is considered to be one of the most common of the different heart conditions, there are still only a handful of people who understand it. For one, there are actually a number of reasons that could give rise to arrhythmia. This would include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Injury brought about by a heart attack
- Electrolyte imbalance in the blood
- After effects of a heart surgery
To date, there are still a number of myths that surround arrhythmia. Here are some of them:
Myth #1. Only people with weak heart can have arrhythmia
In fact, even those who have known to have a strong heart can suffer from arrhythmia. This is because, as mentioned above, arrhythmia can come in a number of different ways. For one, arrhythmia can also take place as a result of excessive thyroid hormone as well as the intake of certain medicines.
Myth #2. It is possible to shock the heart back to its normal beating pattern permanently.
While it is possible to apply electric shock in order to help the heart regain the correct beating proper, it is not something that could last forever. The only way to ensure that the heart does not skip a beat is to address what is causing the problem in the first place. In some cases, this could be achieved with the help of a number of medication.
Myth #3. It is easy to determine if you are having an atrial fibrillation.
In an atrial fibrillation, it is the upper chamber, which happens to be smaller and does not do much of the work, that is having a hard time pumping. That being the case, in an atrial fibrillation, the patient himself might not even be aware that one of the chambers of his heart is already quivering. Because the loss in efficiency is too small, an atrial fibrillation could pass without having much impact on the patient.
Myth #4. Heart Attack if of primary concern when you have Atrial Fibrillation or Arrhythmia.
While you are more likely to have a heart attack if you have atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia, it is actually not the most serious medical condition that you might have to worry about. That “award” goes to embolic stroke. An embolic stroke takes place when a blood clot forms around the heart. As it pumps blood, this clot goes around eventually finding its way to the brain where it could give rise to a stroke. Fortunately, an embolic stroke does not happen to often.
Myth#5. Arrhythmia can be cured.
It actually depends on what the cause of the arrhythmia is, in the first place. For example, in the case of thyroid problems, as soon as the said medical condition has been cured, arrhythmia could already be considered cured. However, in the case of coronary heart disease, the best that a medical professional could do is provide you with medications and a treatment program that would allow you to lead a more normal life.
To make sure that you are ready for whatever arrhythmia might lead to, it would be best to have an AED unit on hand. Aside from this, undergoing a CPR training might also prove to be a good idea.
