Cardiac arrhythmias are caused by a disruption or abnormality in the electrical impulses of the heart. The heart is less efficient at pumping blood when the beats are too fast, too slow or when the beats are irregular. Cardiac arrhythmias are...
Cardiac arrhythmia is the medical term for an irregular heartbeat. Irregular heartbeats can include premature beats, slowed heartbeat, rapid heartbeat, atria fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmia. Since cardiac arrhythmia can be...
The heart normally beats in a rotating cycle of contraction and relaxation. This elegantly coordinated action is controlled by electrical impulses, which normally move across the heart with precision and reliability. When something goes awry with...
Supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT, is an abnormally fast heartbeat that occurs suddenly. It is triggered in the atria, or upper chambers, of the heart. People with SVT feel as if their heart is pounding out of their chest. Cardiac arrhythmias...
The normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If the heart beats faster or slower or produces erratic rhythms, it causes shortness of breath, loss of consciousness requiring hospitalization, cardiac arrest or even death. The...
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is one of 13 vitamins your body needs for normal growth and healthy functioning. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the average recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C depends on your age; 90 mg is the...
Heart muscle contractions are regulated by electricity that flows through the heart in a regular pattern. In some people, disruptions in this electrical system cause abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. Some people must undergo a procedure...
Increased potassium, or hyperkalemia, interferes with the electrical currents of the body. The cells of the body rely on the flow of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium into and out of cells in order to function properly. Electrolyte...
Characterized as abnormal heart rates or rhythms, cardiac arrhythmias have numerous causes. Identifying the root cause of the arrhythmia determines the course of treatment and types of medications used to correct the arrhythmia. Frequently a...
People with cardiac arrhythmia experience an irregular heartbeat. Irregular heartbeats are caused by illnesses, electrolyte imbalances and sometimes by unknown factors. Some arrhythmias linger silently for years, causing no problems or symptoms....
Magnesium is a metallic element that serves a variety of important functions in your body. Since magnesium is a component of chlorophyll, the main dietary sources of this important mineral come from the plant kingdom. According to nutritionist...
Diuretics, also called water pills, are medications used to treat hypertension, swelling due to fluid accumulation, glaucoma and congestive heart failure. They promote the removal of water and salt from the body through urine. Heart palpitations...
If you have a cardiac arrhythmia, you have a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states that if you have arrhythmia, your pulse may be too fast or too slow. Your pulse may also possess an...
Quinine is a medication that is used to treat malaria. Quinine is a naturally occurring plant substance that is native to South America. Currently, treatment of malaria is the only approved use of quinine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...
Taurine, also referred to as L-taurine, is the second most abundant amino acid found in your muscles behind glutamine, according to ExRx.net. It's a common ingredient in many energy drinks, and the claim by these manufacturers is that taurine...
Although a variable heart rate or “cardiac arrhythmia” usually doesn’t produce noticeable symptoms, you might experience anxiety, dizziness, fainting and palpitations. Few herbs are recommended for helping to treat arrhythmias or...
A colonoscopy is a lower gastrointestinal procedure that enables the direct examination of the lining of the colon and rectum. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, colon cleansing is an important step...
As of 2011, taurine is considered a relatively new "heart-healthy" supplement. Early studies show promising effects of taurine supplementation when it comes to heart rate, blood pressure, muscle strength and possible cognitive benefits. Dr....
Syncope is a neurologic condition in which a person temporarily loses consciousness. It may be associated with dizziness -- a sensation of unsteadiness and lightheadedness -- and confusion. As explained by the American Heart Association, syncope...
Cardiac arrhythmias are heartbeat problems -- your heart starts beating too slowly, too quickly or too irregularly. Your symptoms may include heart palpitations, in which your heart repeatedly skips a beat and you experience shortness of breath,...
Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure that involves passing a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, into the heart. The catheter is inserted into a vein in the arm, neck or groin and then threaded into the heart. The procedure is used...
Potassium plays a major role in normal cardiac function, skeletal and smooth muscle contraction and digestion. Hypokalemia is a medical condition that occurs because of a decrease in serum potassium levels. Use of certain diuretics, overuse of...
Many people who have chronic disease or take prescription medications also take a magnesium supplement. It is very rare for someone who is healthy and capable of eating a balanced diet to incur a deficiency of this nutrient. Not having enough...
Quinine is a medicine used for the treatment of a type of malaria that is resistant to treatment with another anti-malarial agent called chloroquine. Quinine operates in conjunction with other antibiotics by inhibiting the growth of Plasmodium...
Atrial flutter, also known as palpitations or arrhythmias, is a type of fast heart beat caused by a faulty electrical signal that triggers a large circuit rather than a smaller node of cardiac muscle to beat. This condition is common and,...
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition of rapid muscle breakdown. It can be caused by trauma, infections and medicines. The major complication of rhabdomyolysis is acute renal failure, in which the breakdown products of muscle cells, specifically a protein...
Potassium is a mineral that plays an important role in the body, which carefully regulates potassium levels due to the importance of this mineral for the function of all cells, including muscle cells within the heart. Having too much potassium in...
Beta blockers are anti-hypertensive drugs used in the treatment of high blood pressure, migraine, angina, cardiac arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarctions and pheochromocytomas. According to Medex, beta blockers are effective treatments for...
Beta blockers are a class of medications typically prescribed to manage a variety of cardiac conditions, such as cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension, according to "Foundations of Nursing." These medications work by slowing your heart rate and...
Cardiac arrhythmia is a term covering a broad group of conditions that denote irregular electrical activity in the heart. Learn more about arrhythmias, including symptoms and treatments in this health video.
