This may include medication to control your heart rate or an implantable device like a pacemaker. If your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life or your doctor believes you may be at risk for complications due to an arrhythmia, you’ll begin a treatment program. People with an underactive or overactive thyroid have a greater chance of suffering heart arrhythmias, as well. In addition, the electrolyte levels in your blood - substances such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium that control the electrical activity in your heart - may be too high or too low, which leads to an irregular heartbeat. An arrhythmia could even be a sign of a heart attack - and if that’s the case, you should seek immediate medical attention.Īrrhythmias can also be brought on by certain prescription drugs and cold medications. Smoking, caffeine, excessive drinking, and stress have all been linked to an irregular heartbeat. Heart arrhythmias can be attributed to a number of factors, such as blocked arteries, high blood pressure, diabetes, congenital heart defects, and sleep apnea. This test takes place on a treadmill as you walk or jog. Lastly, a stress test to check how your heart performs when exercising may be done. Or, you can wear a Holter monitor which records your heart rate throughout the day. To diagnose an arrhythmia, an echocardiogram (EKG) measures electrical activity in your heart. Heart arrhythmias put you at risk of a stroke or heart disease, so any unusual heartbeat should be checked by a doctor. Knowing the signs of an irregular heartbeat and discussing any symptoms with a doctor can help ensure that your heart remains healthy.īesides an erratic pulse or racing heart palpitations, common symptoms of a heart arrhythmia include shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, pale skin, or feeling dizzy and light-headed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 2.7 million to 6.1 million people in the U.S. If you have AFib, the upper chambers of the heart (the atrias) don’t pump blood properly to the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles). The most common type of heart arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Medication to control high blood pressure may also cause bradycardia. A slower than normal heart rate may not be a reason for concern since many athletes have slow heart rates due to being in peak physical condition. A heart rate slower than 60 beats is called bradycardia. A heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute is classified as tachycardia, or a fast heart rate. Known as a heart arrhythmia, this condition causes your heart to beat too quickly, too slowly, or otherwise erratically.Ī normal resting heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute. When the electrical impulses that control blood flow in the heart misfire, you may experience an irregular heartbeat. What causes this condition and how can it be treated? The veterinarian or a cardiology technician will review the results the next day to check the results and decide on the best treatment plan.An arrhythmia occurs when the heart is beating too quickly, too slowly, or in an irregular pattern. A Holter monitor is a portable ECG machine that is attached to electrodes and wrapped with a bandage to continuously read your dog’s heartbeat. If this happens, he will send your dog home with a Holter monitor to obtain a record of your dog’s heartbeat for 24 hours. Your dog’s veterinarian may not be able to get conclusive results if the heartbeat irregularity is not present at the time of your visit. Atropine response test to find the true cause of the irregular heartbeat.An ECG (electrocardiogram) can show any abnormal premature contractions or accelerated/decelerated heart rate.Chest radiographs will be taken to look for abnormalities.The veterinarian will also do some other tests that are necessary to diagnose your dog’s irregular heartbeat, such as: The veterinarian technician will take a blood and urine sample to check: Several lab tests will need to be run to determine the amounts of potassium, urea, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride, creatinine, and calcium in your dog's bloodstream. He will also need to know if the problem has been getting worse. It is important to give the veterinarian as much information as you have about what brought you to the clinic, when the symptoms started, and how often you have witnessed these symptoms. Your veterinarian will do a complete physical examination, listen to your dog’s heart, and check other vitals.
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