Arrhythmia

About 5% of Americans have an arrhythmia, a condition that causes a heartbeat that’s too slow or too fast. At Pediatric Healthy Hearts, diagnostic heart tests, including electrocardiogram (EKG), and cardiac monitors are available in-office to confirm arrhythmia in kids and adolescents.  Nida Yousef, MD, and the cardiologists personalize a care plan to restore your heart’s rhythm and ease chest pain, dizziness, and other arrhythmia symptoms. Call the Evergreen Park, Illinois, office today to schedule an arrhythmia evaluation or book an appointment online.

What is arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia describes an irregular heartbeat. The condition develops when the electrical signals of the heart that regulate its movement aren’t functioning properly. The faulty signals cause your heart to beat too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia).

Different types of tachycardias, including supraventicular tachycardia and atrial flutter, can cause an uncoordinated, rapid heartbeat and can increase your risk for heart failure, stroke, or sudden death. Types of bradycardia include sick sinus syndrome, a condition where the sinus node that sets the pace of your heartbeat isn’t working correctly.

Risk factors for arrhythmia include:

• Congenital and inherited heart probelms
• Previous heart surgery or intervention
• Thyroid disorders
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• History of heart attack

You might also be at a higher risk for arrhythmia if you have a genetic history of the condition or if you have unmanaged stress or anxiety.

Pediatric Healthy Hearts offers comprehensive cardiology care for children and adolescents with arrhythmia. The experienced cardiologists identify the root cause of your irregular heartbeat and customize a care plan to restore a healthy rhythm.

When should I seek medical care for arrhythmia?

Initially, arrhythmia may not cause any noticeable symptoms. However, the condition can worsen and lead to:

• Heart fluttering
• Pounding heart
• Chest pain
• Sweating
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting

Pediatric Healthy Hearts offers in-office heart screenings to confirm an arrhythmia and identify its cause. The providers may perform in-office tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess the electrical activity in your heart or an echocardiogram to evaluate your heart’s chambers.

Holter monitors are also available to record your heart’s electrical activity. The wearable device can detect arrhythmias as they happen if other tests don’t provide conclusive results.

How is arrhythmia treated?

Your treatment plan for arrhythmia depends on whether your heart is beating too slowly or too fast.

Pediatric Healthy Hearts offers several treatments to regulate your heartbeat and alleviate your symptoms, including medications and referral for ablations by electrophysiologist when needed. This will  reset your heart’s rhythm. The cardiologists may also recommend a pacemaker, an implantable device that controls your heartbeat.

Call Pediatric Healthy Hearts today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for arrhythmia symptoms or book an appointment online.