An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or uneven. Arrhythmias can be a sign of possible heart trauma or chronic heart disease. Dr. Yasser Salem and the staff of Heart Failure Survival Center of America understand what causes an arrhythmia to occur and can provide effective treatment options designed to keep your heart healthy. If you are concerned about the health of your heart and live in the Appleton, Marinette, or Crivitz, Wisconsin areas call and schedule an appointment with Dr. Salem.
book onlineWhat is an Arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is another term for an irregular or uneven heartbeat. Your heart may race unexpectedly or begin to beat extremely slowly. These irregularities can indicate other health problems associated with your heart. The electrical impulses that control how a variety of factors can influence your heart beats.
You may not realize that what you’re feeling in your chest is an arrhythmia. Fluttering or vibrations in your chest may be your heart beating abnormally. If you’re sitting still and your heart begins to race for no apparent reason, you’re experiencing an arrhythmia and should consider making an appointment with Dr. Salem to determine what’s causing the problem.
What Causes Arrhythmias to Occur?
Arrhythmias have many causes over and above stress, smoking, and other poor habits. An arrhythmia can be caused by another health issue such as scarring of the heart tissue and blocked arteries. Other causes include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Stress
- Sleep apnea
- Overactive/underactive thyroid
- The use of certain medications or recreational drugs
Many of the things that cause an irregular heartbeat are outside of your control.
If you have already been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, you should be aware of what causes arrhythmias and how they affect your health. Several health conditions can either cause arrhythmias or be associated with them. Scheduling an appointment with Dr. Salem can help prevent chronic health conditions from causing arrhythmias.
What Conditions are Associated With Arrhythmias?
If you have already been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, you should be aware of what causes arrhythmias and how they affect your health. There are several health conditions that can either cause arrhythmias or be associated with them. They include:
- Underactive/overactive thyroid
- Sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Anxiety or panic disorders
- Chronic heart disease
Arrhythmias can be so minor that you may not even realize they’re occurring. If you begin to feel a fluttering in your chest or realize that your heart is beating faster than normal, make an appointment with Dr. Salem to find out what is causing your arrhythmia. It’s better to know the cause than to wait until your heart has been damaged or scarred.