Heart rhythm disorders: extrasystoles

    Authors

    Keywords

    electrocardiography, arrhythmias, extrasystole

    DOI

    https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.506

    Full Text

    An electrical conductivity of the heart is provided by the impulse that occurs in the sinus node. Normal heart rate is called a sinus rhythm. ( 1 , 2 ) A sinus rhythm means that the heart works at a steady pace of 60 to 80 beats per minute. Any change (skipping, accelerating or slowing down the rhythm) that disturbs the same heart rate is called arrhythmia. Ventricular premature beats are the most common cardiac arrhythmia. It is a premature heartbeat or contraction, where the beat occurs earlier than expected. If there is an ectopic beat after each sinus beat, it is called bigeminy, and if a premature ventricular contraction occurs at intervals of two normal beats to one contraction, it is called trigeminy. They can be asymptomatic but those patients with symptoms express fluttering sensation and discomfort, skipping of the heartbeat and palpitations. They are diagnosed with an electrocardiogram (ECG). For a healthy population they are not a hazard but for people with structural heart disease may be a beginning of malignant arrhythmia and that can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Causes of these heart rhythm disorders can often not be proven, but the most common causes are stress, increased body activity, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, high temperature, and some flu drugs. Considering the known data on the high level of risk factors in the Croatian population (a large percentage of smokers and alcohol consumers) and about the data from the Croatian Society of Pharmacists about a very high percentage of people who are taking drugs without prescription, and the fact that 9000 Croats die of sudden cardiac death per year, we think that these seemingly benign arrhythmias also deserve greater medical attention. Nurses as numerous healthcare professionals can make a bigger contribution to health promotion and education of the population of a healthy lifestyle.

    Cardiologia Croatica
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    Heart rhythm disorders: extrasystoles

    Extended Abstract
    Issue11-12
    Published
    Pages506
    PDF via DOIhttps://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.506
    electrocardiography
    arrhythmias
    extrasystole

    Authors

    Elizabet Horvat*ORCID“Bogdan“ Outpatient Cardiology Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
    Valentina HorvatORCID“Bogdan“ Outpatient Cardiology Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
    Mirjana KoledićORCID“Bogdan“ Outpatient Cardiology Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia

    Full Text

    An electrical conductivity of the heart is provided by the impulse that occurs in the sinus node. Normal heart rate is called a sinus rhythm. ( 1 , 2 ) A sinus rhythm means that the heart works at a steady pace of 60 to 80 beats per minute. Any change (skipping, accelerating or slowing down the rhythm) that disturbs the same heart rate is called arrhythmia. Ventricular premature beats are the most common cardiac arrhythmia. It is a premature heartbeat or contraction, where the beat occurs earlier than expected. If there is an ectopic beat after each sinus beat, it is called bigeminy, and if a premature ventricular contraction occurs at intervals of two normal beats to one contraction, it is called trigeminy. They can be asymptomatic but those patients with symptoms express fluttering sensation and discomfort, skipping of the heartbeat and palpitations. They are diagnosed with an electrocardiogram (ECG). For a healthy population they are not a hazard but for people with structural heart disease may be a beginning of malignant arrhythmia and that can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Causes of these heart rhythm disorders can often not be proven, but the most common causes are stress, increased body activity, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, high temperature, and some flu drugs. Considering the known data on the high level of risk factors in the Croatian population (a large percentage of smokers and alcohol consumers) and about the data from the Croatian Society of Pharmacists about a very high percentage of people who are taking drugs without prescription, and the fact that 9000 Croats die of sudden cardiac death per year, we think that these seemingly benign arrhythmias also deserve greater medical attention. Nurses as numerous healthcare professionals can make a bigger contribution to health promotion and education of the population of a healthy lifestyle.