Symptoms of arrhythmias can vary and might indicate that you have a harmless condition or a condition that requires immediate attention. In this article, we talk about arrhythmia and when to call our home GP doctor for arrhythmia in Costa del Sol.
What is arrhythmia?
Heart rhythm problems can occur when the heart’s electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats do not work properly. This can your heart to beat too slow, too fast, or irregularly.
Heart arrhythmias can feel like the heart is racing or fluttering or racing heart. Some arrhythmias can be harmless. However, some arrhythmias can cause troublesome or life-threatening signs and symptoms.
Types of arrhythmias
Doctors tend to classify arrhythmias based on not only where they originate (but also by the speed of heart rate:
- Tachycardia – this is a fast heartbeat and the patient has a resting heart rate that’s more than 100 beats per minute.
- Bradycardia – this is a slow heartbeat and the patient has a resting heart rate that’s less than 60 beats per minute.
Not all bradycardias or tachycardias can mean you have heart disease. For example, when you’re exercising it’s perfectly normal to have a fast heartbeat. This is because the heart speeds so your tissues can be provided with more oxygen-rich blood. When you sleep or you’re very relaxed the heart is often beating slower.
Symptoms of arrhythmias
Our home GP doctor for arrhythmia in Costa del Sol explains that arrhythmias may not always cause any symptoms. In fact, there’s always a chance that a doctor could discover your arrhythmia before you do.
Noticeable signs of arrhythmia do not necessarily mean you have a serious heart problem, however, some symptoms can include:
- Chest pain
- Fluttering in the chest
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Slow heartbeat
Our home GP doctor for arrhythmia in Costa del Sol also included other symptoms such as:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Fatigue
- Fainting
- Sweating
When to see our home GP doctor for arrhythmia in Costa del Sol
Call our home GP doctor for arrhythmia in Costa del Sol if you suddenly or your frequently experience any of the signs and symptoms when you would not expect to experience them.
Ventricular fibrillation is one type of arrhythmia that can often be fatal. It can occur when the heart beats with erratic and rapid electrical impulses. This can cause the heart’s lower chambers to move ineffectively rather than pumping blood. If you do not have an effective heartbeat your blood pressure will lower dramatically and cut off blood supply to the vital organs.
Those with ventricular fibrillation can collapse within a matter of seconds. They are unlikely to have a pulse or be breathing soon after collapsing.
If this occurs please:
- Call our home GP doctor for arrhythmia in Costa del Sol or the emergency number in your area.
- Provide hands-only CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). This involves chest compressions at a rate of 100 - 120 each minute until the paramedics arrive. To do chest compressions, you need to push hard and fast in the centre of the chest. You do not need to give the person breaths.
- Find out if there is an AED (automated external defibrillator) nearby. These defibrillators are portable and deliver an electric shock that could restart the heartbeats. They can often be found in shopping malls, police cars, and aeroplanes. You can even purchase an AED for use in the home. No training is required to use an AED as it will tell exactly you what to do. In addition to this, it will only shock when it’s appropriate.