Why Do Arrhythmias Occur?
Aug 24, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Man
Introduction
Arrhythmias may be caused by heart disease, such as cardiac injury, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, coronary artery stenosis, and cardiac surgery—all of which can affect heart rhythm. They may also result from hypertension, in which left ventricular wall thickening or stiffening occurs, thereby influencing heart rate.
Today, the number of patients with arrhythmia is increasing steadily, and each patient’s condition is unique. If arrhythmia causes minimal impact, significant improvement can often be achieved by adjusting daily lifestyle habits. However, if symptoms are severe, timely medical intervention must not be delayed. So, what causes arrhythmia?
Causes of Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia may stem from underlying heart disease—such as myocardial injury, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular heart disease, coronary artery stenosis, or prior cardiac surgery—all of which can disrupt normal cardiac electrical activity. It may also result from hypertension: in hypertensive patients, left ventricular wall thickening (hypertrophy) or stiffening (fibrosis) can impair the heart’s electrical conduction system and alter heart rate. Additionally, emotional instability, inappropriate exercise regimens, or excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and may contribute to gastrointestinal dysfunction and physical fatigue. Furthermore, conditions such as hunger or pain can overstimulate the vagus nerve, potentially leading to transient cardiac arrest.
Non-pharmacological treatment options are also available for arrhythmia patients, including mechanical interventions—such as pacemaker implantation, electrical cardioversion/defibrillation, cryoablation, and laser ablation—which can yield favorable therapeutic outcomes. Generally, pacemakers are primarily indicated for bradyarrhythmias (slow heart rhythms), helping patients maintain adequate cardiac output. In contrast, cardioversion and defibrillation offer rapid, reliable, and safe termination of tachyarrhythmias (fast heart rhythms) and represent the current mainstay therapy for acute episodes; however, they do not prevent future arrhythmic events. For patients with life-threatening or refractory arrhythmias, surgical intervention may be recommended.
Patients with arrhythmia should adopt healthy lifestyle habits: quit smoking and alcohol, avoid staying up late, follow a low-fat, low-sodium diet, engage in appropriate physical exercise, and strengthen their overall immunity. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
