BRADYCARDIA
Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats in one minute. It determines the rate at which the heart pumps blood. This has to be normal so the heart can work effectively.
Definition
Normal heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute.
Bradycardia is called slow heart rate. Anything lower than 60 beats is called bradycardia. This can cause inadequate blood flow to the brain.
For infants, bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 100 beats per minute (normal is around 120–160 BPM)
CAUSES
- Congenital heart defects (present at birth)
- Heart attack or disease
- low thyroid hormone levels in the body
- medications
- abnormal heart rhythm
- infection of heart tissue (myocarditis)
- old age
- post open heart surgery complication e.g ASD
SYMPTOMS
- Fatigue or feeling weak
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Confusion
- Fainting (or near-fainting) spells
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty when exercising
- Cardiac arrest (in extreme cases)
- chest pain
COMPLICATIONS
- Frequent fainting
- The inability of heart to pump blood (heart failure)
- heart attack
- Death
MANAGEMENT
In children, giving oxygen, supporting their breathing, and chest compressions are recommended.
- Medications
- Pacemaker
- Treating the original condition causing it.
TACHYCARDIA
tachycardia is called fast heart rate. Anything higher than 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia
SYMPTOMS
- Fainting (syncope)
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- Fluttering in the chest
- Bounding pulse
- Chest pressure, tightness or pain (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
In extreme cases
- Unconsciousness
- Cardiac arrest
CAUSES
- Anemia
- Increased thyroid activity
- Heart muscle damage from heart attackor heart failure.
- Lack of coronary artery blood flow, depriving oxygen to heart tissue
- Cardiomyopathydistorting the heart’s structure
- Severe bleeding
- Anxiety
- Fright
- Severe emotional distress
- Strenuous exercise
- Fever
- Some medicinal and street drugs
MANAGEMENT
Treatments for ventricular tachycardia may include
- medication to reset the heart’s electrical signals or
- ablation, a procedure that destroys the abnormal heart tissue that is leading to the condition.
- Your doctor might also use a defibrillator to disrupt rapid heart rhythms.