If you have an abnormal
heart rhythm, you
might receive an EKG to read your heart.
Changes in heart rate are everyday occurrences for most people.
Whether we are exercising, climbing stairs, watching a scary movie
or being overwhelmed with emotion, we often feel like our hearts
are pounding, fluttering or maybe even skipping a beat.
These are very normal occurrences. But what does a cardiac
arrhythmia feel like? And when should we be concerned?
The symptoms of an arrhythmia vary, so it can be difficult
to tell the difference between something normal or minor, and
something potentially life-threatening. Knowing the tell-tale signs
of a heart rhythm disturbance, acting quickly and seeking out the
right doctor can help you feel better - and might even save your
life.
Dr.
Kamran Aslam, an electrophysiologist
at Swedish
Covenant Hospital, specializes in diagnosing and
treating irregular heartbeats. As an electrophysiologist, it
is his job to study the electrical properties of the
heart (which make it beat).
"A problem with the heart rhythm is not something you can see on
a person's face, and you can't see it on an X-ray," he said.
"Anyone can have heart rhythm disturbances; you can be born with
them or you can acquire them as you get older."
He further explained that diagnosing arrhythmias and other
conditions, including atrial fibrillation (a condition where the
heart beats between 300 and 400 beats per minute) and
ventricular tachycardia (irregular beats of the ventricles), may
initially require non-invasive, then perhaps minimally
invasive, electrophysiologic (EP) testing.
However, identifying that something is wrong often starts with
the patient.
To help patients recognize tough-to-pinpoint heart rhythm
conditions, Dr. Aslam recommends contacting your primary care
physician, cardiologist, or an electrophysiologist if you
experience any of the following symptoms:
1. Palpitations when at rest
A palpitation is the actual feeling that your heart is going too
fast, too slow or beating abnormally. If you sense this at times
when your body is at rest (not during a workout), and it lasts for
more than 1 minute, it is time to contact a physician to determine
its cause. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, feeling like
your heart is "pounding out of your chest" and chest pain
associated with the palpitations.
2. Palpitations and feeling like you are going to pass
out
If you are experiencing palpitations in any situation that gives
you the feeling that you are going to pass out, you feel dizzy
or nauseous, that could indicate that blood is not properly pumping
through your heart. This feeling may come when you are inactive or
active.
3. Palpitations with chest pain, dizziness and shortness
of breath
Particularly if you have a history of heart failure or other
conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, you are
at risk for arrhythmias. So palpitations, accompanied by chest
pain, dizziness and shortness of breath, should set off red flags.
Call 9-1-1 immediately in this case. If your physicians find that
these symptoms can be traced back to your heart rhythm, an
electrophysiologist may be able to use specialized testing and
procedures to diagnose and treat this condition.
Dr. Aslam's recommendations are in line with
The American Heart Association's guidelines, which
encourage all people to know the symptoms of arrhythmia and seek
out a physician to diagnose the problem, as well as rule out other
conditions like heart disease.
To make an appointment with Dr.
Aslam of Swedish Covenant Hospital, call
(773)989-3804, or visit
SwedishCovenant.org/medical-services/cardiology-heart-services.
Tracy Hernandez
WellCommunityChicago.org