Ventricular arrhythmia is an irregular heart rhythm that occurs in the ventricles, or lower chambers, of the heart. There are three types of ventricular arrhythmias: ventricular tachycardia, ventricular barycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Tachycardia indicates that the heart is beating too fast — generally more than 100 beats per minute — and barycardia means the beat is too slow, or less than 60 beats per minute. In ventricular fibrillation, the heart beats very fast and without a coordinated rhythm.
Under normal circumstances, regular electrical signals cause the heart to beat in a coordinated fashion, pumping blood through the heart muscle, into the arteries and throughout the body. When these electrical signals become irregular or uncoordinated, ventricular arrhythmia occurs. Without the regular action of the heart muscle, blood is not pumped through the body, resulting in insufficient oxygenation that can lead to other serious symptoms, including sudden death. In fact, one of the most common cases of sudden death in the United States is ventricular arrhythmia, especially ventricular fibrillation, which is the most serious arrhythmia.
Symptoms of ventricular arrhythmia include palpitations of the heart, which can be seriously debilitating or simply annoying, depending on their severity. Other symptoms include excessive sweating, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting, chest pain and shortness of breath. Anyone experiencing any of these ventricular arrhythmia symptoms should consult with a doctor immediately to determine the cause and severity of the symptoms. Although some symptoms could be related to other conditions, arrhythmia can be a very serious condition, so these symptoms never should be ignored.
The causes of ventricular arrhythmia can differ. Some substances such as caffeine, nicotine or some medications can cause changes to the natural rhythm of the heart. These changes often are not dangerous. In other cases, ventricular arrhythmia occurs because of heart disease that has caused scarring to the heart muscle that disrupts the reception of electrical signals. Arrhythmia also can occur as a result of congenital problems with the structure of the heart.
Based on the underlying cause and existing symptoms, as well as the age and overall health of the patient, the treatment for ventricular arrhythmia can vary. In severe cases, a pacemaker might be necessary to supply electrical signals to the heart and ensure a proper, regular rhythm. Less severe arrhythmia might be treated with stress-relief techniques and by reducing the intake of caffeine and other stimulants. There also are several medications that can be prescribed to keep ventricular arrhythmia under control.
