Arrhythmia Treatment in NOVA

What is a Heart Arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia occurs when the heart does not beat properly or pump blood effectively. There are several types of arrhythmias, usually classified by the speed of the heart rate. During an arrhythmia, the electrical impulses may be too fast, too slow or erratic causing an irregular heartbeat.

The board-certified pediatric cardiologists at The Children’s Heart Institute, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, specialize in treating and managing arrhythmias in children. To learn more about the cause of an arrhythmia and how it is treated, please call and schedule your child’s appointment at any of our 12 pediatric cardiology offices in Maryland and Virginia today.

Symptoms of a Heart Arrhythmia

If you suffer from a heart arrhythmia, you may not even know it. It is fairly common for a person to have an occasional arrhythmia, but if it is regular it can be very serious.

An arrhythmia can occur with no symptoms or you may experience:

• A fluttering in the chest
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Dizziness

Severity of Heart Arrhythmias

When the heart doesn’t beat properly, it can’t pump blood effectively and this can put your body and organs at risk. The lungs, brain or other organs may shut down or be damaged. It is important to talk to The Children’s Heart Institute if you feel like you may have a heart arrhythmia.

If you feel like your heart is beating too fast or too slowly, or it’s skipping a beat, make an appointment to see The Children’s Heart Institute.

Seek immediate medical help if you experience:

• Shortness of breath
• Weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness
• Fainting or near fainting
• Chest pain or discomfort

Causes of a Heart Arrhythmia

There are a number of reasons arrhythmias occur, and they can range in severity.

Most often an arrhythmia is caused by:

• A delay or blockage of the electrical signals that control the heartbeat
• Changes in blood flow
• Damage to the heart’s electrical system
• Stiffening or scarring of the heart tissue
• Excessive exertion, strain or stress
• An imbalance of fluids, hormones or electrolytes in the blood
• Certain heart medications

Depending on your age, genetics, lifestyle, or medical conditions you may be more at risk for an arrhythmia.

Treatment for a Heart Arrhythmia

If you have a heart arrhythmia, you and The Children’s Heart Institute will develop a treatment plan to avoid future complications.

The main courses of treatment include:

• Medication
  • You may need medication to help prevent blood clots from forming to reduce stroke or to help control your heart rate
• Lifestyle
  • You may need to make dietary, exercise, lifestyle, or other changes to help manage factors impacting your heart. This can include discussing drugs, smoking, alcohol, or other substances impacting your heart.
• Devices
  • Cardiac implantable electronic devices may help control arrhythmias including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), biventricular pacemakers, and cardiac loop recorders

If you feel like your child would benefit from talking to someone about heart arrhythmias, give us a call. We are highly trained in the latest advancements to get your heart beating properly and help decrease your risk.