Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is an uncontrolled twitching or quivering of the muscle fibers of the lower chambers of your heart. During ventricular fibrillation, blood is no longer pumped out of your heart.
The most common cause of VF is a heart attack. However, VF can also occur whenever the heart does not get enough oxygen or with certain heart disorders. Below is an animation of ventricular fibrillation from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute:
Conditions that can lead to VF include :
- Heart attack,
- Some heart muscle diseases, called cardiomyopathy,
- Certain arrhythmias,
- Ischemia (lack of oxygen to the heart muscle because of narrowed coronary arteries or shock),
- Sudden cardiac death,
- Electrocution accidents or direct injury to the heart.
Most people with VF have no history of heart disease. However, many have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Symptoms
A person who has a VF episode will suddenly collapse or become unconscious, because the brain has stopped receiving blood from the heart.
Treatment
- Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately to save a person’s life.
- Call 911 for emergency help.
- Start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with mouth-to-mouth breathing and chest compressions.
- If available, use a computer-controlled device called an automatic external defibrillator (AED). AEDs allow a person without medical training to pass a quick electric shock through the chest to change the VF to a normal rhythm. AEDs are available in many public places and on some airplanes.
- Continue CPR until help arrives.
Prevention
An implantable defibrillator can help prevent future VF episodes in some patients. Others may need medicine to control the heartbeat.
Many public places and airplanes now have automated external defibrillators for use in an emergency.
Sinus Arrhythmia
One of the most common arrhythmias is a sinus arrhythmia. It involves cyclic changes in the heart rate during breathing. It is very common in children and often found in young adults. Patients with sinus arrhythmia do not experience any cardiovascular symptoms.
Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs)
Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs) are amongst the most common forms of arrhythmias. It is due to the premature discharge of an electrical impulse in the atrium, causing a premature contraction.
Therefore, it is named “premature atrial contraction,” or PAC. A PAC is premature, because the it occurs earlier than the next regular beat should have occurred.
Atrial Fibrillation
Problems with the heart’s electrical system, called arrhythmias, can make it hard for the heart to pump blood efficiently.
Introduction
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to your body. Although AF itself usually isn’t life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition.
Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST)
Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is a condition in which the resting heart rate is abnormally high (greater than 100 beats per minute), and increases rapidly with minimal exertion, accompanied by symptoms of palpitations, fatigue, and exercise intolerance.
Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
Palpitations are feelings that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, or beating irregularly, too hard or too fast. Some will be diagnosed by your doctor as Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs). PVCs are an arrhythmia and relatively common. Some people are very sensitive and feel every abnormal heart beat; others are blissfully unaware of them.
Adams-Stokes Syndrome
In this condition, the normal heartbeat passing from the hearts upper to lower chambers is interrupted. This result in a condition called a “heart block.” When a heart block occurs the heart rate usually slows considerably. This can result in inadequate blood flow to the brain and fainting.Take a look at this animation of your heart’s electrical system for a better understanding of what happens normally:
Take a look at this animation of your heart’s electrical system for a better understanding :
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
POTS is a condition in which a change from supine to an upright position causes an abnormally large increase in heart rate, called tachycardia.
Ventricular tachycardia (VT)
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a rapid heartbeat that starts in the ventricles of your heart, with a pulse rate of more than 100 beats per minute and at least three irregular heartbeats in a row.
Long QT syndrome (LQTS)
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical activity. It may cause you to develop a sudden, uncontrollable, and dangerous heart rhythm called an arrhythmia in response to exercise or stress.
Arrhythmias also can develop for no known reason in people who have LQTS. Not everyone who has LQTS develops dangerous heart rhythms. However, if one does occur, it may be fatal.
Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is an uncontrolled twitching or quivering of the muscle fibers of the lower chambers of your heart. During ventricular fibrillation, blood is no longer pumped out of your heart.
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