Lifestyle Changes
Since other heart disorders increase
the risk of developing arrhythmias,
lifestyle changes often are recommended.
In addition, improving
health can lesson the symptoms of
arrhythmias and other heart disorders
as well as prove beneficial to overall
patient health.
Medications
Medications can control abnormal
heart rhythms or treat related conditions
such as high blood pressure,
coronary artery disease, heart failure
and heart attack. Drugs also may be
administered to reduce the risk of
blood clots in patients with certain
types of arrhythmias. [more]
Electronic Devices
By delivering a controlled electric
shock to the heart, defibrillators or
cardioverters "shock" the heart back
into a normal heart rhythm.
Sometimes the devices are external,
such as in an emergency situation.
Often, the electronics are
implanted in the patient’s chest.
Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)
ICDs are 99 percent effective in
stopping life-threatening arrhythmias
and are the most successful therapy
to treat ventricular fibrillation, the
major cause of sudden cardiac death.
ICDs continuously monitor the heart
rhythm, automatically function as
pacemakers for heart rates that are
too slow, and deliver life-saving
shocks if a dangerously fast heart
rhythm is detected. [more]
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