|
|
|
|
|
Download and Print this page as Adobe PDF |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arrhythmia Prevention
Prevention falls into two main categories:
preventing heart disorders in
general and monitoring and treating
any existing heart problems.
Preventing Heart Disorders
Treat or, when possible, eliminate risk
factors that may lead to cardiovascular
disease or cardiac arrhythmias.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices.
Living a “heart healthy” life is the
best way to decrease the chances
of developing heart disorders.
Exercising regularly and eating a
healthy, low-fat diet with plenty of
vegetables, fruits and other
vitamin-rich foods are the cornerstones
of “heart healthy” living.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stop smoking and avoid secondhand
smoke. Tobacco contributes
to as much as one-third of all
cardiovascular disease.
- Avoid or limit the intake of caffeine,
alcohol and other substances that
may contribute to arrhythmias or
heart disease.
- Avoid unnecessary stress, such
as anger, anxiety or fear, and find
ways to manage or control stressful
situations that cannot be avoided.
- Have regular physical exams
and promptly report any unusual
symptoms to a physician.
- Seek treatment for underlying
health problems that may
contribute to arrhythmias and
heart disease. Problems include
atherosclerosis (“clogged” arteries),
heart valve damage, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes
and thyroid disease.
|
|
|
| Any of the following conditions can increase the likelihood of developing arrhythmias: Coronary artery disease High blood pressure Diabetes Smoking High cholesterol Obesity A high-fat diet Excessive use of alcohol Drug abuse Stress A family history of heart disease Advancing age Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications, dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monitoring and Treating Existing Heart Disorders
Effectively treating any existing heart
disorder is the best way to prevent it
from becoming more severe.
- Have regular check ups.
- Understand how various conditions increase the risk of arrhythmias.
- Learn about heart disorders, tests and
treatment options, and discuss them with caregivers.
- Find out if the heart's electrical system and its ability to pump
blood efficiently have been affected by heart muscle damage from a heart attack or another cause.
- Learn the importance of an
ejection fraction (EF). EF is a measure of the
proportion, or fraction, of blood the heart pumps out with each beat.
An abnormally low EF is the single most important factor in predicting
the risk of sudden cardiac death.
- Follow treatment plans, and take all medications as prescribed.
- Report any new symptoms or changes in existing symptoms to physicians as soon as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|