Who Is At Risk for an Arrhythmia?
Populations Affected
Millions of Americans have arrhythmias. They are
very common in older adults. About 2.2 million Americans have atrial
fibrillation (a common type of arrhythmia that can cause problems).
Most serious arrhythmias happen in adults older than
60. This is because older adults are more likely to have heart disease and
other health problems that can lead to arrhythmias. Older adults also tend to
be more sensitive to the side effects of medicines, some of which can cause
arrhythmias. Some medicines used to treat arrhythmias can cause arrhythmias as
a side effect.
Some types of arrhythmia happen more often in
children and young adults. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias (a fast
heart rate that begins and ends suddenly), including Wolff-Parkinson-White
syndrome, are more common in young people.
Major Risk Factors
Arrhythmias are more common in people who have a
disease or condition that weakens the heart, such as:
- Heart
attack
- Heart
failure or
cardiomyopathy,
which weakens the heart and changes the way electrical signals move around the
heart
- Heart tissue that is too thick or stiff or that
hasn't formed normally
- Leaking or narrowed heart valves, which make the
heart work too hard and can lead to heart failure
- Congenital problems (problems that are present at
birth) with the heart's structure or function
Other conditions also can increase the chances of
arrhythmia, such as:
- High
blood pressure
- Infections that damage the heart muscle or the
sac around the heart
- Diabetes, which increases the risk of high blood
pressure and
coronary
artery disease
- Sleep
apnea (when breathing becomes shallow or stops during sleep), which can
stress the heart because it doesn't get enough oxygen
- Overactive or underactive thyroid gland (too much
or too little thyroid hormone in the body)
In addition to certain diseases and conditions,
several other risk factors increase a person's chance of having an arrhythmia.
Heart surgery, certain drugs (such as cocaine or amphetamines), or an imbalance
of chemicals or other substances (such as potassium) in the bloodstream can
increase a person's chance of having an arrhythmia. |