Atrial Contractions

peterhutch asked:


 

Arrhythmias are disorders of the regular rhythmic beating of the heart. They’re common — about 2.2 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (one type of rhythm problem). Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. They also may indicate a serious problem and lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death. The goal of this site is to help the public and healthcare professionals learn more about arrhythmias, and ultimately reduce disability and death from heart disease and stroke.

An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don’t necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias — less than 60 beats per minute). arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias — faster than 100 beats per minute).

Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. When the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.

Causes

The heart has 4 compartments, or chambers. The walls of the heart squeeze together (contract) to push blood through the chambers. The contractions are controlled by an electrical signal that begins in the heart’s natural “pacemaker” (called the sinoatrial node). The rate of the contractions is influenced by nerve impulses and hormones in the blood. A problem in any of these can cause an arrhythmia.

There are several causes of arrhythmia, such as the sinoatrial node (SAN) firing more quickly or slowly (sometimes both) or another part of the heart taking over the job of the SAN. Sometimes there may be no known cause for an arrhythmia.

Symptoms

Arrhythmias may not cause any signs or symptoms. In fact, your doctor might detect them before you do, during a routine examination. Noticeable signs and symptoms don’t always indicate a serious problem. Some people who feel arrhythmias don’t have a serious problem, while others who have life-threatening arrhythmias have no symptoms at all.

Many arrhythmias cause no signs or symptoms. When signs or symptoms are present, the most common ones are:

* Palpitations (a feeling that your heart has skipped a beat or is beating too hard)

* A slow heartbeat

* An irregular heartbeat

* Feeling of pauses between heartbeats

Treatment

Treatment of arrhythmia depend on the type of arrhythmia, the patients age, physical condition and age. Methods are available for prevention of arrhythmia. These methods include relaxation techniques to reduce stress, limit intake of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and stimulant drugs. Many arrhythmias require no treatment, they are naturally controlled by the body’s immune system. However if it is necessary that arrhythmias must be controlled, they can be controlled by drugs, Cardioversion, Automatic implantable defibrillators or an Artificial pacemaker. Arrhythmias are very serious.

Because arrhythmias are such a heterogeneous group of conditions, treatment needs to be carefully selected by a patient with their physician. Some arrhythmias require no treatment at all. Others require immediate emergency treatment if death is to be avoided. Treatments include physical maneuvers, antiarrhythmic drugs, other drugs, electricity, and electro or cryo cautery.



Designer Scented Candles

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


One of the manifestations of chronic bronchitis is a productive cough accompanied by phlegm, which obstructs the free flow of air in the bronchial tubes. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term disorder that can last as long as two years. It is the fourth largest killer in the United States of America, and around ten million people fall victim to this disorder every year. About 40,000 deaths due to chronic bronchitis have been recorded annually. It is considered to be the most comman chronic obstructive pulmonary illnesses (CODP).

Causes of Chronic Bronchitis

Certain lifestyle habits such as cigarette smoking is mainly responsible for chronic bronchitis. People who live in highly polluted atmospheres also fall prey to this disorder. The above-mentioned factors weaken the lungs and the body’s immune system to such as extent that the person is easily infected by bacteria and viruses that attack the respiratory system.

Studies reveal that more than 90 percent of the people who contract chronic bronchitis comprise smokers. About 15 percent of the cigarette smokers are ultimately diagnosed with respiratory disorders charaterized by obstruction of the airways. Biopsies of bronchial samples of people who have quit smoking thirteen years ago still reveal persistent marks of bronchial inflammation.

Tests conducted on patients suffering from chronic bronchitis reveal yet another disturbing factor–the presence of three varieties of bacteria: Moxarella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Methods of Managing Chronic Bronchitis

Two methods of managing chronic bronchitis are in vogue at present–inhalation of ipratropium bromide and treatment through sympathomimetic agents. Theophyllinne is also an important therapy, but its uses are limited to a certain cases of the disorder. Patients who exhibit a remarkable improvement in airflow are not given any steriods. Antibiotics have a crucial part to play in the battle against acute infections. Supplemental oxygen is given to those patients who experience difficulties in breathing. Patients are also strongly advised to quit smoking for good, take plenty of nutritional supplements and fluids, and perform exercises to strengthen their respiratory muscles.

Tests to Determine Chronic Bronchitis

A series of tests are necessary to determine a variety of factors. Needless to say, testing is also essential to make a correct diagnosis of the condition. The results of tests also confirm the extent to which the air passages are obstructed. Some of the tests include pulmonary function testing, blood tests, chest radiograph, electrocardiogram, biopsies, and sputum cultures.

The ratio between the measured forced expiratory volume (FEVI) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) defines the severity of chronic bronchitis. One of the signs of severe and long-term chronic bronchitis is progressive decline of FEVI rates. Factors such as age affect the elasticity of the lungs due to which the pulmonary testing of most adults over middle age show a 30ml decline in FEVI. In addition, the blocking of the bronchi due to an increase in the production of sputum does not always indicate chronic bronchitis. Pulmonary testing documents the reversible characteristics of air passage obstruction, and this helps physicians properly diagnose this disorder.

A sample of arterial blood is taken in order to do a blood test, which can determine conditions such as mild polychthemia.

Chest radiographs reveal conditions such as blebs, diaphragmatic flattening, peribronchial markings, hyperinflation, and bullae. However, the test results cannot be taken as final proof of the existence of chronic bronchitis.

Electrocardiograms pinpoint distrubances, such as arterial fibrillation or flutter and atrial tachycardia having “P” pulmonale, in the supraventricular rhythm.

Airway biopsies can reveal submucosal and mucosal inflammation, hyperplasia of goblet cells, and abnormal smoothness of the muscles on the small noncartilaginous air passage.

Sputum culture is done in case of patients who have not been hopitalized but display acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. It is one of the methods used to determine the requirement for antibiotic therapy. Protected-tip sputum cultures are done in case of patients who are in hospitals especially if atypical organisms are suspected to cause the excarberation.

Mortality rate after the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is fifty percent. The terminal event of chronic bronchitis is respiratory failure. Respiratory failure is due to bacterial infections characterized by purulent sputum, fever, and poor ventilation symptoms. The other factors responsible for respiratory failure are seasonal changes, infections of the upper respiratory system, medications, and prolonged exposure to polluting and irrtating agents.

An understanding of the factors responsible for inflammation in chronic bronchitis makes it easier to manage, control, and treat this disorder.



Harman Pellet Stoves