Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia occur in people of different age groups and are directly related to failures in the myocardium, i.e. heart rhythm disturbances. When the heart muscle contraction rate changes, the heart "stops", shortness of breath, lack of air and dizziness are observed. Common signs are also general weakness and fainting. Due to unpleasant symptoms, which partly resemble a heart attack, a person may experience a panic attack, a feeling of fear and anxiety.

Sinus arrhythmia often develops as a result of the body's reaction to stress, excessive physical exertion, and fatigue. In this case, heart contractions occur at irregular intervals. A person feels that the heart "freezes", stops, and then begins to beat faster. Sometimes there is pain in the left side of the sternum, radiating to the arm. The causes of this condition can be neuroses, emotional exhaustion, diseases of internal organs, various heart pathologies. Accurate diagnosis is possible only in a medical institution. At the first signs, it is necessary to contact a cardiologist to establish the true cause of arrhythmia. An electrocardiogram and other methods of medical examination will help with this.

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The first signs of sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia vary and depend on the heart rate.

The first signs of sinus arrhythmia:

• noticeable heartbeat or "stopping" of the heart;
• pain on the left side of the chest;
• inability to take a full breath;
• dyspnea;
• pulse in the temple area;
• attacks of severe weakness;
• dizziness;
• semi-fainting states and fainting.

All the above symptoms are associated with the appearance of large intervals between contractions of the heart muscle, as well as the occurrence of a block at the exit from the atrial node. It happens that sinus arrhythmia is provoked by medication (taking cardioactive and antiarrhythmic drugs). Such pathology can develop as a result of neuroses, neurocirculatory dystonia, intoxication of the body. Another reason is the lack of magnesium and potassium in the blood. As a result of the lack of nutrients and oxygen, the heart muscle is unable to fully relax and contracts poorly. An ECG allows you to compare and analyze data regarding the heart rate.

Rhythm disturbances can be caused by diseases of the spine, thyroid gland, oxygen starvation, osteochondrosis, anemia, liver disease, hormonal disorders, high blood pressure, acidemia. At a young age, interruptions in the sinus heart rhythm, reflected in breathing, are considered natural. In children, sinus arrhythmia can manifest itself after infectious or inflammatory diseases. However, it should be noted that uneven contractions of the myocardium also occur with serious failures in the cardiovascular system. They can indicate ischemic disease, the development of rheumatism, heart attack or cardiosclerosis. If the heart rate does not exceed 10%, sinus arrhythmia is not considered a separate disease.

Sinus arrhythmia at rest

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia are often associated with increased heart rate (tachycardia). Doctors are concerned about tachycardia that persists at rest, as it may indicate various diseases associated with heart problems. If a patient complains of increased heart rate at rest, accompanied by shortness of breath and a feeling of shortness of breath, there is reason to sound the alarm.

Sinus arrhythmia at rest may indicate the presence of the following diseases:

• hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease);
• acute vascular insufficiency;
• anemia (anemia);
• some forms of VSD;
• chronic heart failure;
• cardiomyopathy;
• acute myocarditis;
• myocardial infarction and other serious pathologies.

A healthy person at rest always has some irregularity of the sinus rhythm. If the difference between contractions exceeds 10%, we are talking about sinus arrhythmia. The reasons for its occurrence may be harmless, i.e. not cause any complications. But in some cases, such conditions (increased and decreased heart rate) indicate serious illnesses that can threaten a person's health and even life. An ECG and other medical methods will help diagnose arrhythmia. In any case, if you observe symptoms of sinus rhythm disturbance, it is recommended to visit a cardiologist, who will refer you for an examination to identify the main causes of sinus arrhythmia and its severity.

Sinus arrhythmia during sleep

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can occur for a number of reasons. This pathology can manifest itself at night and be provoked by the so-called "obstructive sleep apnea syndrome" (i.e. attacks of periodic respiratory arrest). It should be noted that physiological (normal) bradycardia, i.e. a decrease in heart rate, occurs at night in almost all people - in this case, the heart rate decreases by 30%. If this indicator changes (decreases to 10%), there is reason to talk about serious disturbances in the work of the myocardium.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome provokes a stress reaction of the human body to the process of respiratory arrest, as a result of which the load on the heart muscle increases, oxygen starvation develops. It should be noted that apnea can result in almost all types of arrhythmia, and their number increases as the severity of the syndrome increases. Such breathing disorders, naturally, negatively affect the work of the myocardium and lead to partial or complete depletion of its resources, a general deterioration in the person's condition and the development of heart disease.

Sinus arrhythmia during sleep is caused by the collapse of the upper respiratory tract, which prevents the normal flow of oxygen into the lungs. In this case, the sleeping person experiences multiple pauses in breathing. Often, apnea syndrome is a complicated form of snoring and causes sinus arrhythmia.

The manifestation of arrhythmia due to apnea can become a risk factor for sudden death during sleep, so it is important to identify the pathology in time and prescribe competent treatment, in particular, to use CPAP therapy.

Sinus arrhythmia in a child

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia in children are often associated with breathing problems and do not pose a health risk. We are talking about "respiratory arrhythmia", the origin of which is associated with a reflex increase in heart rate during inhalation and a decrease during exhalation.

Sinus arrhythmia in a child most often indicates the immaturity of his nervous system. Episodes of sinus rhythm disturbances occur in newborns with postnatal encephalopathy, rickets or intracranial hypertension, as well as in premature babies. In children with excess weight (obesity), sinus arrhythmia may manifest itself with excessive physical exertion. It is worth noting the age periods of maturation from 6 to 7 and from 9 to 10 years, when the vegetative system does not have time to adapt to internal changes in the child's body during rapid hormonal development. The older the child, the less often he will experience symptoms of sinus arrhythmia, since at the age of 10, the maturation of the vegetative nervous system is approaching the final stage.

As for non-respiratory arrhythmia, such a disorder may be permanent or paroxysmal in nature and is most often not associated with a specific heart disease. Most likely, it is caused by other pathological processes: hereditary predisposition, infectious diseases, vegetative-vascular dystonia, myocarditis of bacterial or viral etiology. Heart rhythm disorders in children are associated with rheumatism, previous tonsillitis, congenital heart defects. Accurate diagnostics are possible only in a medical facility.

Usually, sinus arrhythmia (especially respiratory type) does not cause any negative sensations in the child. The complaints include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, fatigue, pain in the heart area, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness. If the listed symptoms are pronounced and constant, you should immediately contact a cardiologist. Such conditions indicate the presence of more serious problems associated with the work of the heart. When diagnosing sinus arrhythmia, the child is prescribed an ultrasound of the heart, a control electrocardiographic examination, as well as a blood test and other studies, the results of which will reveal the deviations that caused the sinus rhythm disturbances.

Sinus arrhythmia in newborns

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can be observed in newborns in the first 3 days after birth. They are a reflection of cardiac or extracardiac pathological processes. Deviations in the heart rhythm, even the smallest ones, can indicate a severe organic lesion of this organ. Unfortunately, heart rhythm disturbances may often not manifest themselves in the form of clinical symptoms, but end in sudden death due to cardiac arrest. That is why screening electrocardiographic examination plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process.

Sinus arrhythmia in newborns can be transient and provoke the formation of a persistent pathological process that negatively affects the development of the baby. Sinus rhythm disturbances in infants are most often caused by:

• organic lesions of the heart muscle in the form of developmental defects, tumors, inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the myocardium;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• disturbances of water-electrolyte balance (metabolic shifts);
• systemic (autoimmune) diseases developing in the body of the mother and fetus;
• diabetes mellitus.

Other pathologies that are related to sinus arrhythmia in newborns include hypo- and hyperthermia, the effects of certain medications, thyroid disease, as well as diseases of the autonomic and central nervous systems as a result of birth trauma or intrauterine hypoxia.

Sinus arrhythmia during pregnancy

Sinus arrhythmia symptoms may be observed in expectant mothers due to the double load on the heart. Of course, the occurrence of such a pathology has a negative impact on the woman's condition. Attacks of rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness cause discomfort, and in severe cases can become harbingers of a threat to the life of the mother and child.

Sinus arrhythmia during pregnancy may occur for the following reasons:

• various diseases of the heart, central nervous system or blood vessels;
• heredity;
• disruptions in the endocrine system;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• external factors (poor nutrition, bad habits, psycho-emotional and physical stress);
• respiratory diseases;
• metabolic disorders.

If a pregnant woman has extrasystole, it does not cause any noticeable discomfort. Except that sometimes a woman feels uneven heartbeat and chest pain. If a future mother has atrial fibrillation, this can lead to the development of hypoxia in the fetus, which is a threat of termination of pregnancy in the form of a miscarriage. Sinus arrhythmia indicates the development of a more serious disease and is especially dangerous in cases where it is accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition, darkening in the eyes, dizziness and sudden fainting, severe shortness of breath. The approach to the treatment of this type of arrhythmia should be competent and careful, since it is undesirable to take medications during pregnancy.

Sinus arrhythmia and bradycardia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia often appear against the background of a slow heartbeat, i.e. bradycardia. This type of arrhythmia is accompanied by a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute and can occur in athletes, pregnant women, and during night sleep. Physiological bradycardia is of an inconstant nature - with increased physical exertion, an increase in heart rate is observed. This factor allows us to distinguish sinus bradycardia from a more dangerous pathology - atrioventricular block, which is characterized by a slowdown in heart rate even after intense physical exertion.

Sinus arrhythmia and bradycardia most often develop with increased intracranial pressure, cardiosclerosis or certain viral diseases, hypothyroidism, drug overdose, as well as nicotine or lead poisoning, prolonged starvation. After diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe beta-blockers, antiarrhythmic and sedative drugs to the patient. If the main cause of the pathology is a disease of the circulatory system, against which heart failure has developed, the patient may be prescribed a pacemaker.

In general, the causes of bradycardia may be organic heart damage (most often irreversible) and imbalance arising from increased activity of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. Neurogenic (vagal) form of bradycardia is often combined with pronounced sinus arrhythmia and accompanies peptic ulcer, colic, neuroses with vagotonia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, vagal crises, and endocrine system disorders.

Sinus arrhythmia and tachycardia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia may be accompanied by tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), in which the heart rate reaches 90 beats or more. Increased heart rate in healthy people is physiological in nature and is most often associated with excitement, anxiety, and physical exertion. If a strong heartbeat is observed in a state of complete rest, this is an alarming signal.

Sinus arrhythmia and tachycardia are observed in the following situations:

• in the development of anemia;
• for fever of any etiology;
• in case of lung pathology, which is accompanied by respiratory failure;
• when an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system occurs;
• in cases of increased function of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland;
• with excessive consumption of strong tea or coffee.

Sinus tachycardia often develops against the background of heart and cardiovascular diseases (for example, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, myocardial defects). Other causes include taking certain medications, including anti-cold drugs with vasoconstrictor action.

Pathological sinus tachycardia is not considered an independent disease, but it causes significant harm to both the heart itself and the body. This is due to the fact that with too frequent contractions, the heart muscle does not have time to relax properly, and its rest period is shortened. In addition, the myocardial chambers are not filled with a sufficient volume of blood, which causes a decrease in blood pressure, and the amount of blood that nourishes the internal organs and tissues decreases. If you notice a rapid heartbeat, you should immediately consult a cardiologist to find out the main cause of this problem and eliminate it faster.

Sinus atrial fibrillation

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia may be combined with signs of atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by the appearance of a large number of excitation foci, leading to chaotic contractions ("flickering") of fibers in the muscles of the atrium. In this case, a person experiences interruptions in the work of the heart, an irregular pulse and accelerated heartbeat.

Sinus atrial fibrillation is often characterized by a slowing (i.e. "deficit") of the pulse. This condition is also observed with atrial flutter. The main causes of atrial fibrillation include electrolyte imbalance, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, hyperthyroidism, rheumatism and other diseases of internal organs and systems. Paroxysms can be caused by psychoemotional arousal and severe stress, excessive physical exertion, alcohol consumption, hot weather and even intestinal disorders. Paroxysms usually pass on their own, but in some cases, treatment with medications is required.

In most cases, atrial fibrillation does not pose a particular threat to human life. However, if the pulse rate reaches 100-110 beats, a person begins to feel unwell. He experiences shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, heart pain (especially in elderly people).

Since such conditions worsen the work of the heart, an acute form of heart failure may develop, which, in turn, can lead to a life-threatening complication - pulmonary edema. Heart rhythm disturbances are also dangerous because during flickering in the chambers of the myocardium, microthrombi can form, which during the restoration of the rhythm are sharply thrown out of the heart muscle with the blood flow and clog the passage, which will inevitably lead to a stroke. With long-term observation of heart rhythm disturbances, changes occur in the myocardium itself: its membrane stretches, cavities expand and properties change.

Degrees of sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia should not be ignored, as they can signal serious health problems. As for classification, there is no certainty in this matter. Two types of arrhythmia can be distinguished separately by their relationship with the respiratory process: respiratory and arrhythmia that occurs independently of breathing. In the first case, the number of SS increases twofold during inhalation and decreases during exhalation. The cause of this condition is a violation of the blood filling of the heart chambers or improper excitation of the vagus nerve. In addition, stress, physical overload, taking certain medications, hormonal imbalances in the body, smoking and drinking alcohol can be the causes. Arrhythmia not associated with breathing most often occurs against the background of heart disease, systemic and infectious diseases, intoxication, thyroid disorders, liver, and brain tumors.

The degrees of sinus arrhythmia can be determined by the severity of the disease. Thus, there is pronounced sinus arrhythmia, which is most often observed in elderly people and is caused by heart diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiodystrophy and cardiosclerosis; and moderate arrhythmia, which occurs in children, adolescents and young people and does not have any pronounced symptoms.

In terms of rhythm quality, sinus tachycardia can be distinguished separately, in which the heart rate exceeds 90 beats/min, and sinus bradycardia (heart rate less than 60 beats/min). There is also extrasystole, in which extra heart contractions occur against the background of a normal rhythm. The origin of this type is benign and does not require special treatment.

Tachyarrhythmia is characterized by increased heart rate and occurs in patients with problems with blood circulation, the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, and the thyroid gland. Bradyarrhythmia is accompanied by slow pulsation, weakness, dizziness, and fainting (with a decrease in heart rate to 40 beats). This pathology occurs with sclerotic changes in the myocardium, ischemia, oxygen starvation of the brain, and failures in the endocrine system. Due to impaired cerebral circulation, angina may develop.

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Mild sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia generally determine the severity of the pathology. If disturbances in the sinus node are associated with hormonal changes in the body (for example, during adolescence or menopause in women), then this is considered normal. The difference in heart rate fluctuations in adolescents can be up to 20 bpm and is due to the uneven development of internal organs (i.e., the heart volume of a growing organism "lags behind" the body volume). Mild arrhythmia in most cases does not manifest itself in any way. A person only experiences a sensation of the heart "stopping", rapid heartbeat, slight shortness of breath, dizziness and a feeling of lack of air.

Mild sinus arrhythmia can be caused by an individual characteristic of the body, and also occur as a result of natural aging of the body. Heart rhythm disturbances are often associated with organ diseases (for example, hypothyroidism, hypertension, liver diseases). As a result of neurocirculatory dystonia, there are disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic system, which provokes various heart disorders, including sinus arrhythmia. Despite the fact that a mild degree of arrhythmia does not cause any serious health problems, a visit to the doctor for consultation will still not hurt. With the help of ECG and other diagnostic studies, it will be possible to establish the nature of sinusoidal arrhythmia - pathological or natural.

Sinus arrhythmia grade 1

Symptoms of moderate sinus arrhythmia, if they occur infrequently and do not cause discomfort, usually go away on their own. However, in cases where shortness of breath, severe weakness and fatigue, pressure drops, rapid heartbeat and other symptoms do not go away, but recur more often, it is recommended to consult a doctor for help (diagnosis). An ECG will help identify possible pathologies in the work of the heart.

As a rule, a moderate degree of sinus arrhythmia is expressed in breathing disorders (hence the name - "respiratory arrhythmia"). When inhaling, the number of heartbeats increases, and when exhaling - on the contrary, it decreases. This is most often associated with the lability of the autonomic nervous system - a condition that occurs in childhood and adolescence.

Sinus arrhythmia of the 1st degree manifests itself as an increase in the pulse to 100 beats per minute (tachycardia), or, conversely, its decrease to 50 beats (bradycardia). Mild arrhythmia often occurs in adolescents during puberty, as well as in athletes and elderly people (during the aging period of the body). If the symptoms are not particularly pronounced, there is no reason to worry. But it is still advisable to consult a medical specialist regarding the state of health. This is especially true in cases where a person has multiple attacks of loss of consciousness. It should be noted that moderate sinus arrhythmia can manifest itself in the form of such symptoms as darkening in the eyes, chest pain, shortness of breath, which causes a feeling of fear of death, etc. Perhaps, herbal preparations with a calming effect will help to cope with such unpleasant sensations.

Sinus arrhythmia grade 2

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia of the second degree are more pronounced and are combined with various heart diseases, such as cardiosclerosis, ischemia, rheumatism, etc. A person experiences severe weakness and fatigue, develops shortness of breath, and signs of heart failure appear. States of pronounced tachycardia or, conversely, bradycardia, when the heart rate reaches 40 beats, are dangerous. In severe cases, this can lead to death. In neuroses, pronounced sinus arrhythmia can be observed in combination with bradycardia - such a pathological process requires a competent approach to treatment.

Sinus arrhythmia of the 2nd degree often occurs in elderly people against the background of disturbances in the work of the myocardium due to the aging of the body. If arrhythmia of the first degree in most cases is not a cause for concern, then pronounced arrhythmia can pose a threat to human health, since it is associated with clinical manifestations - it must be treated.

The main focus should be on treating the underlying disease that caused sinus arrhythmia. Most often, these are organic heart diseases that cause arrhythmic impulses in the sinus node (such disorders can be seen during an electrocardiogram). Treatment usually includes taking magnesium and potassium preparations (for example, Panangin). The complex therapy includes reducing physical activity, strictly following a diet, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Exacerbation of the disease is provoked by bad habits (smoking, alcohol), as well as high cholesterol, diabetes, and excess weight.

Severe sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can be pronounced. In this case, it is very important to conduct a timely diagnosis in order to identify the exact cause of such a pathology and prescribe effective treatment. Among the signs of pronounced sinus arrhythmia that should alert a person, it is necessary to highlight attacks of dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, frequent fainting, fatigue. It is important not to neglect the disease, but to immediately contact a medical institution for examination of the heart, as well as internal organs and systems.

Severe sinus arrhythmia requires a careful approach to diagnosis. An ECG is used to determine the presence of arrhythmic impulses in the sinus node. After conducting the examination, the doctor may prescribe potassium and magnesium preparations (for example, Panangin) to the patient. It is very important to follow a diet during the treatment period, reduce physical activity, and completely give up bad habits.

Usually, with pronounced sinus arrhythmia, breathing problems are observed: when inhaling, the frequency of contractions increases, and when exhaling, it decreases. Thus, fear and panic may arise due to the unpleasant sensation of beating or stopping of the heart. Often, such a pathology is observed in children during puberty, which is associated with instability in the work of the autonomic nervous system. In neuroses, sinus arrhythmia occurs against the background of bradycardia. In any case, if there are pronounced signs of such a pathological condition, it is important to consult a doctor.

Consequences of sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia carry a certain dose of discomfort and danger, since any deviations in the work of the heart lead to a deterioration in the general health of a person, and also increase the risk of mortal danger. The most common manifestations of cardiac arrhythmia are weakness in the body, dizziness, a feeling of uneven heartbeat ("stopping", rapid heartbeat), nausea, fainting, painful spasms in the chest.

The consequences of sinus arrhythmia can be different. In a mild form, the symptoms disappear on their own, without affecting the functioning of internal organs and systems. The most dangerous of the consequences can be called heart failure - the inability of the myocardium to fully perform its main function of pumping blood. Heart block as one of the types of arrhythmia can lead to cerebral ischemia. Extrasystole can cause the development of tachycardia, as well as dysfunction of cardiac activity due to a strong increase in heart rate (more than 200 beats). In severe cases, this can lead to death.

It is quite difficult to assess the seriousness and danger of sinus arrhythmia due to its "wave-like" manifestation, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Rhythm disturbances lead to oxygen "starvation" of the myocardium, and also have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the brain, respiratory organs, and nervous system.

Acute arrhythmia provokes the development of irreversible pathologies that cannot be treated, but only bring the moment of death closer. Unfortunately, arrhythmic attacks are characterized by unexpectedness and spontaneity. It is impossible to predict when an attack may occur - at rest, during a walk or at work.

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Complications of sinus arrhythmia

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia should not go unnoticed, since in some cases, disruptions in the functioning of the myocardium have a detrimental effect on the condition of the body as a whole.

Complications of sinus arrhythmia in the form of heart failure, pulmonary edema, ischemic stroke or heart attack are the most dangerous for humans. According to statistics, every 6th stroke occurs against the background of atrial fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation can occur in severe forms of heart disease. In young people, this pathology most often develops with congenital defects of the mitral valve, in elderly people, the most common causes of atrial fibrillation are thyrotoxicosis, ischemic heart disease, alcoholism. This type of arrhythmia contributes to the growth of heart failure, and also causes a tendency to thromboembolic complications. Diagnosis of heart pathologies is carried out using electrocardiography, electrophysiological research, Holter monitoring.

Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia, especially those that are frequently repeated and worsen a person's condition, should be identified in time. The doctor's goal is to prescribe the most effective treatment to restore the correct heart rhythm. Usually, antiarrhythmic drugs are used in such cases, which are administered intravenously. Antiarrhythmic therapy is avoided if attacks are rare. Surgical treatment is indicated only for seriously ill patients.

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