It is a common and recurrent condition among the population and many times it persists silently, almost without being perceived from the physical point of view. In fact, the cardiac arrhythmias They can cause severe heart disease if they are not detected in time, with the consequent risk for the person. Precisely for this reason, specialists warn about the importance of performing the usual annual check-ups, among which clinical and imaging check-ups must be present to know the general condition of the heart. And in the event that there is an excess or imbalance of electrical discharges in any sector of this important organ, the recommendation is to make it possible to carry out the appropriate treatment or intervention in time.
The cardiac arrhythmia that caused Governor Rodolfo Suarez to undergo surgery for the second time last Thursday, raised questions about this worrying condition from the point of view of public health: the Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in the Argentine population with an estimated record of 280 daily deaths from this cause. This data, precisely, is what cardiology specialists seek to decline by promoting prevention and early detection of the different ways in which the heart of adults may be giving signals.
Sudden death, the danger of undetected arrhythmia
Alejandro Saracco is one of the most recognized cardiologists in the province and is part of the Program for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases of the Ministry of Health. He highlights that arrhythmias make up a very varied group of pathologies within cardiology and there is even a specialty specifically dedicated to studying and detecting these conditions, called electrophysiology. Saracco explains that the range is wide when talking about arrhythmias, depending on their location, intensity, involvement of the heart and origin.
It details, in general terms, that there are those that are “benign” and others that cover deadly forms. Many times, the query trigger has to do with recurrent palpitations in the patient. However, he warns, there are arrhythmias that are not perceived by the person and that by demanding a certain rhythm or a permanent imbalance from the heart, it ends up causing a more serious pathology that can even lead to death. sudden death.
The importance of early diagnosis
“According to their origin, in relation to the sector of the heart that is being affected in terms of the electrical discharges that are generated, arrhythmias can be supra ventricular or ventricular. The important thing in all cases is to be able to detect its origin and from there to be able to carry out the appropriate treatment for the person because it may be that they are asymptomatic and that the consultation is carried out late”, highlights Saracco.
In the case of supraventricular (as happened in the case of the governor of Mendoza) palpitations are perceived with a number of beats that exceed 180 per minute (normal in a healthy heart is up to 120 beats per minute). According to the person’s condition and general condition, it will be the treatment to receive to dissipate not only the discomfort generated by the permanent state of tachycardia, but in order to avoid deeper damage to the general functioning of this vital organ.
Thus, in some cases the condition can be corrected with specific medication accompanied by changes in habits if necessary, or by resorting to different intervention methodologies. In the case of Rodolfo Suarez, for example, it was necessary to carry out a radiofrequency ablation through surgery that is performed through a catheter that is entered into the body intravenously.
This means, Saracco details, that it is necessary to burn or cauterize the millimeter lengths of filaments that emit excess electricity in the heart. “For this reason, it may happen that in a first intervention the entire section is not ablated and a small fragment remains. This is done to finish blocking the circuit that is causing the arrhythmia”, details the cardiologist.
Myocarditis and its relationship with covid
In the case of ventricular arrhythmias, says Saracco, the severity and risk of coronary heart disease is more evident. “In these cases, it is necessary to see if there is a lack of irrigation to the heart, that is, ischemia”, he details. In these cases, surgery to incorporate a bypass or perform an angioplasty (procedure to unblock the blood vessels of the heart) may be the possible solutions to treat this form of severe arrhythmia.
In recent months, consultations related to disorders in the functioning of the heart increased because one of the consequences of the post covid paintings is associated with myocarditis; a form of coronary affection associated with the action of infectious agents. “There is an increase in consultations for this reason, in part also because people are getting more check-ups. That is when we detect the arrhythmias that exist and that generate problems in the general health of the person without them realizing it”, warns Saracco and emphasizes the importance of carrying out routine annual studies, among which those related to the heart. “An electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, an exercise stress test and a Holter study are essential to detect abnormalities together with blood pressure control”, highlights the specialist.
Prevent to care for the vital organ
The prevention and treatment of habits and risk behaviors, are the keys when it comes to taking care of the heart. Hypertension, excess triglycerides and bad cholesterol, as well as sedentary lifestyle and smoking are added among the risk behaviors that are detrimental to proper heart health when it is not congenital pathologies. But stress and anxiety, anguish and depression also appear on the list of unfavorable situations. “It is proven that diseases of emotional origin end up affecting the defenses and the general state of the organism. Chemical substances are released that soon have an impact, for example, on the production of white blood cells”, highlights Saracco and recommends all actions associated with the possibility of relaxation, proper nutrition and physical activity.