Bradycardia and conduction system of the heart

Bradycardia - a reduction in heart rate less than 60 beats per 1 minute.

The main feature is the ability of the heart to contract under the influence of impulses that arise within himself. Even completely isolated from the nerve endings of the heart continues to decline. This phenomenon is called an automaton. Automata provides special muscles that form a series of nodes and beams in the heart - vascular system. It includes the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node and branches (beams) on them, which are held to the heart muscle nerve impulses.

Bradycardia can be of two types - sinus and because of the blockade of impulses between the sinoatrial node and the atria or between the atria and ventricles.

Sinus bradycardia

Sinus bradycardia may occur in otherwise healthy people, or due to congenital lowering automatism sinoatrial node, or in athletes as a result of changes in the body's energy regime and the regime of circulation associated with regular workouts.

Pathological (related disorders), sinus bradycardia Sinus bradycardia - how to distinguish normal from pathological condition   often the result of irritation of the vagus nerve when squeezed, the impact on atrionector certain chemicals and drugs (eg quinine), certain heart disease (such as myocarditis).

Characterized sinus bradycardia rare heart rate (60-40 beats per minute). Usually it does not cause circulatory disorders and is rarely accompanied by any unpleasant sensations.

Bradycardia, heart block when

Bradycardia in violation of the conduction between the sinoatrial node and the atria (sinus block) due to the fact that not every pulse applied to the myocardium atrium and ventricle, so the heart rate is less. This bradycardia can go during exercise and when taking certain medications (eg, caffeine).

Bradycardia caused by cardiac conduction between the atria and ventricles, characterized by a rare (sometimes less than 40 beats per minute) heartbeats. In this form of the blockade of the atria and ventricles in a different rhythm.

Moderate bradycardia usually does not lead to circulatory disorders. Complaints of weakness, faint and dizzy and fainting are possible with bradycardia less than 40 beats per minute, as well as bradycardia against the backdrop of severe myocardial damage.

Adams' disease

One manifestation of a sharp slowdown in the rate of heart contractions can be Adams' disease, which is characterized by sudden onset seizures with loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest time. This syndrome occurs in disorders of the conduction between the atria and ventricles.

Patients have dizziness, dark circles before my eyes, he is pale and in a few seconds, loses consciousness, then convulsions, involuntary urination occurs infrequently, cessation of breathing and cardiac arrest. With the restoration of the heart patient quickly he regains consciousness, but usually does not remember what happened to him.

Treating bradycardia

Treating bradycardia advisable only if the related circulatory disorders (attacks of weakness, dizziness, Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet   and so on). I am sure we treat the underlying disease that led to the emergence of bradycardia (myocarditis, coronary heart disease Heart disease and heart attacks: that every woman should know   and so on).

Depending on why started bradycardia prescriber promoting acceleration of heart rate (belladonna, caffeine, etc.).

First Aid syndrome Morgagni-Adams-Stokes

The syndrome of Morgagni-Adams-Stokes urgent need to call an ambulance and its arrival to assist both in cardiac arrest.

It should be

• secure airway: put the patient on his back, his head to throw back (to bring one arm under the neck, the second click on the forehead - head throws) and one or both hands to keep the lower jaw, pushing it forward; it is necessary to prevent the tongue;
• the method of artificial respiration "mouth to mouth": one hand to pinch the nose, and the other placed under the patient's neck, then take a deep breath, his lips tightly pressed to the lips of the patient and to blow the air, exhale makes himself sick; repeat 2-3 injection and probe pulse; if the pulse appeared to continue breathing until the restoration of spontaneous breathing or the arrival of an ambulance, if not, start heart massage;
• restore blood flow circulation through chest compressions, squeezing the heart between the sternum and the spine: a hand to impose on the lower third of the sternum top - second hand, push it straight arms, using the full weight of the body; make 12 quick pressure on the sternum, then - two breaths, and so on; under the shoulders of the patient is necessary to put a roller (eg, clothing) to straighten the position of the head kept.

As our heart is reduced

The human heart is reduced by the action of pulses that occur in its muscles. This property is called an automaton. The muscles that provide such properties to form in the heart of beams and nodes, all together it makes conducting system. Cardiac conduction system is presented:

• sinoatrial node (in the right atrium) - the source of the physiological cardiac rhythm, which runs to the branch node atrioventricular;
• atrioventricular node (in the atrial septum to the right), which are carried out by branch pulses to the ventricles; It can generate nerve impulses when not working atrionector.

In addition, the heart has additional pathways that connect the atria and ventricles to bypass the atrioventricular node, which are important during the pulses to the ventricles in case of defeat this site.

What beats, its types and causes

Beats - heart rhythm disturbance, characterized by the emergence of single or pair of premature heart beats (extrasystole), caused by the excitation of the myocardium. Three or more of the following one after the other beats are considered as short-term attack of paroxysmal tachycardia.

Depending on the place of occurrence of "excess" of nerve impulses to the atrial arrhythmia share, atrioventricular (nodal) and ventricular. In very rare cases, additional excitation occurs in a physiological pacemaker - the sinoatrial node.

Beats may occur from various causes: violation of the nervous regulation of cardiac activity, various diseases of the heart muscle, chronic poisoning by some poisons, and so on, as well as a combination of different reasons.

Arrythmia related to the nervous regulation of cardiac activity may occur after nervous stress, diseases of other internal organs (liver, stomach, and so on) or the defeat of the nervous system (eg trauma and brain tumors).

Inflammatory and dystrophic (for circulatory disorders) changes in the myocardium (heart muscle) can also cause the appearance of arrythmia. It may be myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), myocardial dystrophy (metabolic abnormalities in the heart muscle), ischemic heart disease Heart disease and heart attacks: that every woman should know , Heart defects Heart defects - time heals?   and so on.

The appearance of extrasystoles may occur to the damage ratio of ions of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium in myocardial cells and in the extracellular medium. Such disturbances adversely affect the conduction system of the heart.

As manifested arrhythmia

Generally, arrhythmias, even frequent, have no or little effect on hemodynamics (blood flow within the heart). This is explained by the fact that after the arrythmia is heartbeat increased strength.

Beats may be asymptomatic, and the patient learns about it only from the doctor. In some cases, the patient feels a push in the chest, pulsation in the epigastric region, and the fading sense of disruptions in the heart, resembling a rapid decrease in the sense of an aircraft or a lift. Sometimes there is a feeling of short, 1-2 seconds of cardiac arrest, followed by the sensation of a strong blow to the chest wall. In some cases, these feelings are accompanied by short-term acute pain in the heart.

With the defeat of myocardial arrhythmia accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath, weakness and dizziness Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet That due to the deterioration of blood supply to the brain.

Diagnosis of arrhythmia

Diagnosis is based on patient complaints, data on the presence of any heart disease Heart disease: prevention and prevention . Additionally performed electrocardiography. If the normal ECG does not reveal ekstasistoly then held daily minitorirovanie (ECG during the day). In addition, a comprehensive examination of the patient in order to identify the causes of arrhythmia.

Treatment of arrhythmia

Treatment of arrhythmia is to eliminate the underlying disease and to restore normal heart rhythm.

Atrial and atrioventricular and ventricular arrythmia I and II degree, which do not cause unpleasant effects in patients, treatment can not be. If a patient feels unpleasant phenomena of the heart with waves, he prescribed anti-anxiety medications.

In cases where the treatment of the underlying disease does not resolve the beats, are appointed by antiarrhythmic drugs. They matched each patient individually, taking into account all the peculiarities of a particular drug. Treatment of chronic leaking arrhythmia should be constant, since after the abolition of the received funds arrhythmia usually renewed.

Attention! When the "extra" heartbeats should immediately consult a doctor, as they may be a sign of serious heart disease.

  Galina Romanenko