6 Ways to Treat Arrhythmia

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Heart palpitations, or arrhythmia, might make you feel like your heart is hammering or your chest is fluttering. 

Sometimes certain lifestyle factors may result in irregular heartbeat, but still, there may be an underlying medical issue.

Stopping heart palpitations may be as simple as changing one's lifestyle or treating the underlying issue.

Read on to find out more about irregular heartbeat treatment.

1. Perform relaxation techniques

Stress can have a variety of detrimental consequences on one's health. It has the potential to cause or worsen palpitations.

Some people may find the following relaxation techniques helpful: meditation, yoga, exercising, or spending time outdoors.

2. Hawthorn

Palpitations are frequently treated using the herb hawthorn. According to the Lahey Clinic, this herb was prominent in ancient Roman ceremonies and has been used to cure a range of diseases, including cardiac disorders, since the Middle Ages. It is now used to treat congestive heart failure and may help with irregular heartbeats; however, research on its usefulness in treating arrhythmia is equivocal.

3. Magnesium and potassium

Magnesium and potassium aid in the stabilization of your heart. A lack of magnesium can result in an erratic heartbeat, muscle weakness, and irritability. Too much magnesium can result in the following:

- blurred vision

- dizziness

- bradycardia

- breathing difficulty

Most people's diets are deficient in magnesium. Aging and some drugs, such as diuretics or "water pills," can lower magnesium and potassium levels. Low potassium can also cause arrhythmia and muscle weakness.

Magnesium and potassium, as well as sodium and calcium, are examples of electrolytes found in the blood. Electrolytes help to activate and control electrical impulses in the heart, and low magnesium and potassium levels can result in an electrolyte imbalance, which can contribute to arrhythmia. Taking magnesium and potassium supplements can help alleviate your symptoms, but you should consult your doctor first so that your blood levels can be monitored.

4. Vitamin C

Arrhythmias and other heart problems are linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E appear to be useful in lowering these.

Vitamin C can be used to treat colds, flu, and even cancer and can also aid with arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation, which causes an erratic, rapid heartbeat, affects 25 to 40% of persons after heart surgery. Vitamin C was found to lower the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation by up to 85 percent in one research.

5. Medication

Your doctor may prescribe some medicine to help you manage your arrhythmia and avoid problems such as a heart attack.

Most of the medications come in pill form, but some may come in intranasal or intravenous form for use during an emergency.

The medication they prescribe depends on the type of arrhythmia as well as other conditions you may have. Common medication types include:

- Calcium channel blockers. They can include amlodipine (Norvasc) and diltiazem (Cardizem CD), which help lower your blood pressure and heart rate. You can use them long-term.

- Beta-blockers. They slow your heart rate to treat tachycardia and may include acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), or other medications.

- Antiarrhythmic drugs. They can treat tachycardia and premature heartbeats and include amiodarone (Pacerone, Nexterone), propafenone (Rythmol SR), flecainide (Tambocor), and more. However, they may produce the potentially dangerous side effect of proarrhythmia, which can aggravate your arrhythmia or cause a new arrhythmia.

- Anticoagulants. They help prevent blood clots, which can result from atrial fibrillation. Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and other blood thinners are available in drugstores. Excessive or internal bleeding could be a negative effect.

Make sure to take medications as prescribed. Inform your doctor about any side effects, including any new arrhythmias or worsening of an existing arrhythmia.

6. Surgery

You may need a minor procedure or surgery if medication or other treatments aren’t enough to help your arrhythmia. Several procedures and implantable devices may help treat arrhythmia:

- Catheter ablation

- Pacemaker

- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

Surgery can also treat serious types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.