Sinus arrhythmia
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Sinus arrhythmia is a pathological condition in which an irregular heartbeat is observed in a person (both an adult and a child). An incorrect sinus rhythm consists of periods of deceleration (bradycardia) and increased frequency (tachycardia) of cardiac strokes. In general, "arrhythmia" is called a group of heart diseases, which are united by a violation of the sequence, frequency and rhythm of the heartbeats. The diagnosis of the disease is determined depending on the specifics of such disorders.
With sinus arrhythmia, there are no equal intervals between cardiac contractions. For healthy people, such a process is quite normal, but sometimes it can indicate the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemia, rheumatism and even a heart attack. An incorrect sinus rhythm occurs with excessive use of medications and neuroses. For an accurate definition of the causes of this condition, it is necessary to consult a cardiologist who will prescribe a test, including an ECG, and after diagnosis will choose the optimal treatment regimen.
Code for micro-10
Sinus arrhythmia is included in the grouping of diseases of the 10th revision, i.e. Has the code on mb 10. What does this abbreviation mean? ICD is an International Classification of Diseases, which has been specifically developed by WHO and since 2007 is a generally accepted classification designed to encode various medical diagnoses.
ICD-10 consists of the 21st section, each of which contains subsections with the codes of diseases and pathological conditions of different etiologies. Disorders of cardiac activity are most often associated with malfunctions in the conductivity of the conductive myocardium system. According to the results of electrocardiography, the classification of cardiac arrhythmias consists of the following nosologies:
- sinus arrhythmias,
- paroxysmal tachycardia,
- extrasystole,
- flicker and flutter of the atria,
- blockade.
To accurately diagnose diseases associated with violations of the heart muscle, it is mandatory to undergo a medical examination with a cardiologist. Only by ECG results can the type of disease be determined with accuracy, and also the degree of its neglect. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe an effective treatment with the use of medications and other methods.
Causes of sinus arrhythmia
Sinus arrhythmia can occur in people of different age categories. Very often, heart rhythm disturbances are manifestations of various diseases, as well as the result of intoxication of the body or neurotic states.
The causes of sinus arrhythmia are very diverse:
- neurocircular dystonia;
- lack of magnesium or potassium in the blood;
- osteochondrosis;
- amyloid dystrophy;
- supercooling;
- oxygen starvation;
- failures in the thyroid gland;
- hypertension;
- hormonal disorders;
- anemia;
- diseases of the spine;
- liver disease;
- excessive physical and psycho-emotional loads;
- acidemia;
- typhus, brucellosis;
- hypervagonia.
An accurate diagnosis will help the ECG. It should be emphasized that cardiac irregularities related to sinus rhythm disturbances are often observed at a young age and are not pathologies (if the oscillation index does not exceed 10%). For example, cardiac arrhythmia occurs in children who have had an infectious or inflammatory disease. However, the true cause of such conditions can only be established by medical examination, since uneven heart muscle contractions can signal serious health problems such as cardiosclerosis, rheumatism, ischemia, and infarction.
Pathogenesis
Sinus arrhythmia can develop as a result of malfunctions in the heart muscle. This is often the result of ischemic disease: as a result of poor supply of myocardium oxygen develops hypoxia, which is accompanied by pain in the heart.
The pathogenesis of sinus arrhythmia is often associated with heart failure, which is accompanied by a disruption in the function of pumping blood. Congenital and acquired heart defects and myocarditis can also negatively affect the contraction of the heart muscle. For one reason or another, a certain function is violated (or several functions at once):
- automatism,
- excitability,
- contractility,
- aberence,
- conductivity,
- refractoriness.
Arrhythmia can develop as a result of functional disorders or serious organic damage to the myocardium (the death of its parts during a heart attack). The state of the vegetative and nervous system also plays an important role in the development of this pathology. Strong emotional stress can quite cause changes, both in pace and in the rhythm of heartbeats. The exact diagnosis can be established only by a cardiologist on the basis of electrocardiographic data.
In adolescents, such conditions (fading of the heart, rapidity of the rhythm) are mainly observed during puberty. Their cause lies in the increase in the functions of hormone-producing organs (genital organs, thyroid gland, adrenal glands). Usually this arrhythmia is of a short duration and passes on its own after a while.
Reversible sinus arrhythmia can develop after the use of glycosides, diuretics, antiarrhythmics. Alcohol and smoking can cause heart rhythm disturbances, which become irreversible.
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia
Sinus arrhythmia manifests itself in violation of contractions of the cardiac muscle (a sharp increase in frequency and, conversely, slowing down the strokes).
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia are most often expressed as:
- shortness of breath, sensation of lack of air;
- tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
- the spread of pulsations throughout the body, including the abdomen and the temporal lobe;
- repeated attacks of severe weakness;
- pain in the chest (left half of the chest) or behind the breastbone as the main sign of ischemia;
- darkening in the eyes;
- dying of the heart, dizziness (with bradycardia);
- repeated attacks of loss of consciousness due to serious disorders of blood flow, which lead to oxygen starvation of the brain;
- abaissement of cuts and a sharp change in the pulse rate.
With moderate sinus arrhythmia, there is no significant symptomatology, therefore the diagnosis is performed by examination (ECG, Holter monitoring, ultrasound, ECHO-KG, hormones, blood biochemistry, urine), and also on the basis of patient complaints.
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia
Sinus arrhythmia, which has a pronounced symptomatology, requires timely diagnosis, the results of which will help to identify the main causes of the development of cardiac pathology, the type of violation of myocardial contractions, and also to determine the optimal scheme of treatment of the detected disease.
Diagnosis of sinus arrhythmia is performed in a medical institution using the following research methods:
- ECG,
- holter monitoring,
- Ultrasound of the heart,
- ECHO-KG,
- Biochemical analyzes (if necessary).
In medical examination, it is important to collect an anamnesis, examine the appearance of the patient, skin, carry out pulse diagnosis. Monitoring with the help of a holter (daily electrocardiogram) is carried out with the help of portable devices that are attached to the patient's body and record ECG during the day. Less commonly used electrophysiological examination, in which the electrodes are injected directly into the heart muscle.
Who to contact?
Treatment of sinus arrhythmia
Sinus arrhythmia requires medical treatment aimed at the elimination of concomitant diseases that violate the heart rhythm. Such diseases include cardiosclerosis, heart failure, thyrotoxicosis, etc.
Treatment of sinus arrhythmia in advanced cases (when the heart rate = less than 50 per min.) Is to perform a surgical operation (installation of a pacemaker).
Traditional therapy includes:
- a diet rich in fiber, as well as calcium, potassium and magnesium;
- stress limitation;
- balanced load and normal sleep;
- observance of the working and rest regime;
- sedatives: Novopassit, Motherwort, Corvalol, Glycine, Pantogam, Cetirizine (with emotional instability and VSD);
- Anaprilin, Kordaron, Verapamil (with pronounced tachycardia);
- Itrop, Eufillin (with bradycardia);
- taking multivitamins (magnesium sulfate, potassium asparcam);
- Quinidine, Novokainamid or Potassium Chloride (for the removal of cardiac fibrillation and flutter);
- intravenous atropine injections (with prolonged course of the disease);
- adrenaline (in conduction disorders);
- phytotherapy (sage, chamomile, raspberry leaf);
- Physiotherapy without the use of current (Magnetolaser).
Prevention
Sinus arrhythmia caused by any cardiac disease requires its immediate treatment. Naturally, any disease is best prevented by taking care of your health in advance.
Prevention of sinus arrhythmia includes the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, the limitation of stressful situations, control over the work of the nervous system. Strengthening the myocardium is facilitated by moderate physical activity, for example, daily exercise, walking and jogging in the fresh air, swimming.
With alcohol and smoking, there is an aggravation of sinus arrhythmia. Also, the function of the heart is negatively affected by the deposition of fat cells on the walls of the coronary arteries. It is advisable to get rid of extra pounds as soon as possible, because this pathology increases the load on the heart muscle, as well as the sinus rhythm driver.
An important aspect is adherence to the rules of rational nutrition: frequent use of fatty and sweet foods provokes the accumulation of fatty plaques in the vessels, which can lead to a lack of blood supply to the muscle fibers and even a heart attack. A healthy sleep (not less than 8 hours) contributes to the full restoration of the body and, accordingly, the normal functioning of the heart.
Sports and sinus arrhythmia
Sinus arrhythmia requires a revision of the lifestyle, in particular, the rejection of bad habits. Useful daily physical activity of medium intensity, as well as swimming, walking, uncomplicated complexes of morning exercises.
Sports and sinus arrhythmia of the non-respiratory type are incompatible concepts, especially if a person is engaged in running, skiing, cycling, rowing, etc. Active training with high loads can lead to complication of the course of the disease and undesirable consequences. An exception is only an arrhythmia of the respiratory type, which does not pose a serious danger or threat to human health. Sports can then be held in the usual way, however, it is recommended that the cardiologist is constantly monitored and ECG is given every three months for the timely detection and prevention of the development of more serious diseases.
In any case, only a doctor's consultation will help determine the limitations of physical activity. The results of the medical examination will show whether there is a disease that threatens human health, and whether to give up training.
Forecast
Sinus arrhythmia with timely diagnosis is quickly and safely treated, unless it is caused by organic impairments in the work of the heart muscle, which require immediate surgical intervention.
The prognosis of sinus arrhythmia is generally favorable, especially for the respiratory type, which is often found in children during puberty. If this condition is a sign of a serious heart pathology, the outcome will directly depend on the course and severity of the disease.
The prognosis for ischemic heart disease, which is accompanied by disturbances in the rhythm of the myocardium, is determined by the type of arrhythmia. Tachycardia or bradycardia does not have a significant effect on the development of IHD, if there are no clinical manifestations.
The outcome of a heart attack may depend on many factors. Important in this case is the age of the patient. According to statistical data, in patients of advanced age (from 60 years), mortality as a result of myocardial infarction reaches 39% and above, and at the age of 40 years - only 4%. This factor is influenced by factors such as lung disease, stroke, widespread atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, pathology of veins, etc.
Sinus arrhythmia and the army
Sinus arrhythmia is common in young men of pre-conscription age. Hence the question arises about their suitability for military service.
Sinus arrhythmia and the army - are these concepts consistent? In part, everything depends on the decision of the medical commission, as well as the general well-being of the person. If the disturbance of the heart rhythm is not caused by a serious heart pathology, the young man is naturally called into the army.
Dangerous to health are:
- attacks of flutter and atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal tachycardia;
- syndrome of weakness of the sinus node;
- attacks of Adams-Stokes-Morgagni;
- some forms of ventricular extrasystole.
If the results of the ECG show the presence of such types of arrhythmia, the man needs treatment, because with these pathologies complications can arise. Their development is associated with myocarditis, cardiosclerosis, pre-infarction. Symptom of paroxysmal tachycardia is a sharp increase in heart rate, which causes fear, a panic attack. Because of poor blood supply to the brain, dizziness, weakness, severe shortness of breath, on the face appears cyanosis (in the nasolabial triangle). The presence of these diseases significantly reduces the quality of life. A person can hardly walk.
After the course of treatment, the medical board decides on the issue with the army - if the results of therapy are positive and the patient can cope with military duties, he can be enlisted in the army and examined under item "B".