Medical expert of the article
New publications
Symptoms of 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If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia occur in people of different age groups and are directly related to malfunctions in the work of the myocardium, i.e. Disorders of the heart rhythm. When changes in the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle, there are "fading" of the heart, shortness of breath, lack of air and dizziness. Common signs and weaknesses are general weakness and fainting. Because of unpleasant symptoms, which in part resemble a heart attack, a person can have a panic attack, a sense of fear and anxiety.
Sinus arrhythmia often develops as a result of the body's reaction to stress, excessive physical exertion, overwork. In this case, cardiac contractions occur at unequal intervals of time. A person feels that the heart "stops", stops, and then starts to beat faster. Sometimes there is pain in the left side of the sternum, giving in the arm. The causes of this condition can serve as neuroses, emotional exhaustion, diseases of internal organs, various pathologies of the heart. Precise diagnosis is possible only in a medical setting. At the first signs it is necessary to address to the cardiologist for an establishment of the true reason of an arrhythmia. This will help the electrocardiogram and other methods of medical research.
The first signs of sinus arrhythmia
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia are varied and depend on the frequency of contraction of the heart muscle.
The first signs of sinus arrhythmia:
- palpitations or "fading" of the heart;
- pain on the left side of the chest;
- inability to take a full breath;
- dyspnea;
- pulse in the region of the temples;
- attacks of severe weakness;
- dizziness;
- fainting and fainting.
All of the above symptoms are associated with the appearance of large gaps between contractions of the heart muscle, as well as the appearance of a blockade at the exit from the atrial node. It happens that sinus arrhythmia is provoked by drug exposure (the use of cardioactive and antiarrhythmic drugs). Such pathology can develop due to neuroses, neurocircular dystonia, intoxication of the body. Another reason is the lack of magnesium and potassium in the blood. As a result of lack of useful substances and oxygen, the heart muscle is not able to completely relax and is poorly reduced. Comparing and analyzing data on heart rate allows ECG.
Violation of the rhythm can provoke diseases of the spine, thyroid gland, oxygen starvation, osteochondrosis, anemia, liver disease, hormonal disorders, increased blood pressure, acidemia. At a young age, interruptions in the sinus heart rate, reflected on the breath, are considered natural. In children, sinus arrhythmia can occur after the transfer of infectious or inflammatory diseases. However, it should be noted that uneven myocardial contractions also occur in case of serious malfunction of the cardiovascular system. They can testify to ischemic disease, the development of rheumatism, heart attack or cardiosclerosis. If the cardiac 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 alarmed by tachycardia, which persists at rest, as it can indicate various diseases associated with cardiac dysfunction. If the patient complains of fasting palpitations at rest, which is accompanied by shortness of breath and a sense of lack of air, there is reason to sound an alarm.
Sinus arrhythmia at rest can signal the presence of the following diseases:
- hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease);
- acute vascular insufficiency;
- anemia (anemia);
- some forms of IRR;
- chronic heart failure;
- cardiomyopathy;
- acute myocarditis;
- myocardial infarction and other serious pathologies.
In a healthy person in a calm state, there is always a certain irregularity in the sinus rhythm. If the difference between abbreviations is more than 10%, this is a sinus arrhythmia. The reasons for its occurrence can be harmless, i.e. Not to cause any complications. But in some cases, such conditions (rapidity and slowdown of heart rate) indicate serious ailments that can threaten the health and even human life. Diagnosis of arrhythmia will help ECG, as well as other methods of medicine. In any case, when observing symptoms of sinus rhythm disturbance, it is recommended to visit a cardiologist who will send for examination in order to identify the main causes of sinus arrhythmia and its severity.
Sinus arrhythmia during sleep
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can arise for a number of reasons. This pathology can manifest at night and be triggered by the so-called "obstructive sleep apnea syndrome" (ie, bouts 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, with a 30% decrease in cardiac contractions. If this indicator changes (decreases to 10%), there is a reason to talk about serious violations in the work of the myocardium.
The syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea provokes a stressful reaction of the human body to the process of stopping the breathing, which increases the load on the heart muscle, oxygen starvation develops. It should be noted that almost all types of arrhythmias can result from apnea, and their number increases as the degree of severity of the syndrome increases. Such respiratory disorders, naturally, have a negative impact on the work of the myocardium and lead to a partial or complete depletion of its resources, a general deterioration in the human 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 entry of oxygen into the lungs. In this case, the sleeping person has multiple stops of breathing. Often, apnea syndrome is a complicated form of snoring and causes sinus arrhythmia.
Manifestation of arrhythmias due to apnea can become a factor in the risk of sudden death during sleep, so it is so important to detect pathology in time and to prescribe competent treatment, in particular, to apply CPAP therapy.
Sinus arrhythmia in the child
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia in children are often associated with breathing and do not pose a health hazard. This is a "respiratory arrhythmia", the origin of which is associated with a reflex increase in heart rate with inspiration and a decrease in exhalation.
Sinus arrhythmia in a child often indicates the immaturity of his nervous system. Episodes of sinus rhythm disturbance occur in newborns with postnatal encephalopathy, rickets or intracranial hypertension, as well as in premature infants. In children with excess weight (obesity), sinus arrhythmia can occur with excessive physical exertion. It should be noted age periods of growing from 6 to 7 and from 9 to 10 years, when the vegetative system during rapid hormonal development does not have time to adapt to internal changes in the child's body. The older the child, the less likely he will have symptoms of sinus arrhythmia, since at 10 years of age the maturation of the autonomic nervous system is coming to the end.
As for the arrhythmia of the non-respiratory type, such a disorder can be of a constant or paroxysmal nature and is most often not associated with a particular heart disease. Most likely, it is caused by other pathological processes: hereditary predisposition, infectious diseases, vegetovascular dystonia, myocarditis of bacterial or viral etiology. Heart rhythm disorders in children are associated with rheumatism, angina, congenital heart defects. Precise diagnosis is possible only in a medical setting.
Usually, sinus arrhythmia (especially the respiratory type) does not cause the child any negative sensations. Of the complaints can be noted the increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, fatigue, pain in the heart, dyspnea, swelling, dizziness. If these symptoms are severe and persistent, 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 ultrasound of the heart, an electrocardiographic examination of the control type, as well as a blood test and other studies, which will reveal the abnormalities that caused sinus rhythm disturbances.
Sinus arrhythmia in newborns
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can be observed in newborns in the first 3 days from the time of birth. They are a reflection of cardiac or non-cardiac pathological processes. Deviations in the rhythm of the heart, even the smallest, can indicate a severe organic damage to this organ. Unfortunately, often cardiac arrhythmias may not appear as clinical symptoms, but result in sudden death due to cardiac arrest. That is why a screening electrocardiographic examination plays the most important role in the diagnostic process.
Sinus arrhythmia in newborns can have a transitory character and provoke the formation of a persistent pathological process that adversely affects the development of the baby. To the violation of sinus rhythm in infants most often result:
- organic defeats of the heart muscle in the form of malformations, tumors, inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the myocardium;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- disturbance of water-electrolyte metabolism (metabolic shifts);
- systemic (autoimmune) diseases that develop in the body of the mother and fetus;
- diabetes.
Of the other pathologies that are related to sinus arrhythmia in newborns, hypo- and hyperthermia, the effects of certain drugs, thyroid disease, and the autonomic and central nervous system as a result of birth trauma or intrauterine hypoxia can be noted.
Sinus arrhythmia in pregnancy
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can be observed in expectant mothers due to the double burden on the heart. Of course, the emergence of such a pathology negatively affects the condition of a woman. Attacks of heart palpitations, dyspnoea, dizziness cause discomfort, and in severe cases may become harbingers of a threat to the life of the mother and child.
Sinus arrhythmia during pregnancy can be manifested for the following reasons:
- various diseases of the heart, central nervous system or blood vessels;
- heredity;
- failures in the endocrine system;
- problems in the work of the digestive tract;
- external factors (malnutrition, bad habits, psycho-emotional and physical stress);
- respiratory diseases;
- disturbed metabolism.
If a pregnant woman has an extrasystole, then she does not feel any tangible discomfort. Is that sometimes a woman feels uneven heart work and chest pain. If the future mother has atrial fibrillation, it can lead to hypoxia in the fetus, which is a threat of termination of pregnancy as a miscarriage. Sinus form of arrhythmia indicates the development of a more serious disease and causes a special danger in those cases when accompanied by deterioration of the general condition, darkening of the eyes, dizziness and sudden fainting, severe shortness of breath. The approach to treatment of this type of arrhythmia should be competent and accurate, since it is undesirable to take medications during pregnancy.
Sinus arrhythmia and bradycardia
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia often manifest against a background of slow heart rate, i.e., bradycardia. This type of arrhythmia is accompanied by a heart rate of less than 60 bpm. And can occur in athletes, pregnant women, as well as during a night's sleep. Physiological bradycardia has a non-permanent character, - with increased physical exertion, there is an increase in heart rate. This factor makes it possible to distinguish sinus bradycardia from a more dangerous pathology - atrioventricular blockade, which is characterized by slowing of the heart rhythm even after a strong physical load.
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 the patient beta-blockers, antiarrhythmic and sedative drugs. If the main cause of the pathology is the circulatory system disease, against which the heart failure developed, the patient can be shown the use of a pacemaker.
In general, the causes of bradycardia may be organic heart lesions (most often irreversible) and imbalance that occurs when the activity of the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system increases. Neurogenic (vagus) form of bradycardia often combines with severe sinus arrhythmia and accompanies peptic ulcer, colic, neuroses with vagotonia, subarachnoid bleeding, vagoinsular crises, disruption of the endocrine system.
Sinus arrhythmia and tachycardia
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can be accompanied by tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), at which the heart rate reaches a mark of 90 strokes or more. The increase in rhythm in healthy people is of a physiological nature and is most often associated with the manifestation of anxiety, anxiety, and physical activity. If a strong heartbeat is observed in a state of complete rest, this is a disturbing signal.
Sinus arrhythmia and tachycardia are observed in such situations:
- with the development of anemia;
- with a fever of any etiology;
- with lung pathology, which is accompanied by respiratory failure;
- when there is an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system;
- in cases of increased adrenal and thyroid gland function;
- with excessive consumption of strong tea or coffee.
Sinus tachycardia often develops on the background of heart disease and cardiovascular system (for example, with heart failure, cardiomyopathy, myocardial defects). Among other reasons, it is possible to note the intake of certain medications, including anti-catarrhal agents of vasoconstrictive action.
Pathological sinus tachycardia is not considered to be an independent disease, however it causes significant harm both to the heart and the body. This is due to the fact that if the contractions are too frequent, the heart muscle does not have time to relax properly, and the rest period is shortened. In addition, the cells of the myocardium are not filled with a sufficient volume of blood, because of which the blood pressure decreases, and the amount of blood that feeds the internal organs and tissues decreases. When observing rapid heartbeats, you should immediately consult a cardiologist to find out the main cause of the problem and quickly eliminate it.
Sinus atrial fibrillation
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can be combined with signs of atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by the appearance of a large number of foci of excitement, leading to chaotic aberrations ("twinkling") of the fibers in the muscles of the auricle. In this case, a person has irregularities in the work of the heart, an irregular pulse appears and an accelerated heartbeat.
Sinus atrial fibrillation is often characterized by an impairment (ie, "deficiency") of the pulse. This condition is also observed with atrial flutter. Of the main causes of the development of atrial fibrillation, there are violations of electrolyte metabolism, 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. Usually paroxysms pass independently, but in some cases treatment with the use of medications is required.
"Atrial fibrillation" in most cases does not pose a particular threat to human life. However, if the pulse rate reaches a mark of 100-110 strokes, a person begins to feel bad. He has shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, pain in the heart (especially in elderly people).
Since these conditions worsen the work of the heart, then an acute form of heart failure can develop, which, in turn, can lead to a fatal complication - pulmonary edema. Violations of the heart rate are also dangerous because with fibrillation in the chambers of the myocardium microthrombi can be formed, which during the restoration of the rhythm are sharply thrown out of the heart muscle with blood flow and clog the passage, which will invariably lead to a stroke. With long-term observation of cardiac arrhythmias, changes occur in the myocardium itself: its envelope is stretched, 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. One can distinguish two types of arrhythmia in relation to the respiratory process: respiratory and arrhythmia, which occurs independently of respiration. In the first case, the amount of CC increases twofold with inspiration and decreases with exhalation. The cause of this condition is a violation of the blood filling of the heart chambers or an incorrect excitation of the vagus nerve. In addition, the causes may be stresses, physical overload, taking certain medications, hormonal failures in the body, smoking and drinking alcohol. Arrhythmia, not associated with breathing, most often manifested in the presence of heart disease, systemic and infectious diseases, intoxications, disorders in the thyroid gland, liver, as a result of brain tumors.
The degree of sinus arrhythmia can be determined by the severity of the disease. So, they distinguish pronounced sinus arrhythmia, which is most often observed in people of advanced age and is caused by heart diseases such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cardiac dystrophy and cardiosclerosis; and a moderate arrhythmia that occurs in children, adolescents and young people and does not have any significant symptoms.
By the quality of the rhythm, sinus tachycardia can be singled out separately, in which the heart rate exceeds 90 beats per minute, and sinus bradycardia (heart rate less than 60 beats per minute). There is also an extrasystole, in which an extraordinary contraction of the heart occurs against the background of a normal rhythm. The origin of this type is benign in nature and does not require special treatment.
Tachyarrhythmia is characterized by rapid heart rate and occurs in patients with circulatory problems, the work of the autonomic nervous system, the thyroid gland. Bradyarrhythmia is accompanied by a delayed pulsation, weakness, dizziness, fainting (with a decrease in heart rate to 40 strokes). This pathology occurs with sclerotic changes in the myocardium, ischemia, oxygen starvation of the brain, disruptions in the endocrine system. Due to impaired cerebral circulation, angina pectoris may develop.
Mild sinus arrhythmia
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia generally determine the severity of the development of pathology. If violations in the sinus node are associated with hormonal changes in the body (for example, in adolescence or in menopausal women), then this is considered the norm. The difference in heart rate fluctuations in adolescents can be up to 20 bpm. And is caused by the uneven development of internal organs (that is, the volume of the heart of the growing organism "lags behind" the volume of the body). A mild degree of arrhythmia in most cases does not appear. The person only experiences the "fading" of the heart, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness and a sense of lack of air.
An easy sinus arrhythmia can be caused by an individual feature of the body, and also occurs as a result of natural aging of the body. Heart rhythm disorders are often associated with organ diseases (eg, hypothyroidism, hypertension, liver disease). As a result of neurocirculatory dystonia, disturbances occur in the functioning of the vegetative system, which provokes various cardiac disorders, including sinus arrhythmia. Despite the fact that a mild degree of arrhythmia does not cause any serious health problems, a visit to a doctor for advice still does not hurt. With the help of ECG and other diagnostic studies it will be possible to establish the nature of a sinusoidal arrhythmia - pathological or natural.
Sinus Arrhythmia 1 degree
Symptoms of a moderate degree of 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, palpitations and other symptoms do not go away, and are repeated more often, it is recommended to consult a doctor for help (diagnosis). Identify possible pathologies in the work of the heart will help ECG.
As a rule, a moderate degree of sinus arrhythmia is expressed in violations of breathing (hence the name "respiratory arrhythmia"). When you inhale, the number of heartbeats increases, and when you exhale - 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 in adolescence.
Sinus arrhythmia of the 1st degree manifests itself in the form of a pulse increase of up to 100 beats per minute. (tachycardia), or, conversely, its decrease to a mark of 50 strokes (bradycardia). Often a mild degree of arrhythmia occurs in adolescents during puberty, as well as in athletes, elderly people (during the aging of the body). If the symptoms are not particularly pronounced, there is no reason for concern. But still it is advisable to consult with a medical specialist about the state of health. Especially it concerns those cases when 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 signs as darkening in the eyes, chest pain, lack of air, which causes a feeling of fear of death, etc. Perhaps, to cope with such unpleasant sensations will help herbal remedies.
Sinus Arrhythmia of 2nd degree
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia of the 2nd 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, signs of heart failure appear. Dangerous are the states of severe tachycardia or, conversely, bradycardia, when the SS frequency reaches a mark of 40 strokes. In severe cases, this can lead to death. With neuroses, you can observe a pronounced sinus arrhythmia in combination with bradycardia, a pathological process that requires a competent approach to treatment.
Sinus arrhythmia of the 2nd degree often occurs in the elderly against the background of disturbances in the functioning of the myocardium due to aging of the body. If an arrhythmia of the first degree in most cases is not a cause for concern, then a severe arrhythmia can be a threat to human health, because it is associated with clinical manifestations - it must be treated.
The main attention should be paid to the treatment of the underlying disease, which caused sinus arrhythmia. Most often - organic heart diseases that cause arrhythmic impulses in the sinus node (such violations can be seen when passing an electrocardiogram). Usually, treatment includes taking magnesium and potassium preparations (eg, Panangin). The complex of therapy includes the reduction of physical exertion, strict adherence to diet, and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. Exacerbation of the disease provoke bad habits (smoking, alcohol), as well as high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight.
Severe sinus arrhythmia
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia can have a pronounced character. In such a case, it is very important to conduct a timely diagnosis in order to identify the exact cause of such a pathology and to prescribe an effective treatment. Signs of dizziness, dyspnea, chest pain, frequent fainting, fatigue should be distinguished from signs of severe sinus arrhythmia, which should alert a person. It is important not to start the disease, but immediately go to a medical institution for examination of the heart, as well as internal organs and systems.
Severe sinus arrhythmia requires an attentive approach to diagnosis. With the help of ECG, the presence of arrhythmic impulses in the sinus node is determined. After the examination, the doctor can prescribe to the patient potassium and magnesium preparations (for example, Panangin). It is very important during the treatment period to observe a diet, reduce physical activity, completely abandon bad habits.
Usually, with pronounced sinus arrhythmia, there are problems with breathing: with inspiration, the frequency of contractions increases, and with exhalation decreases. Thus, fear and panic can arise due to unpleasant sensations of heartbeat or heartbeat. Often this pathology is observed in children during puberty, which is associated with instability in the work of the autonomic nervous system. With neuroses sinus arrhythmia occurs against the background of a bradycardia. In any case, with expressed 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, as any deviations in the work of the heart lead to a deterioration in the overall state of human health, and also increase the risk of death. The most frequent manifestations of cardiac arrhythmia are weakness in the body, dizziness, sensations of uneven heart function ("fading", heart palpitations), nausea, fainting, painful spasms in the chest.
The consequences of sinus arrhythmia can be different. With a mild form, the signs pass by themselves, without affecting the work 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. Cardiac blockade as a type of arrhythmia can lead to cerebral ischemia. Extrasystolia can cause the development of tachycardia, as well as cardiac dysfunction due to a strong excess of heart rate (more than 200 strokes). In severe cases this can lead to death.
To assess the severity and danger of sinus arrhythmia is rather difficult due to its "wave-like" manifestation, which causes difficulty in conducting the diagnosis. Violations of the rhythm lead to oxygen starvation of the myocardium, and also have a detrimental effect on the work of the brain, respiratory organs, and the nervous system.
Acute arrhythmia provokes the development of pathologies of irreversible action that are not amenable to treatment, but only bring the moment of death closer. Unfortunately, arrhythmic attacks are characterized by surprise and spontaneity. It is impossible to predict when an attack can occur - at rest, during a walk or at work.
[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]
Complications of sinus arrhythmia
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia should not go unnoticed, because in some cases, malfunctioning of the myocardium adversely affects 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 a background of atrial fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation can occur with severe forms of heart disease. In young people, such a pathology develops most often with congenital defects of the mitral valve, in elderly people the most frequent causes of atrial fibrillation are thyrotoxicosis, ischemic heart disease, alcoholism. This kind of arrhythmia promotes the growth of heart failure, and also causes a tendency to thromboembolic complications. Diagnosis of the pathology of the heart is carried out using electrocardiography, electrophysiological study, Holter monitoring.
Symptoms of sinus arrhythmia, especially those that often recur and worsen a person's condition, should be detected in time. The goal of the doctor is to prescribe the most effective treatment for restoring the right rhythm of the heart. Usually in such cases, antiarrhythmic drugs are administered, which are administered intravenously. Antiarrhythmic therapy is abstained in the event that the seizures are rare. Surgical treatment is indicated only for severely ill patients.
Who to contact?