Treatment of extrasystole

Extrasystole is a heart rhythm disorder resulting from premature heartbeats, after which the heart pauses for a few seconds and then returns to its normal rhythm. Normally, the regularity of heart contractions is controlled by the sinus node, which generates electrical impulses. These impulses travel through the atria down to the ventricles and ensure their contraction. In extrasystole, the electrical impulse originates not in the sinus node but in the ventricle, atrium, or another part of the heart, which provokes a premature contraction and disrupts the normal rhythm.

Cardiac extrasystole is the most common type of arrhythmia. It occurs even in completely healthy people. In most cases, extrasystoles appear rarely, after physical exertion, stress, or coffee consumption, and do not pose a threat to a person’s health and life.

Pathological extrasystole is diagnosed when heart rhythm disturbances occur frequently, are accompanied by deterioration of well-being, and are present in patients with heart and vascular diseases. In such cases, extrasystole may cause atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest. With timely diagnosis and treatment, extrasystole can be controlled, and despite the diagnosis, a person can lead a полноценный lifestyle.

During an extrasystole attack, the patient experiences only some of these symptoms. They may depend on the underlying disease. In particular, with cerebral atherosclerosis, dizziness occurs more often, and with cardiac ischemia — angina.

Extrasystole may develop at any age, including in young children. In infants, the condition may be suspected due to changes in pulse, refusal to feed, sleep disturbances, irritability, etc. In older children, the symptoms may be similar to those in adults.

Physiological extrasystole, which occurs rarely and is not felt, is most often not dangerous. The risk of complications arises with frequent and severe attacks, as well as in the presence of other heart diseases.

Extrasystole may provoke:

• atrial fibrillation;

• paroxysmal tachycardia;

• ventricular fibrillation;

• worsening of heart failure;

• sudden cardiac arrest.

Extrasystole is a type of arrhythmia and may lead to more severe forms of heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation. In such cases, the heart cannot contract normally and pump the necessary amount of blood throughout the body. Extrasystole also worsens the course of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases.

The most dangerous complication is cardiac arrest. Its risk is higher in patients with chronic diseases, but it is not excluded in healthy individuals. With extrasystole, it is important to monitor well-being more carefully, take the treatment prescribed by a doctor, and avoid excessive physical exertion and emotional stress.

Extrasystole is treated in different ways, and in some cases therapy is not required at all. If the patient is healthy, extrasystoles occur rarely and do not cause discomfort, only regular examinations may be prescribed. In this case, the number of extrasystoles per day should be less than 200.

In other cases, extrasystole is usually treated with medication. The patient is prescribed drugs to normalize heart rhythm, blood pressure, and to treat the underlying disease that provokes extrasystole. If it is caused by emotional stress, sedatives or antidepressants may be effective. In cases of hormonal disorders, consultation with an endocrinologist and appropriate treatment are required. In most cases, extrasystole develops against the background of other diseases, which is why thorough diagnostics and the correct choice of therapy are so important.

In severe forms of extrasystole, surgical treatment may be required. It is used when extrasystoles occur frequently, disrupt heart function, and cause complications. In such cases, ablation may be necessary — targeted cauterization of the tissues where pathological impulses originate. The procedure is usually performed using a minimally invasive method — a catheter is inserted into the heart through large blood vessels.

Surgery may also be required in cases of heart defects and certain other diseases.