The week commencing 4th June marks World Heart Rhythm Week, an annual event that aims to raise awareness of the causes and symptoms of heart arrhythmia – both amongst medical professionals and the general public.
In the UK, more than 2 million patients are diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia – or irregular heartbeat – every year. The everyday lives of most people living with an arrhythmia remain largely undisrupted, as long as the symptoms are correctly recognised. Recognising the causes, risk factors and signs of heart arrhythmia can prevent you from developing a more serious health condition.
The risk of developing an arrhythmia increases in older patients. However, in addition to age and genetics, other causes of heart arrhythmia are far more manageable:
It is important to recognise that it is not always possible to prevent a heart arrhythmia from developing. An irregular heartbeat itself is not an indicator of poor health, however, making healthy lifestyle changes can help you minimise your risk of developing the condition.
Some people living with a heart arrhythmias have no symptoms. Conversely, symptoms of an irregular heartbeat do not necessarily mean that you have an arrhythmia. These symptoms include dizziness and/or fainting, a shortness of breath and palpitations.
If you think that you may have an arrhythmia, see your GP. They may well refer you for an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electrical recording of your heart rhythm.
If you want to monitor your heart rate at home, our finger pulse oximeter is great for monitoring your pulse and blood oxygen levels.
MySelfCare is inspired to bring more control, and total peace of mind to the lives of people who are living with long-term health conditions. We strive to provide effective self-care, our home health care devices give more control to patients and their loved ones by allowing them to effectively manage their health.