The heart is
the muscular organ in humans as well as other animals that is responsible for
pumping blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system in our body.
It is known as one of the most important organs of the body, and is located in
the middle compartment of the mediastinum in the chest.
Our hearts can
beat up to 100000 times a day, totaling 3 billion heartbeats during an average
lifetime. About the size of a fist, it has four chambers, each performing their
own function in order to circulate blood in the body. Sometimes due to various
reasons, the heart rate can become disturbed, becoming too fast or slow.
This condition
is medically known as arrhythmia and it is not life-threatening, but
the process of cardioversion can determine irregularities within the heart.
Normal heart rate if there are no health complications?
Each heartbeat
starts in an area of the heart known as the sinus node, which is present in the
upper right side of the heart chamber. An organized electrical signal is sent
from the heart that results in a heartbeat perfectly timed and rhythmic in nature.
Normal heart
rate is important in order to avoid fatigue and shortness of breath while doing
physical activities. Cardioversion is a corrective procedure where an
electrical shock is delivered to the person for the purpose of conversion, and
changing the abnormal heart rhythm back to its sinus rhythm. It is usually used
to treat people who have:
● Atrial fibrillation
● Abnormal rhythms (due to faintness,
low blood pressure, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or loss of
consciousness)
● Bradycardia (beating of heart too
slow)
How is Cardioversion Performed?
There
are two types of cardioversion performed, based on patient condition and need.
● Chemical
Cardioversion: To
restore the heart’s normal rhythm, antiarrhythmic medications are used by
professionals. The medication is given to the patient depending on the severity
of symptoms, and underlying heart disease. They are administered through an
I.V. and the procedure is usually done in hospitals. This is the first procedure offered.
● Electrical
Cardioversion: If
the chemical cardioversion does not prove fruitful, than electrical
cardioversion is used. An electric current utilized to reset the rhythm of the
heart back to a regular pattern. The success of electrical cardioversion
depends on how long you had atrial fibrillation and the factors causing it. If
the atrial fibrillation persists for over a year, then the success rate of the
procedure is reduced.
When to Undergo Cardioversion
The
doctor will perform a physical examination that involves using a stethoscope
for listening to heart rate. For getting better information, the EKG machine might also be utilized to
examine the electrical impulses of the heart. An EKG machine can determine
whether your heart rhythm is abnormal or not, and can identify the cause.
If
rhythm is abnormal, then a doctor might prescribe the patient to undergo the
procedure of cardioversion.
It is advisable to meet with your
doctor or cardiologist
in order gain a better understand of cardioversion, and if you quality for the
procedure.
