Extrasystolic arrhythmia (or extrasystolic contraction) is a common form of arrhythmia, in which the heart makes extra beats outside the normal rhythm. These extra contractions can occur either in the ventricles of the heart (known as ventricular extrasystoles) or in the atria (known as atrial extrasystoles) and are not coordinated with the normal functioning of the heart.
This is an abnormality in the heart rhythm. If the contractions are isolated and not related to other heart diseases, they are not a cause for concern. They can be annoying, but most of the time, they are not dangerous. However, in some cases they can cause discomfort or be an indication of other heart diseases, which is why the following symptoms should be checked by a Cardiologist.
Such symptoms are:
- The heart makes “strange beats” or beats very loudly or irregularly.
- Feeling that the heart “misses” a beat or makes an extra contraction.
Extrasystolic arrhythmia can be caused by:
- Excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol, intense physical exercise, mental stress..
- However, it can also be caused by other heart diseases such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, cardiomyopathy or other cardiac disorders.
It can come from disturbances in the levels of potassium, calcium or sodium in the blood, from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, from the use of certain medications or drugs. - Some people may be genetically more prone to extrasystolic arrhythmias.
A visit to the Cardiologist is mainly valuable in terms of prevention, in case it is due to another heart condition. Otherwise, extrasystolic arrhythmias do not require special medical intervention. If the arrhythmia is a consequence of another disease, the other disease is treated. Only then, may the administration of antiarrhythmic drugs be required to regulate the extrasystoles.
In severe cases, where the arrhythmia is frequent or dangerous, electroanatomical mapping of the heart and ablation with high-frequency current (Ablation) of the arrhythmogenic focus are necessary to restore the normal cardiac rhythm.
