Beware Of Unnormal Heart Irama And Its Impact

JAKARTA - A heart rhythm disorder, or known as arrhythmia, is a medical condition where the heart rate does not run properly. Heart rhythm can become too fast, too slow, or irregular.

One type of arrhythmia that is often found and is at high risk of health is Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT).

This condition can be experienced by anyone, from children to the elderly, and if not treated, it can endanger lives.

According to dr. Dony Yugo Hermanto, Sp.JP(K), FIHA, an arithmetic subspecialist heart and blood vessel specialist from Siloam TB Simatupang Hospital, SVT can cause serious complications such as heart failure, stroke, and death.

"In general, arrhythmias are divided into three types, namely: heart rhythms that are faster than normal (tachycardia), slower than normal (bradycardia), and irregular rhythms (flutters)," said Dr. Dony as quoted by ANTARA.

To find out the heartbeat, a person can place his finger on the wrist in the pulse area, calculate the number of pulses for 15 seconds, then multiply it by four. That way, we can estimate a heartbeat per minute or beats per minute (bpm).

The range of heart rate while resting varies depending on age. For example, newborns generally range from 100 to 160 bpm, while in adolescents and young adults, the normal number is in the range of 60 to 100 bpm.

With age, the range of heart rate when physical activity also changes, and the maximum heart rate generally decreases gradually.

SVT itself is characterized by a very fast heart rate, often exceeding 150 bpm, which can occur suddenly even in a calm state. An increased heart rate after exercise is a natural thing, but if a sudden appearance without physical activity and lasts a long time, this condition should be watched out for. SVT can be caused by changes in the heart structure due to the aging process, or an abnormality in the heart electrical system.

Some people who experience SVT may only feel discomfort in the chest without realizing that their heart rate is increasing drastically. The SVT episode usually lasts in a short time, about two to three hours, and often subsides by itself. During attacks, sufferers can experience vomiting or cough reflex.

If not handled properly, SVT can cause harmful complications. In some cases, heart rate can spike to a very high level that causes loss of consciousness.

Under certain conditions, especially in individuals with a heart-electric system disorder since birth, a heart rate can reach 300 bpm, which is at risk of causing sudden death. In addition, long-lasting heart rhythm disorders can also trigger more severe conditions such as atrial fibrillation, which is associated with the risk of heart failure and stroke.

One effective treatment method for SVT is an ablation procedure. This action aims to stop abnormal electrical activity in the heart by destroying the network that causes the disturbance.

Ablation is carried out using a catheter inserted through a large blood vessel at the groin and directed towards the heart. With the help of radio frequency energy, the problematic tissue will be heated so that it will no longer interfere with heart rhythm.

This ablation procedure has a high success rate of around 90 to 95 percent. This action can be done in various age ranges, ranging from children aged five to the elderly over 70 years old. Although the procedure is relatively minimally invasive and does not require large surgery, there are still risks that must be considered.

If the network that needs to be probed is located close to the main path of the heart electric system, then the action risks disrupting the natural conduction function of the heart. In cases like this, doctors may recommend installing a pacemaker to maintain the stability of the heart rate.

In addition to the risk of disruption to the main power system, the groin area where the catheter enters can also experience swelling after the procedure. However, with advances in medical technology, this risk can be minimized.

Currently, ablation actions can be carried out with the help of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) heart mapping. 3D technology allows for a more detailed visualization of the heart structure, making it very useful for complex SVT cases.