A new Do-IT-Youourse heart monitor, epatch by philips, is given to patients in the NHS to help diagnose heart rhythm problems.
Contrary to traditional supervision that requires specialized regulation and numerous wires, patients can be sent to their skin and connect it to your skin with ease of home. After a few days of wearing it, patients turn the patch back and then its data is analyzed by Cardiologs, an artificial intelligence tool, with a final examination by a physician.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation TRUST is the first hospital in the country to destroy the device, hoping that it will soon be used in other NHS trust.
This new device can be used to examine heart rhythm problems, known as arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation, tachycardia and heart blocks.
Arrhythmia can be available in various forms, so we were in contact with Dr. Oliver Segal, a cardiovascular and electrophysiologist at the Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, to find out how to identify and manage these conditions.
What is arrhythmia?
Segal explains: “Arrhythmia is a problem in the electrical system of the heart that controls heart control.” “Typically, electrical signals cause the heart to be beaten with a fixed rhythm.
“However, in the arrhythmia, these signals are irregular or disrupted and cause the heart to be too fast, too slow or beat in a rough pattern. It can affect the heart pump well around the body.”
What are the main types of arrhythmias?
“Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common serious arrhythmia, where the upper rooms (atrium) of the heart are beaten quickly and irregularly,” says Segal. “AF can significantly increase the risk of stroke and often occur without significant symptoms and makes screening important in some people.”
Brady cardi and tachycardia are also relatively common types of arrhythmia.
Segal explains: “Bradycardia is when the heart is too slow to be beaten that can cause fatigue, dizziness or fainting.” “While tachycardia is when the heart is beating very quickly. It can originate from the upper rooms (upper tachycardia) or the lower rooms (ventricular tachycardia), which can be more dangerous.
“Other arrhythmias include premature atrial or ventricular contractions (additional beats) and rare conditions such as ventricular fibrillation.”
What factors can contribute to heart rhythm problems?
“Risk factors include heart disease, hypertension (which can press the heart over time) and thyroid problems, especially an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism),” says Segal. “In addition, older age and family history can also increase your risk.”
Some lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking may also have an impact.
“Excessive alcohol, over -caffeine, smoking and recreational medications increase your risk,” says a cardiovascular specialist. “Stress and anxiety can also cause touch or arrhythmia.”
“Some prescription and non -prescription drugs can affect heart rhythm,” he said.
“However, sometimes arrhythmia occurs without obvious cause, which is referred to as idiopathic,” says Segal.
What are the symptoms?
Segal highlights: “Symptoms can vary but often include heart palpitations (a beat, race, irregular heartbeat) and / or dizziness or dizziness due to reduced blood flow to the brain.” “Other symptoms include shortness of breath (especially during physical activity), chest discomfort, fatigue or weakness caused by inefficient heart pumping, and the fainting or almost weakness.”
When should we contact our general practitioner about these symptoms?
Segal recommends: “If one experiences these symptoms regularly, especially if they worsen or interfere in everyday life, they should talk to their general practitioner.” “Experiments such as ECG or 24 -hour heart monitor can help further examine.”
When should we call 999 or go to A&E about these symptoms?
“If one experiences a severe chest pain or pressure, sudden collapse or loss of consciousness and / or severe breath, seek immediately,” says Segal. “Also, if the heart palpitations with dizziness or fainting, or weakness or anesthesia on one side of the body or the problem of talking that may indicate a stroke, help you immediately.
How to cure and manage heart rhythm conditions?
The treatment depends on the type and severity of the arrhythmia.
“The drugs include beta blockers or calcium channel blockers to reduce heart rate, anti -arrhythmia drugs to restore natural and anticoagulant rhythm (blood thinner) to reduce the risk of stroke, especially in AF,” Segal says.
Lifestyle changes can also make a significant difference.
“Reducing alcohol and caffeine, quitting smoking, managing stress, maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise and controlling other conditions such as hypertension or diabetes can help, Segal says.
When is the surgery considered and what does this engage?
If the drugs are not effective or appropriate, methods such as implantation, catheter erosion, or-heart-filler, are recommended.
The Segal explains: “The implantation of the pacemaker is when a small device is placed under the skin to regulate the slow or irregular heartbeat and uses a cardiac fibrillator to detect and correct dangerous arrhythmia.”
“Catter erosion is a minimum aggressive method using heat (radio frequency), colds, or pulse field erosion to eliminate small areas of abnormal heart tissue. This can often improve symptoms or significantly improve symptoms.”
