Identification of Arrhythmia
Palpitation, Breathlessness, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Fainting (Syncope), Tiredness, Uneasiness, Light Headedness.

Risk factors
Certain conditions may increase your risk of developing an arrhythmia. These include:

1. Coronary artery disease, other heart problems and previous heart surgery

2. High Blood Pressure

3. Congenital Heart Disease | Thyroid Problems | Diabetes | Obstructive Sleep Apnea | Electrolytic Imbalance

Complications
Certain arrhythmias may increase your risk of developing conditions such as:

1. Stroke or Paralysis

2. Heart Failure

3. Sudden Cardiac Arrest

4. Worsening Arrhythmia

Few important terms

Lots of people come to know from their ECG that they have some defect in the Pace Maker System of the heart but they are told that since they do not have any symptoms they do not any treatment. One of them is Bundle Branch Block – it may be the right or Left Bundle Branch. This kind of heart disease is called RBBB or LBBB.
The defect in these cases is delay or default in the Bundle of His – the nerve that transmits electrical signals to the Left or Right lower chambers of the heart or ventricles (which ultimately lead to their pumping action). This block is in the electric signals – which now reach directly through the muscles and the ventricles beat almost normally. So, the work of the heart goes on as usual. The patient does not need any treatment or have any symptoms.
The cause of the interruption is mostly a shortage of blood due to the death of the area of the heart muscles through which the nerve thread passes. This occurs because of fat deposits in the branch of the coronary arteries supplying that area. This is like a very minor heart attack – which goes unnoticed. Such patients, if they do not take care of their diet, lifestyle, and blood lipid levels, further progress to the next stage – Bi Fascicular Block (both RBBB and LBBB together) and then Complete Heart Block. The Complete Heart Block ( it is an electrical signal block) needs External Pace Maker Implantation.
Though the most common cause of Bundle Branch Blocks is coronary artery blocks/heart attacks – the other uncommon causes of LBBB or RBBB are genetic defects in the heart (from birth), Cardiomyopathy, Myocarditis, High Blood Pressure or Pulmonary hypertension.

Almost all the heartbeats that we have, generate from the S A Node or original pace Maker of the heart which is located in the wall of the Right Atrium. They first stimulate the Atria (the two upper chambers) and then the Ventricles (the lower Chambers). This leads to a normal heartbeat. But sometimes the ventricles contract on their own without any signal from above. This leads to an extra beat in the heart called Ectopic Beat or VPC (Ventricular Premature Beat). It can be felt by the patient if we count the pulse as a missing beat. Many healthy people can get it and till 3000 VPCs per day (3%) it may be considered normal. They may be because of stress, extra caffeine, extra alcohol, and strenuous exercises.
But if they become too frequent or come in doubles or triples – it can lead to giddiness or fainting. This needs treatment. There are medicines (like Amiodarone) that can control them – but the underlying cause is again Coronary Heart Disease or Shortage of blood to some part of the heart due to Coronary artery fatty deposits.
If the reasons (called Risk factors) of the fat deposits (like Cholesterol, Triglycerides, High BP, High Sugar, Smoking, stress, lack of exercise, obesity) is not withdrawn they may worse and lead to Ventricular Tachycardia or Ventricular Fibrillation. This condition now becomes very serious as the ventricles continuously generate Ectopics – which may even lead to death. Such patients immediately need Electric Shock (Cardioversion) to restore normal beats. If the preventive care is still not taken - Later on they may need to be repeated electric shocks using ICD device.

P -SVT or SVT (Paroxsysmal Supra Ventricular Tachycardia)

This is a kind of rapid or very fast heartbeat (130-200) and occurs for a short duration. Patients feel uneasy and can feel the high speed of the heart. This is caused by the existence of some of the electrical signal generators in the atrial wall near the main pacemaker or S A Node. They sometimes become active and generate fast signals which take over the SA Node function. This is mostly called AVNRT (Atrio-Ventricular Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardia).
Since it is a temporary fast beat – it is never life-threatening. It is usually stimulated by Stress, Anxiety, caffeine, drugs, or Alcohol. It does not usually need treatment, but it occurs very frequently can be treated with drugs like Calaptin. Vagus nerve stimulation by massaging in the back of the lower part of the ear can revert it on many occasions.
The Hospital system usually wants to do RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) in such cases which is not only invasive but often fails as they try to burn the suspected nerve areas on the wall of the Atria by trial and error method. This should be tried only if the lifestyle and medicines fail.

EPS or EP Studies (Electro Physiological Studies)

This is an invasive testing procedure to study the origin of certain types of Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeats. This usually needs inserting a catheter in your body – which is pushed to the selected chamber of the heart. Electrodes are also pushed along the catheter to study the electrical activity of the areas of the heart to search for the origin of the abnormal nerve location. It is a complex study and very few experts can give exact opinions on the test. However, it can be done if all methods of control of the irregular beats fail. It costs usually Rs. 30000-50000.

According to Dr. Bimal Chhajer, Heart Care and Lifestyle Expert, the Chances of Death is on an average 2.3% but a healthy individual below the age of 40 years has less than 1% chance. The chances increase if the individual has Heart disease, Diabetes, High BP, Asthma, or if you are aged above 70 years. But what we can do otherwise – to save our life? It is immunity. Young healthy has strong immunity, so they are saved. But How to boost immunity? There are the ways to increase one’s immunity. Cutting down on stress and performing Yogasana and practice of Meditation also helps to increase immunity. But the most important are foods we eat.
Ten major foods to boost our immunity are as follows:
1. Eat citrus foods like Orange, Lemon, Amla, Kiwi.
2. Broccoli, Spinach, red Bell Pepper (Shimla Mirch), and other green leafy vegetables increase our immunity.
3.A combination of Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic, Ginger, Honey and Lemon is also very good way to increase immunity.
4. Probiotics like Curd or Yogurt helps to increase immunity.
5. Any FruitS/vegetables – specially red ones like Papaya, Carrot, Beet also gives Vitamin A to boost immunity.
6. Green Tea, Tulsi, Cinnamon drinks also very healthy so far as immunity is concerned.
7. Turmeric or Haldi extract has ability to boost immunity.
8. Black Grapes has very high anti oxidants and thus good for immunity.
9.Cutting down on Meat, Alcohol, Tobacco/Smoking that weakens immunity.
10. Mushrooms also have virus protection capacity.
In case one is not able to get all these foods Multi vitamins can be taken. Calcium, micro nutrients like Zinc, copper, manganese and Vitamin D3 can be taken extra for increasing one’s immunity.
Antioxidants and Immunity
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells.
1. Vitamin E is also a superstar for immunity. . It protects cellular membranes of the immune system and other cells by trapping free radicals and enhances the effectiveness of white blood cells.
2. Some sources of vitamin E include mustard and turnip greens, spinach, broccoli, carrots, mangoes, papaya, and pumpkin.
3. Vitamins B6 and B12 indirectly contribute to antioxidant defenses having considerable influence on the immune system. A deficiency of these vitamins will create abnormalities in the immune system.
4. Vitamin C prevents the production of free radicals and reduces DNA damage in immune cells. Since your body can’t produce vitamin C, a plentiful supply must come from your diet. Some sources of vitamin C include berries, kiwi, red, yellow, green peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.
5. Beta-carotene is another powerhouse for immune function. In addition to being a precursor for the immune protector, vitamin A, this nutrient provides powerful antioxidant defenses against invading pathogens.
Natural Ways of Improving Immunity
All the above foods are necessary for increasing immunity but there are few more things that are important:
1. Walk regularly.
2. Do Yoga daily.
3.Cut down Stress.
4. Get adequate Sleep.
5. Stay away from Pollution or avoid it.
6. Avoid Processed Food in the diet.
7. Drink sufficient Water.