Arrhythmia. Heart flutter. Disorderly uncoordinated contraction of atrial muscle wall, the ventricles responding irregularly.
Causes: thyrotoxicosis, valvular or coronary disease. Present in mitral stenosis and myocarditis. Precursor of heart failure. Carrying a bucket of coal upstairs may be sufficient to precipitate an attack. Symptoms. Pulse irregular in time and force, breathlessness, visible pulse in neck, excessive heart beats of sudden onset or permanent, with breathlessness often from emotional excitement.
Treatment. Patient should avoid excessive physical exercise or give way to anxiety and depression. Alternatives:– Tea. Equal parts: Hawthorn (berries or blossoms), Broom, Valerian. 1-2 teaspoons in each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes; dose – half-1 cup thrice daily.
Tablets/capsules. Hawthorn, Valerian, Motherwort.
Formula. Hawthorn 2; Passion flower 2; Broom 3. Mix. Dose: Powders: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons. In water or honey thrice daily. Practitioner. Tincture Gelsemium (BPC 1973): 2-5 drops. Tincture Lily of the Valley: 0.5-1ml.
Undue violence. Tincture Gelsemium 1; Tincture Cactus 2. Mix. Dose: 5-10 drops. Where heart muscle is damaged, add 1 part Liquid Extract Black Cohosh.
Broom. Spartiol Drops, 20 drops thrice daily. (Klein)
Diet. See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION.
A type of abnormality of the heartbeat (see arrhythmia, cardiac) in which the atria (see atrium) of the heart beat irregularly and rapidly. The ventricles (lower chambers) also beat irregularly. The heart’s pumping ability is reduced as a result. Atrial fibrillation can occur in almost any longstanding heart disease but is most often associated with heart-valve disorders or coronary artery disease.
Sudden onset of atrial fibrillation can cause palpitations, angina, or breathlessness. The heart’s inefficient pumping action reduces the output of blood into the circulation. Blood clots may form in the atria and may enter the bloodstream and lodge in an artery (see embolism).
Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation is confirmed by ECG.
Digoxin or beta-blocker drugs may be given to control the heartrate.
Atrial fibrillation of recent onset may be reversed by defibrillation.
In most cases, anticoagulant drugs are given to reduce the risk of embolism.
The atria (see ATRIUM) of the heart contain peptides with potent diuretic and vasodilating properties. It has been known since 1980 that extracts of human atria have potent diuretic and natriuretic effects in animals (see DIURETICS). In 1984 three polypeptide species were isolated from human atria and were called alpha, beta and gamma human atrial natriuretic peptides. Plasma concentration of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide can now be measured: the levels are low in healthy subjects and are increased in patients with congestive heart failure. Infusion of the peptides reduces blood pressure and causes a natriuresis and diuresis.... atrial natriuretic peptide
A term applied to rapid contraction or TREMOR of muscles, and especially to a form of abnormal action of the heart muscle in which individual bundles of ?bres take up independent action. It is believed to be due to a state of excessive excitability in the muscle associated with the stretching which occurs in dilatation of the heart. The main causes are ATHEROSCLEROSIS, chronic rheumatic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease (see HEART, DISEASES OF). Fibrillation is distinguished as atrial or ventricular, depending on whether the muscle of the atria or of the ventricles is affected. In atrial ?brillation, the heartbeats and the pulse become extremely irregular, both as regards time and force; when the atrium is ?brillating there is no signi?cant contraction of the atrial muscle but the cardiac output is maintained by ventricular contraction. In ventricular ?brillation there is no signi?cant contractile force, so that there is no cardiac output. The commonest cause is myocardial infarction. Administration of DIGOXIN, timolol or verapamil may restore normal rhythm, and in some patients, CARDIOVERSION – a controlled direct-current electric shock given via a modi?ed de?brillator placed on the chest wall – is e?ective.... fibrillation
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