What exactly is Arrhythmias?
Quite fortunate (or maybe unfortunate) how we sometimes discover new/rare human diseases and abnormalities. Just for the records, diseases are caused by pathogens while abnormalities are just defects, not caused by pathogens.
How it all started.
It was a rainy evening, just got back from work and trying to relax a bit when my dad's call came in. He took a slow, long breath and carefully explained to me how he had been visiting the doctor, conducted series of tests and mumbled something about the 'pacemaker'. I did not really understand at first until I visited him the following day to know what actually is wrong with him. He explained in details that for like three times now, he has fainted unexplainably. The first time it happened, he took it with a pinch of salt, he was alone in the farm working.
What could be responsible for unexplainable faintings?
My dad being a semi-illiterate could not really explain the doctor's report to my satisfaction. He kept on talking about his heart, a pacemaker and the fact the sum of $2,000 or more could be involved in the treatment. This prompted me to put on my 'armour of research' and what I found out was totally new to me. Two key words came through my research; arrhythmia and pacemaker
What I found about arrhythmia
Arrhythmia/Dysrhythmia may be caused by varieties of factors such as coronary heart diseases, electrolyte imbalance in the blood, changes in the heart's muscles, injuries from heart attack among other factors.This abnormality can further be sub-divided into different types including premature atrial contraction, premature ventricular contractions, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, accessory pathway tachycardias, AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, long QT syndrome, Sinus node dysfunction and heart block.
Symptom wise, arrhythmia can be silent. However, some of the physical symptoms include dizziness, fainting, palpitation, chest discomfort and fatigue while diagnoses include electrocardiogram, event monitoring, electrophysiology study, cardiac catherization among others. Treating arrhythmia depends on the severity of the symptoms. It could include lifestyle changes, taking certain medications as well as surgical procedures.
The pacemaker
Fixing of pacemaker to victims of arrhythmia requires about two hours minor surgery which is usually done by professionals in the hospital. Complications are quite rare, with patients returning to normal activities within few days after surgery. Patients carrying the device in their bodies are usually required to make minimal contacts with electrical or magnetic devices to avoid interference. The battery of the pacemaker usually lasts for about 5 to 15 years after which they are replaced. Other maintenance could include change of wires among many others.
The status quo
After finding out about the pacemaker, with all the technicality involved and my lack of trust in the Nigerian doctors, I opted against the option for my dad. I asked him to change his lifestyles including his eating habits, working habits etc. Ever since then, the frequency of the unexplainable faintings has reduced significantly (It has only happened once in almost 7 months now unlike thrice withing two months before). He is a septugenerian by the way. Unless I have the means to take him out of the country for a better medical care, advising him to change his lifestyles seems like a better option for me concerning my experience with the Nigerian doctors.
Arrhythmia is a very complex symptom for which to gauge the causes of. I've spent my entire life not only learning about them, but listening to them as well through various female partners over the years. The reason for this is that I am what some refer to as a "cardiophile," as much as I hate that term. Essentially I have a passion for heartbeats, and as such, have probably garnered more clocked listening hours to a human heartbeat than a cardiologist over his or her lifetime. That said, here are some observations I can contribute that go beyond the actual science.
There are very many types of arrhythmias, as well as irregular heartbeats that occur, and even an infinite range of intensity for which they can occur. Some can be felt to an extremely uncomfortable and outright frightening level, while others aren't even felt at all. Most can be listened to with your ear to chest, a stethoscope, a fetal doppler, and various other home rigged contraptions, or even felt over the chest with your bare hand.
I've heard people explain numerous different causes, or circumstances in which the arrhythmias or irregular beats are most likely to occur. Some random examples are: After eating a banana. When feeling like one needs to burp really badly (an thus the arrhythmia subsides after a few good burps.) During or after a bout of insomnia or sleep deprivation. When laying on one particular side as opposed to the other side. When sitting in a certain position shortly after eating a large meal. After eating certain fast food. After consuming anything high in potassium. During sex, most notably in the time closer to approaching orgasm. During or immediately after orgasm. When travelling in far different climates or elevations than where you live or spend most of your time. Atmospheric pressure on a given day. As you can see, the list goes on and on, and whether or not there is any scientific basis for these circumstances is really irrelevant, because the fact is that these are the circumstances that have been described to me by the many people I've known (and listened to myself) with arrhythmias and irregular heartbeats, many times over, and with entirely different people citing the same unique circumstance, which further validates it's authenticity.
I've also found an extremely wide range of how people cope with arrhythmias and irregular beats. Some people who have the worst, longest lasting bouts or episodes are not even phased by them at all, and are even fascinated by them, wishing more to share and have me listen as they occur. By contrast, some people are dreadfully fearful of even the slightest feeling of one single beat of their heart that goes irregular. Sometimes that fear can be so prevalent in people that it can lead to a chain reaction, leading to panic and thus more irregular beats, all the while with them being physically virtually harmless and benign. If anyone reading this happens to be one of those people who get very fearful of an irregular heartbeat, I've found that taking a small dose benzodiazepine like clonazepam, lorazepam or alprazolam works absolute wonders to help them feel better.
Lastly I will say that there is a vast community of people around the world who are wired with the passion, fascination and outright need, to listen to and experience their partners heartbeats, be it to the level of "fetish," or just simply a powerful comfort wired into their brain for life. It is through these people, for which I am one of, that I have learned so much. Not from a book or a science class, but over three decades of direct life experience. People like us have communities all around the web that can be sought out and consulted for very valuable information, more on the "human" side as opposed to the "science" side. I encourage doing so if you're looking to calm your nerves about this subject.
I hope that someone out there will take something positive from what I have written and shared in this comment. Thank you, and great post! (up-voted!)
I am truly fascinated by your own side of the topic. But it doesn't seem like you have observed to the level of "unexplainable faintings". Yes people get irregular heartbeats at intervals depending on the situation but when it gets to fainting level, something needs to be done. That's exactly the situation my dad is presently and I am truly sceptical about the proffered solution in form of the pace maker
wow what a comment :)
Find a better alternative for your dad to get better. Health is wealth. I hope you will become financially buoyant for you to give him proper treatment needed.
I think I have heard about pace maker before but I can associate it with anything. I have learn more about arrhythmias. Thanks.
Not all Nigerian Doctors are incapable of treating well. Even in other countries. All we have to pray for is to meet the right person. I have heard of a doctor here in South Africa who forgot a surgery knife in a patient belly during an operation.
We have doctor George on discord. You might like to meet him.
He started #air-clinic: the first and only health facility built on the steem blockchain. This will help provide quick, accessible and affordable healthcare globally.
As a health-enthusiast, you are highly wAIRcome to join us on our discord server. We hold daily health discussions to talk about common health problems. And you can talk to a health-expert (doctors, nurses, counsellors, optometrists, dieticians, fitness coaches etc) anytime you like.
Link: https://discord.gg/rqded5m
Thank you for your post @gentleshaid
You are welcome
You post a very important one, everyone should see your post
Resteemit sisi for your friends to see.
Ok
This is indeed important for everyone to see.
Also follow up and upvotes @ayemmanuel
Yes indeed. Thanks for reading up and voting
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I hope you dad gets better soon. But you have to look for a good hospital with experience to check you dad properly. Please do not assume, you know life is precious, this is kind of too much considering your experiences with doctors.
I know he still has many more years to live but make sure he does not spend them having health issues, please look for capables hands to care for him professionally.
Trust me, I will. The hospital he went to is still one of the best hospitals around. But then, trust issues.
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