Patients taking medications for arrhythmia should know how to take their pulse. Ask your health care provider to instruct you. Remember to take your medication exactly as prescribed, at the same time each day. Never self-discontinue your medication suddenly. Report any side effects to your health care provider.
Several implanted devices are also frequently used to correct arrhythmias. A pacemaker is indicated when the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node) is not functioning correctly. A pacemaker is a device that is implanted just below the surface of the skin. A lead is permanently attached from the pacemaker directly into the right atrium.
Automatic implantable defibrillators are used to correct both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Also surgically implanted, these devices are able to quickly detect an arrhythmia and shock the heart into a regular rhythm. The advent of automatic implantable defibrillators has been a major revolution in the field of cardiology for patients at high risk for suffering serious, potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.
2001 Heart and Stroke Update, American Heart Association Web site.
Non Surgical Therapy Cures Arrhythmias. Reuters Health Information Services, Inc., May 10, 1999.
New Device Helps Treat Abnormal Heart Rhythms. Reuters Health Information Services, Inc., May 10, 1999.
Stroke A to Z Guide, American Heart Association Web site.
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