Update

I am just giving an update about my crazy heartrate. It has gotten so bad that it is in arrhythmia all day long and it has not let up. So i called my doctor again and he said its okay and nothing to worry about. So it got so uncomfortable that i ended up going to the E.R. And the nurse thought that i was in a-fib but when the doc came in he said that it was sinus arrhythmia. And that my natural heartrate and my pacemaker(rate responsive) are both trying to do the job and he said that possibly my heartrate is not even coming from my natural pacemaker(i think that was my understanding but could be wrong) so now im even for confused, Did i trade my atrial tachycardia for this sinus arrhythmia? I am sure hoping that it is possible to treat without surgery. Because that E.R. doctor acted like it was no big deal and he told me well atleast you dont have the tachycardia anymore.

3 Comments

sinus

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-18 09:01:33

I don't know all the tachycardia terminology, but the sinus node, our natural pacemaker, is in the atria so I think it might be two words for the same thing. Arrhythmia means irregular, tachycardia means too fast.

Heart rate....

by maryanne - 2009-01-18 11:01:19

Oooops....I should have said my "resting" heart rate is in the 50's.. Hope I didn't confuse you....cheers....Mary Anne

Sinus arrhythmia

by maryanne - 2009-01-18 11:01:54

What TracyE said is correct. I would just like to add a little. As she mentioned the "sinus node" also known as "sinoatrial" is the natural pacemaker of your heart. Meaning that the single/heart beat is being initiated in your sinus node....that is a good thing. You want that. Sinus arrhythmias occur as a result of our respirations....try this.....take your pulse.....then take your pulse while you hold your breath....then start breathing again....you should have noticed a change....respirations increase your HR and in children when we see them with rapid heart rates is often as result of increased respirations. LIke when a small child has a fever often their respirations are increase and hence so is their heart rate.

In atrial fib as you know that single is coming from your atrium but not your SA node. It's coming from somewhere within your atrium....which when this becomes bothersome people often have to have ablations to correct the electrical pathway.

Here is an easy description of "Sinus arrhythmia from Med.Net.com:

"Sinus arrhythmia: The normal increase in heart rate that occurs during inspiration (when you breathe in). This is a natural response and is more accentuated in children than adults.

The "sinus" refers to the natural pacemaker of the heart which is called the sinoatrial (or sinus) node. It is located in the wall of the right atrium (the right upper chamber of the heart). Normal cardiac impulses start there and are transmitted to the atria and down to the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart).

Sinus tachycardia refers to a fast heartbeat (tachycardia) because of rapid firing of the sinoatrial (sinus) node. This occurs in response to exercise, exertion, excitement, pain, fever, excessive thyroid hormone, low blood oxygen (hypoxia), stimulant drugs (such as caffeine), etc.

The lack of normal sinus rhythm is an arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm."

Recently when I was at my PM clinic I was feeling lightheaded and generally unwell...my PM is set at 50 and normally I am in the low 50's they were trying to increase the life of my generator by increasing my AV delay. What this does is it lets my heart have more of it's own natural(also known as intrinsic) rate....this for me just doesn't work...it makes me for terrible...so they decresed the delay and now I am far more comfortable...my heart rate is 50 - 56 and not the 50-86....this works for me.

I hope some of this information helps. I know the terminology can all be a bit overwhelming at times....

All the best and I hope they find you something that works for you.....cheers.

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