Can arrhythmia be treated and cured?
Can arrhythmias be permanently cured, or only controlled? In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull, expert Consultant Cardiologist in London, explains that arrhythmias are common and often benign heart rhythm disturbances. Treatment depends on identifying the exact rhythm problem and may include lifestyle changes, medication or in a small number of cases procedures such as cardioversion or ablation. Diagnosis is usually made with a wearable ECG monitor worn for up to 14 days during normal daily life. Recording symptoms like palpitations allows accurate correlation with heart rhythm, helping guide personalised and effective arrhythmia management.
Learn more about Abnormal heart rate or book a consultation with Dr Assomull – no GP referral needed, appointments typically within one working day.
Transcript
Arrhythmias can typically be treated using a combination of lifestyle modification, medications and in a minority of cases a procedure such as an ablation or a cardioversion may be required. Very few arrhythmias can actually be cured as such. It's highly likely once you've had an arrhythmia you'll get a recurrence.
But bearing in mind most arrhythmias are benign, these aren't of any clinical concern and should pose no risk to you in the future. The key to formulating a treatment for your arrhythmia is actually identifying what the underlying arrhythmia is. This is done by getting an ECG monitor which we can stick on your chest for up to 14 days and asking you to live your life as usual.
When you have the symptoms that represent your possible arrhythmias such as palpitations it's key that you record the time and date and we can then see what we found on the heart rhythm monitor. That heart rhythm symptom correlation is critical in identifying what your arrhythmia is and figuring out whether you need just advice on your lifestyle, medications or a combination of both.
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