Cardiac arrhythmias are changes to the natural rhythm of the heart. They can be medically insignificant or rapidly fatal. Cardiac arrhythmia becomes more common as people get older. There are medicines to treat it, but not all of them are well tolerated. Further compounds are being studied to help people who develop this condition.
Disease: Cardiac arrhythmia
Last update: June 2008
Intro
FAQ
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What is it?
Arrhythmias are disturbances to the natural rhythm of the heart. Arrhythmia means 'lack of rhythm'. The heart may speed up, or slow down. Extra beats may occur, or some beats may be missing. Some arrhythmias are of little medical significance. Others may be rapidly fatal if not treated at once. -
Who gets it?
Cardiac arrhythmia affects both men and women. About 5% of the EU population have experienced it at some time in their lives. It gets more common as people get older. -
What can be done about it?
There are four main classes of medicines for cardiac arrhythmia. These work by blocking the various biochemical signals which cause the arrhythmia. However, not all the drugs are well tolerated. Also, because of the complexity of the processes that control the heart's rhythm, under certain situations the drugs may actually cause arrhythmia, so they have to be administered with caution. There is a need for improved medications. -
What does the future hold?
Three new compounds to treat cardiac arrhythmia are in the pipeline, including one for a serious type of arrhythmia that is usually treated by surgery. Other research is being undertaken into further agents, including those against cramping of the heart chambers.