AS IT has emerged that Scott McTominay has an arrhythmia requiring corrective heart surgery, here are the signs to look out for.
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm where your heart can beat too fast, too slow, or not regularly.
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Napoli football club issued a statement on Tuesday that read: “Following the onset of a mild benign arrhythmia, Scott McTominay will undergo corrective surgery using a cardiac arrhythmia ablation (PFA) in the coming days.”
There are many different types of arrhythmias – most of which are harmless – but it is not clear what caused Scott’s.
Nevertheless, a cardiac arrhythmia ablation – the surgery he is due to undergo – is a minimally invasive procedure with patients usually able to go home the same day.
Napoli confirmed that Scott “will be available [to play] again after the international break.”
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According to Heart Research UK, it is thought that over two million people in the UK are affected by abnormal heart rhythms.
Heart palpitations are the most common symptom of an arrhythmia, but what actually causes these abnormal rhythms?
What is an arrhythmia?
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The British Heart Foundation (BHF) explains that your heart needs to beat regularly to help pump blood around your body.
There is an electrical system in your heart that sends out electrical impulses to help it to beat regularly and in time, but if these aren’t working properly, this won’t happen.
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Instead, your heart rhythm will be abnormal, meaning it will beat too slowly, too quickly or not regularly.
If your heart beats in a regular way but is faster than 100 beats per minute (bpm), this is known as sinus tachycardia.
Meanwhile, a sinus bradycardia is when your heart beats in a regular way but is slower than 60 bpm.
When to contact your GP
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While most arrhythmias are not dangerous, health officials stress that you should speak to a GP if your symptoms come under three categories.
Firstly, if your palpitations – the most common symptom of a heart arrhythmia – last a long time, do not improve or even get worse, then you should speak to a medical professional.
The same goes for if you have a history of heart problems.
Finally, speak to your GP if you’re concerned about the palpitations.
Most importantly, you should dial 999 for an ambulance if you have palpitations, feel like you can’t breathe and have chest pain or feel faint or dizzy.
Signs and symptoms of an arrhythmia
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Besides heart palpitations – a thumping or fluttering sensation in your chest – other symptoms of an arrhythmia include:
- Dizziness
- Feeling like you may faint or black out
- Chest discomfort
- Feeling tired
- Feeling like you can’t breathe.
The NHS notes, however, that having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have an abnormal heart rhythm.
There are several different reasons for why people develop an arrhythmia, the BHF says.
Causes of an arrhythmia
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It can be caused by conditions like coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy – a disease in which the muscle wall of the heart becomes thickened – heart failure or a heart attack.
Alternatively, some arrhythmias can be caused by inherited conditions or certain types of heart surgery.
Other common triggers also include viral illnesses such as flu, a common cold or norovirus, recreational drugs, alcohol, smoking, caffeine and some medicines.
If you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, there’s no need to panic.
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The BHF says that most arrhythmias are manageable, meaning that with the right treatment, you can carry on living life as normal.
But it’s important to manage anxiety and stress and get support from your GP or loved ones if needed.
Treatment options for an arrhythmia
Your treatment will depend on your type of arrhythmia. Common treatments include:
- Heart medicines – like beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and anti-arrhythmics
- Cardioversion – this is a treatment used to get your abnormal heart rhythm back to a normal pattern
- This can be done via electrical cardioversion or pharmacological/chemical cardioversion
- Pharmacological cardioversion is done using medicine
- Electrical cardioversion is done using an external defibrillator to send controlled electric signals to your heart through electrodes (or sticky pads) placed on the chest
- Catheter ablation – this uses heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart. The scars block faulty heart signals and restore a typical heartbeat
- Getting a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator – both small electrical devices that are put under the skin in your chest
Source: The British Heart Foundation