Whenever the Center's staff conducts a survey of the current medical literature, we must gather information from the various commercial database that specialize in supplying professional and technical summaries. Because most of these databases serve health professionals, they are not always available to the public. So, we have worked out a way to charge you a simple flat fee, which covers staff time, the cost of data retrieval, and preparation of the printed survey. Free Background Information on Arrhythmias Cardiac arrhythmias are the number-one cause of death in the Western world. Most abnormal heart rhythms, however, are harmless and self-correcting, such as the skipped beat one might feel when a police car pulls up behind you in traffic.
Cardiac arrhythmias strike like lightning, with no warning.
Fewer than 100,000 people, however, have been saved by the defibrillator, and those who have, face the danger of another unforeseen attack, usually within a few months. In addition, even the slightest heart abnormality can cause occasional fibrillations, so family members of those who have experienced arrhythmias should get checked out for possible congenital heart defects. Athletes should also be checked out, because many have comparatively large hearts, which are prone to abnormal rhythms. Advanced EKGs can even detect subtle electrical patterns that may foreshadow the onset of arrhythmias. The traditional treatment for erratic heartbeat is anti-arrhythmic drugs, but the properties in these drugs often make people groggy and lethargic.