CHENNAI: If your heart skips a beat or you can feel your own pulse throbbing without any provocation, it does not always mean a state of excitement. Chances are that you may have irregular beats of the heart, a disease called arrhythmia or the abnormal rhythm of the heart.The disease occurs primarily among people who have had a heart attack and suffered from reduced pumping function of the heart, those who have symptoms of giddiness or palpitation, or have frequent unexplained episodes of unconsciousness. Besides, there could be a congenital electrical problem causing the heart to have irregular rhythm. Whatever be the case, the best remedy is to rush to a cardiologist and have a thorough check done.At least 20 per cent of the heart patients suffered from some form of arrhythmia. The challenge before the doctors was to detect the symptoms early and prevent sudden collapse and death, said Dr Ulhas M Pandurangi, Chief Electrophysiologist, Madras Medical Mission. A ball park estimate puts at least 50 to 60,000 people in Chennai in direct risk of arrhythmia, if all the people betraying the above symptoms are put in one basket, said Dr Ulhas. Although the symptoms are identifiable, proper diagnosis and treatment depends much on technology. Awareness about the symptoms among the populace and early detection holds the key to saving lives, said Dr Mulassari Ajit, Director, Cardiology, MMM.The scary part is that the mean age for heart attack in India has advanced by 10 years compared to the West. A study in published in Lancet magazine had held that the mean age for heart ailments in the Western countries was 54 years and in India, it was 44 years, Dr Ajit said. This was primarily because the West had made access to cigarettes and smoking difficult for the people, which was yet to happen in India, he added.The doctors also briefed reporters about the ongoing World Heart Rhythm Week events that the hospital was organising. A walkathon along the Marina would be held early on Saturday morning to sensitise people on the disease. An infotainment programme would also be held on Sunday for patients of arrhythmia where an educational workshop would be held to discuss about various therapies.
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