Valsalva maneuver: This consists of holding your nostrils closed while blowing air through your nose. Long B, et al. Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19. American Journal of Emergency Medicine 2020; doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.04.048.

Episodes of atrial or SVT often can be stopped by one of a few techniques. These actions should be supervised or conducted by a health care professional. They include: While on field assignment, Winchester came across a copy of Coronation Everest by James Morris, a book that gave a detailed account of the 1953 expedition that resulted in the first ever successful ascent of Mount Everest. The book inspired Winchester to become a writer, and so he sought advice from the book author by mail. Morris convinced Winchester to give up geology and get a job as a newspaper writer. What is arrhythmia? American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia. Accessed June 13, 2023. Excessive alcohol use. Drinking too much alcohol can affect electrical signaling in the heart. This can increase the chance of developing atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately for him, instead of getting praises and honors, he was sent to a debtors prison, accused of plagiarism and became homeless for ten years. It was in 1831 that Smith, (now known as the father of the modern geology) was awarded the Geological Society of London’s best award and King William IV assured him of a lifetime pension.Ventricular tachycardia. This rapid, irregular heart rate starts with faulty electrical signals in the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles. The rapid heart rate doesn't let the ventricles properly fill with blood. So the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Ventricular tachycardia may not cause serious problems in people with otherwise healthy hearts. In those with heart disease, ventricular tachycardia can be an emergency that needs immediate medical care. Lee R. Atrial fibrillation: Surgical ablation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 13, 2023. Caffeine, nicotine or illegal drug use. Stimulants can cause the heart to beat faster and may lead to the development of more-serious arrhythmias. Illegal drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine, may greatly affect the heart. Some may cause sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation. Thyroid disease. Having an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can raise the risk of irregular heartbeats. Ventricular fibrillation. Rapid, chaotic electrical signals cause the lower heart chambers to quiver instead of squeezing in a coordinated way. This serious problem can lead to death if a regular heart rhythm isn't restored within minutes. Most people with ventricular fibrillation have an underlying heart disease or had a serious injury.

Panchal AR, et al. 2018 American Heart Association focused update on advanced cardiovascular life support use of antiarrhythmic drugs during and immediately after cardiac arrest. Circulation. 2018; doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000613.

Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh) is a fast heartbeat. The heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute. Electrolyte imbalance. Substances in the blood called electrolytes help trigger and send electrical signals in the heart. Potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium are examples of electrolytes. If the body's electrolytes are too low or too high, it may interfere with heart signaling and lead to irregular heartbeats. All across the USA, people are showing up dead. The deaths don't appear to be connected in any way until one particular death occurs and gets the Secretary of Defense's attention. He arranges for a task force to investigate. VT may be either well-tolerated or life-threatening, requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The severity of VT depends largely on whether you have other heart conditions and the type of VT you have. Causes of ventricular tachycardia

In a typical heartbeat, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out electrical signals, called impulses. The signals go through the upper heart chambers to the atrioventricular (AV) node. Next, the signals pass into the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles. This causes the heart to squeeze, which pumps blood throughout the body. The disruption results in a faster than normal heart rate. This rapid heartbeat keeps the heart’s chambers from filling completely between contractions, which compromises blood flow to the rest of the body.Even though Winchester still writes travels books, he has adapted the narrative nonfiction form he adopted for The Professor and the Madam. Winchester is a resident of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Heart Insight ® e-news is our trusted, award-winning monthly publication for people living with heart disease, their families and caregivers. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been recognized as one of the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery hospitals in the nation for 2023-2024 by U.S. News & World Report. If an arrhythmia is causing heart failure symptoms, treatment to control the heart rate may help the heart work better. Prevention Blood-thinning medicines can lower the risk of stroke related to atrial fibrillation and other heart arrhythmias. If you have a heart arrhythmia, ask a healthcare professional if you need to take a blood thinner.