Ventricular fibrillation symptoms

What is ventricular fibrillation and why does it occur?

Ventricular fibrillation is a medical term for the condition characterized by abnormally increased heart rate. Due to this, the lower chambers that are supposed to pump the blood out of them are unable to play their role and the blood cannot be removed from the heart, which leaves the vital organs without it. This is a very serious condition, which can even have fatal outcome if there is no timely reaction, because without medical help, the person in question will stop breathing eventually and collapse.

As for the causes of ventricular fibrillation, there are a great number of those that are possible, which is why it is important to determine the right one. Except in cases when it is congenital, this condition may also be related to heart attack, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, ischemia, pulmonary embolism, certain disorder of the heart muscle, heart surgery, as well as drowning or hypothermia.

Symptoms of ventricular fibrillation

When it comes to the symptoms and signs that might indicate this condition, it is important to be well informed about them in order to recognize them in time and react accordingly as soon as possible. Most frequently, it all starts with pain in the chest area, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. The loss of consciousness is inevitable, as well as seizure if the initial symptoms are ignored, which is very likely to damage the brain due to the lack of oxygen and blood. The skin of the person in question will very soon turn pale, it won’t be possible to detect the pulse, the pupils will dilate, and there will be no heartbeat. Since people who suffer from high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are at higher risk of developing this problem, it is very important not to neglect these conditions and to treat them. Complications that might be possible include coma, nerve problems and damages, and even reduced mental perception, which also implies the seriousness of the condition. On the other side, the most serious consequence is death.

If people react in time, abnormal heart rate is usually normalized with the help of certain medications, which in majority of the cases have to be used later as well. However, it does not mean that any of such medications should be used without a doctor’s suggestion and prescription. More serious cases of ventricular fibrillation require the use of electric defibrillator, while some cases have to be treated with the surgery.