Patient was educated that risk factors for ventricular fibrillation include any conditions that can lead to excessive and/or abnormal stimulation of heart.
These conditions are as follows:
- Smoking
- Nicotine can excessively stimulate the heart, leading to increased heart rate and altered rhythm.
- Elevated blood pressure and Heart disease
- Chronic uncontrolled hypertension and previous episodes of myocardial infarction/heart attack can damage the heart muscle over time.
- This damaged heart muscle resists normal conduction of cardiac impulse, resulting in disturbance of natural rhythm.
- Also, scar tissue formed during healing of the damaged cardiac tissue can inhibit normal conduction of impulse and result in abnormal route of conduction of cardiac impulse, thus resulting in arrhythmia.
- Serum potassium levels
- Potassium in the blood is maintained in a close range. Both high and low potassium levels are significant risk factors for rhythm disturbances in the heart.
- Apart from the above-mentioned risk factors, excessive alcohol intake, excessive intake of caffeinated drinks, restlessness and insomnia can also alter the stimulation of the heart and can result in arrhythmia.
