Is Arrhythmia a Serious Condition?

When many people think about serious heart conditions the first thing that they think about is a heart attack. They may also think about stroke or cardiac arrest. As a family caregiver it is important that you recognize that these are not the only serious heart issues that your parent may face, and that they do not always appear independently. They can be caused by other conditions, making it essential that you understand the risks that your parent is facing and help them to make the right choices regarding their ongoing health management.

One condition that may seem more of a nuisance than a true problem but that can, in fact, be very serious is arrhythmia. This term is used to describe a condition that causes the heart rhythm to become uneven or irregular. This can mean beating too fast, too slow, or erratically. While there are some instances when this can be mild and not cause serious problems, in other circumstances it can be severe. Arrhythmia negatively impacts the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently throughout the body, and in cases of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, the erratic heart rhythm can become so severe that the heart trembles and is unable to pump blood at all. This can result in your parents fainting or even experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Long periods of time without sufficient blood flow throughout the body can result in damage to the organs and reduction of other functions. Arrhythmia can also dramatically increase the risk of stroke.

If your elderly parent suffers arrhythmia, it is very important that you work closely with their medical team to understand what they are facing and what you can do to help reduce these risks and protect your parents from potentially severe consequences of their heart rhythm disorder.

Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them during the course of your caregiver journey with them. A senior home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a customized schedule to ensure that your parent has access to the level of care, support, and assistance that is right for them. This means that they are able to address their individual needs, challenges, and limitations in ways that are efficient, meaningful, and respectful of their beliefs, opinions, lifestyle, and goals. These services can include safe and reliable transportation, assistance with personal care needs, fulfillment of activities of daily living, mobility support, help with housekeeping tasks, meal preparation, companionship, and more. As their caregiver this can give you tremendous peace of mind knowing that they can pursue the highest quality of life both when you are with them and when they are with their care provider.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Abington, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860 .