Arrhythmia can affect teenagers and young adults. Recognise the symptoms early and understand the importance of timely heart checks.
Modern lifestyles mean that heart disease no longer recognises age, and arrhythmia can now affect teenagers and young adults. Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly — either too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or with an abnormal rhythm altogether.
According to dr Rerdin Julario, Sp.JP(K), an arrhythmia specialist at Mayapada Hospital Surabaya, arrhythmia occurs due to disturbances in the heart’s electrical system, causing an irregular rhythm. Under normal circumstances, the human heart beats around 60–100 times per minute at rest.
Dr Rerdin explains that arrhythmia in younger individuals can be triggered by various factors:
- First, electrolyte imbalances, such as abnormal levels of potassium, magnesium or calcium,can trigger arrhythmia, particularly due to dehydration, poor nutrition or eating disorders.
- Second, congenital heart abnormalities such as Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome or Long QT syndrome can also be causes. “Both are heart rhythm disorders that result in a very rapid and irregular heartbeat,” Dr Rerdin explained.
- Third, thyroid disorders may contribute, including excess thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), which accelerates the heart rate, and insufficient thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), which slows it down.
- Finally, unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as lack of sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption, chronic stress and a sedentary lifestyle, also increase the risk of arrhythmia.
“Unfortunately, arrhythmia often goes unnoticed because the symptoms can be mild, such as an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, dizziness or fatigue. If symptoms appear, an examination such as an ECG should be carried out promptly to confirm the diagnosis and ensure appropriate treatment. Prevention can be achieved through a healthy lifestyle: limiting caffeine, getting adequate sleep, managing stress, avoiding non-prescribed stimulant medication, maintaining a balanced diet and undergoing routine heart check-ups, particularly if there is a family history of heart disease,” Dr Rerdin added.
In response to the rising risk of heart disorders among younger individuals, Mayapada Hospital Surabaya supports the prevention and management of arrhythmia through its Heart & Vascular Centre, which adopts a collaborative and comprehensive approach — from prevention to rehabilitation — strengthened by three core pillars.
The first pillar, Advanced Treatment, encompasses vascular services, heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmia), and structural heart conditions such as valvular heart disease, using the latest treatment approaches. The second pillar, Emergency Excellence, includes Cardiac Emergency services supported by on-site specialist doctors available 24 hours a day, accessible via the call centre at 150990 or through the Emergency Call feature on MyCare, as well as a Chest Pain Unit for early detection of chest pain. The third pillar, Team-Based Management, ensures that clinical decisions and treatment plans are determined through active collaboration within the Cardiac Board, involving cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiovascular anaesthesiologists and paediatric cardiologists.
This multidisciplinary approach helps determine the most appropriate interventions, ranging from Coronary Angiography (CAG) and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), including Complex PCI, to the management of heart valve and vascular disorders, heart rhythm abnormalities, and advanced heart failure therapy supported by the latest Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) technology.
The service is further supported by a Cardiac Advisor who assists patients and their families comprehensively — from diagnosis and therapy planning to procedures and recovery — ensuring that every medical decision is clearly understood, treatment runs smoothly, and any patient concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.
Further health information is available through the Health Articles & Tips feature on MyCare. The app also includes a Personal Health feature connected to Google Fit and Health Access to monitor heart rate, calorie intake, steps and Body Mass Index (BMI).