Do you sometimes feel like your heart is beating like crazy? Or do you feel something strange, like a heaviness in your chest? Don't panic, don't be too quick to think that all this is happening because of something serious. However, sometimes these symptoms can be a sign of a condition called Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia (MAT) , which we are going to talk about today. So, let's talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.
What is multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT)?
Simply put, multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is a condition that occurs when electrical signals from the two upper chambers of your heart, called the atria, are generated in a chaotic manner, from different places. Think of it as if many small "electrical message centers" in these upper chambers of your heart start working at once. This causes your heart to beat very fast and irregularly . Typically, your heart rate is over 100 beats per minute, but in some cases, it can go as high as 150 beats per minute in MAT. It is also called Chaotic Atrial Tachycardia , which means "chaotic atrial tachycardia."
What is the difference between MAT and Atrial Fibrillation?
Both of these conditions are abnormal heart rhythms that occur in the upper chambers of the heart, the atria. In fact, sometimes someone with MAT can be mistakenly diagnosed as having atrial fibrillation . However, a doctor can tell the difference between the two by looking at your Electrocardiogram (EKG) results. They mainly look at the 'P waves' on the EKG, which are recorded when the heart's atria contract. The two are distinguished by their pattern.
Importantly, about half of people with MAT may later develop atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
Who is affected the most by this situation?
MAT is usually seen most often in older people, usually around 70 years of age . However, it is important to remember that it can also occur in young children. Most often, people with MAT are those who are acutely ill at the time. This means that MAT is more likely to occur as a result of an exacerbation of another medical condition than if a healthy person suddenly develops MAT.
This is a very rare heart rhythm disorder . MAT is seen in less than 1% of all heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias).
What happens to your body from MAT?
Think of your heart as a water pump. It pumps blood throughout your body. It only does its job properly if it beats at the right speed and rhythm.
However, in a condition like MAT, the heart beats so fast that there is not enough time for the four chambers of the heart to fill with blood. The oxygen-poor blood travels through the heart to the lungs, picks up oxygen, and then returns to the heart to be pumped throughout the body. Because the time between these heartbeats is so short, the amount of blood that fills the heart chambers at one time is less than normal. This means that the amount of blood that goes to your body's cells with each heartbeat is also less . This can cause your body to not get the oxygen and nutrients it needs.
What are the symptoms of MAT?
Most people do not experience any specific symptoms due to MAT. However, you may have symptoms of other medical conditions that may have caused MAT.
However, sometimes MAT can cause symptoms like these:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating fast)
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting, loss of consciousness
What are the causes of MAT?
The majority of people with MAT (between 60% and 85%) have lung-related conditions . Of these , Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the main cause. Imagine, some people have persistent coughs, wheezing, and things like that.
Other reasons can be called:
- Respiratory failure
- Severe infections
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart failure
- Low levels of potassium, magnesium or sodium in the body
- Cancer
- Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus)
- Undergoing major surgery
- Kidney failure
- Pulmonary embolism (this is somewhat rare)
- Heart valve disease (this is also rare)
Simply put, any serious illness that places great pressure and stress on the body has the potential to cause MAT.
How do I find out if I have MAT?
Doctors usually diagnose MAT with an Electrocardiogram (EKG) test. You've probably seen those little stickers on your chest and arms that measure the electrical activity of your heart. That's how it's diagnosed. The pattern on the EKG is specific to MAT.
What other tests are done to diagnose MAT?
To accurately diagnose MAT, an EKG test is sufficient .
However, once you've been diagnosed with MAT, your doctor may order further tests to find the underlying medical condition that caused it. These may include:
- Chest X-ray
- Blood tests - For example, to check the body's salt levels and whether there are any infections.
- Very rarely, an ultrasound of the heart, that is, an echocardiogram .
What are the treatments for MAT?
Most of the time, people with MAT need to be treated for the underlying condition that caused the MAT . For example, if you have a severe lung infection and develop MAT, doctors will first try to treat that infection. Once the underlying condition is treated, the MAT will often resolve on its own.
If you have MAT, you may already be hospitalized for a serious condition, such as respiratory distress. Doctors will then provide the necessary treatment for that condition.
However, sometimes treatment may be needed to control the heart rate. This may include the following:
- Beta-blockers, such as metoprolol (Lopressor® or Toprol®XL), work by controlling the heart rate.
- If the body is deficient in magnesium and potassium, give them magnesium and potassium salts.
- Calcium channel blockers , such as verapamil (Verelan® or Calan®) or diltiazem (Diltzac® or Cardizem®), also help control the heart rate.
Very rarely, that is, if other treatments cannot control it, treatments such as AV node ablation (disabling part of the heart's electrical signal pathway) and pacemaker (a device implanted to maintain a regular heartbeat) may be used.
Are there any side effects of the treatment?
Some medications given for MAT can cause side effects such as:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- An upset stomach, like nausea (Upset stomach)
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
If you have any of these, tell your doctor . He or she may be able to change the dosage or prescribe a different medication.
How can you reduce the risk of developing MAT?
The main cause of MAT is the exacerbation of other medical conditions, especially lung disease or heart disease. So, if you can control your existing lung disease (such as COPD, asthma) or heart disease well , that is, if you take your medications as prescribed by your doctor on time and get regular checkups, you can reduce your risk of developing MAT.
What happens to someone with MAT? What is the future?
You will be able to go home from the hospital after the underlying condition that caused the MAT has been successfully treated. The condition itself, MAT, usually resolves when the underlying cause is treated.
However, the prognosis of someone with MAT is determined more by the severity of the underlying condition than by the MAT itself. This is because the underlying conditions that cause MAT (such as lung failure, severe infections) can sometimes be life-threatening. As a result, between 30% and 60% of people with MAT die during their hospital stay. Remember, these deaths are often due to the underlying, serious illness that caused it, not the MAT itself.
How do I take care of myself?
If you have MAT and the underlying condition has been treated, your doctor may recommend that you continue to take beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers for a while. However, this only happens to about 25% of people with MAT.
The most important thing is to follow your doctor's instructions exactly. It's very important to go to the clinics on the scheduled dates and take your medication correctly.
When should I see a doctor? What questions should I ask?
You will need to have follow-up appointments for the condition that caused you to develop MAT. If it is a long-term condition (for example, COPD), you will need to see your doctor regularly to make sure it is being well controlled.
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor questions like these:
- "Doctor, how long do I need to take this medicine that was prescribed for me?"
- "Can you explain a little bit about what the future holds for me, given my situation?"
- "Could I get this MAT condition again?"
Many people with MAT do not have symptoms, so it can be surprising to learn that they have this condition. However, the most important thing is for your doctor to treat the underlying condition that is causing the abnormal heartbeat (often a lung disease). Follow your doctor's instructions, and be sure to ask questions if there is anything you do not understand. As your underlying condition improves, your irregular heartbeat will also improve.
Take-Home Message
Okay, so here's a simple way to remember what we've talked about:
- MAT is a condition in which the heart beats rapidly and irregularly due to chaotic electrical signals coming from the upper parts of the heart.
- This often occurs in people with other serious medical conditions, especially lung diseases (such as COPD).
- Many people do not have specific symptoms of MAT, but they may have symptoms of the underlying disease.
- MAT is accurately diagnosed through an EKG.
- The treatment mainly targets the underlying disease that caused the MAT. Then the MAT will also improve to a great extent.
- Sometimes medications (Beta-blockers, Calcium channel blockers) can be given to control the heart rate.
- The severity of MAT is determined by the disease that caused it.
- It is very important to follow medical advice exactly and go for scheduled tests.
If you or someone you know has a problem like this, don't be afraid to see a doctor and get advice. The sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better.
` Heart palpitations, heart disease, tachycardia, MAT, lung disease, EKG, breathing difficulties
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