Some people suffer from a rare, high-risk heart disorder known as long QT syndrome. The QT interval is the period between the beginning of a heartbeat and the end of relaxation after its completion. The QT interval appears on the electrocardiogram used to measure the period of time it takes for the heart to contract after beating and relax. Through our article, the specialists at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provide you with more information and details about this syndrome.

What is long QT syndrome?

Long QT syndrome describes a disorder in the heart's electrical rhythm, specifically the interval between the beginning of the Q wave and the end of the T wave on the electrocardiogram that is longer than normal.

In this case, the long period is evidence that the heart takes a long time to recharge itself to repeat the beat again and again, or in other words, the heart needs longer time to prepare for the next beat.

This syndrome is dangerous, because it causes the development of a heart rhythm disorder known as Torsades de Pointes or other disturbances in the functioning of the right and left ventricles, and this leads to sudden recurrent loss of consciousness or sudden death.

How common is long QT syndrome?

Although this syndrome is described as rare, it is not exactly rare. In some countries, one in 2,000 people may be affected, and in others, one in 10,000 people may be affected.

It should be known that there are many people with this syndrome who die suddenly after cardiac arrest without discovering the real cause of their death, so estimates of the incidence vary from one place to another, and there are other reasons for this to happen, such as not counting cases of temporary QT prolongation.

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Types of long QT syndrome

Below we present to you the most important types of long QT syndrome: Where it is divided into:

1. Genetic or hereditary long QT syndrome:

It is the most common type, and in this case the person is affected from birth or after genetic mutations and changes in the genes for ion channels in the heart, and the infection is often inherited among family members in these cases.

2. Acquired long QT syndrome:

It occurs after birth and is not related to genetic makeup, but it appears after exposure to some external factors that may cause it temporarily or continuously until the cause is treated, such as taking antidepressant medications, antibiotics, antiemetics, etc., in addition to cases of mineral deficiency in the body or suffering from some body or heart diseases.

Symptoms of long QT syndrome

In many cases, this syndrome does not show any type of symptoms, but there are other cases in which symptoms appear after exposure to appropriate stimuli, ومن أهم هذه الأعراض ما يلي:

• Loss of consciousness or fainting, especially if the patient exerts physical effort, whether sports or professional.
• Possibility of fainting upon sudden awakening or when the patient is exposed to stress.
• Some cases suffer from convulsive or epileptic seizures due to lack of blood supply to the brain resulting from heart rhythm abnormalities.
• Sudden cardiac arrest, which occurs in many cases in which it is not previously discovered.

Causes of long QT syndrome

The risk factors that cause this syndrome are many, and of course some are hereditary and others are acquired. Below we explain to you the most important reasons:

• Genetic mutations that affect the functioning of ion channels in heart cells, leading to slow repolarization of the ventricle (its preparation for the next beat).
• Taking medications that cause QT prolongation, such as antipsychotics and arrhythmia medications.
• An imbalance in the proportions of potassium and calcium in the body, as well as a deficiency of magnesium.
• Having thyroid disease or other problems that lead to a slow heartbeat.

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 What are the stages of long QT syndrome?

In the typical description of cases of this syndrome, The stages of the disease pass as follows:

1. Pre-symptomatic stage:

At this stage, the person is already infected, but he does not know it, and it is possible to discover the infection if he performs a regular ECG, family examination, or the like.

2. The stage of initial symptoms:

At this stage, the person may experience sudden fainting, a feeling of severe heart palpitations, or convulsions. This often occurs after exercising or exposure to a stressful situation or sudden shock. The problem can also occur during rest or during sleep.

3. Major accident stage:

At this stage, the disorders appear more clearly, and may come in the form of bouts of irregular heart function or sudden cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, there are many cases that do not experience any prior symptoms, and the only sudden symptom is death, so these cases are not discovered in a timely manner.

4. Treatment and follow-up stage:

After the major accidents that occurred in the previous stage, the disease is diagnosed and some remedial measures are taken to reduce the risks, so that the affected person can live with the disease and stay away from dangerous triggers.

5. The coexistence stage:

It is still possible for the patient to experience a seizure or complications over time, but as he receives appropriate treatment in a specialized and qualified place, the risks decrease significantly, and the patient’s awareness of his condition increases in order to maintain his heart health.

Factors that affect the stages of the disease

There are many factors that may make the stages progress faster or prevent the symptoms from appearing, enabling the patient to live a normal life. The most important of these factors are the following:

• The length of the period between Q and T. The longer the period, the higher the risks.
• The type of gene affected, as there are different genes, each with a different trigger, which affects the appearance and severity of symptoms.
• Exposure to stimuli or not is related to the nature of a person’s life.
• People who developed the problem due to medications. When the causative drug is stopped, the heart rhythm regains stability and the problem ends.

Complications resulting from long QT syndrome

Although a long QT interval can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death, this is not the only risk associated with it. The most prominent complications are the following:

• Suffering from a severe ventricular arrhythmia, known as Torsades de Pointes, causes irregular and dangerous acceleration in the functioning of the ventricles, leading to decreased blood flow to the body and exposure to many risks.
• Ventricular fibrillation, which is a life-threatening condition.
• Exposure to injuries due to fainting and falling, which may include head fractures or injuries, as well as injuries to the limbs and others.
• The patient experienced convulsive seizures resembling epileptic seizures as a result of a lack of blood perfusion of the brain.
• Psychological and social effects that prompt the affected person to avoid exercising or attending social events in order to protect himself from the triggers of the syndrome.

“It is worth noting that some patients do not experience any type of these complications, and those who receive appropriate treatment at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital are able to control the problem and prevent the chances of complications occurring.”

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Can long QT syndrome be prevented?

There are many ways to prevent long QT syndrome, but they do not prevent the condition itself, especially in genetic conditions. The most important of these methods are the following:

• Stay away from external stimuli.
• Stop taking medications that cause QT prolongation.
• Eat balanced meals to provide the body with the minerals it needs and prevent their deficiency.
• Stay away from high-risk activities that cause great fatigue to the body.
• Paying attention to medical follow-up and periodic examination.
• Use medical identification methods for patients to inform those around them that they may experience a sudden seizure, including information about how to act in that case.

How is long QT syndrome diagnosed?

After identifying the symptoms that the patient suffers from and the problem that occurred with him, the doctor begins to collect family medical history, then asks about the medications that the patient is taking to confirm whether there are causes associated with a prolonged QT interval.

The doctor may also order tests to confirm the percentage of minerals in the body, especially potassium and magnesium, after which the patient will perform an electrocardiogram, which is the basic examination to evaluate the QT interval.

In some cases, the initial chart may not be clear, so the doctor needs to use another chart known as a Holter monitor. He may also order a stress test or adrenaline stimulation tests to detect or confirm the absence of injury.

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How is long QT syndrome treated?

In acquired cases, treatment depends on eliminating the cause of the infection, while in genetic cases The treatment includes the following:

• Modifying lifestyle and following preventive measures such as eating healthy food and staying away from... Sports Stressful.
• Treatment with medications that help prevent heart rhythm disturbances or stabilize the electrical activity in it, so that it is not significantly affected by sudden stimuli or stimuli.
• In some cases, surgery can be used to implant a defibrillator or internal pacemaker, in patients whose condition has become advanced or serious.
• Surgical intervention can be performed to disable or cut some nerve nodes in the sympathetic nervous system (which controls the heartbeat) to prevent the negative effect of stimulating the heart in sudden situations, during stress, or otherwise.

Frequently asked questions about long QT syndrome

For more information about long QT syndrome, Follow the answers of doctors and specialists to the most frequently asked questions in the following lines:

Is a patient with Qt syndrome allowed to marry and become pregnant?

Yes, she can get married and have children, but she will need specialized medical follow-up to ensure her safety and the safety of her child throughout the pregnancy and after birth.

Do I need to be tested for long QT syndrome?

Certainly, this is one of the most important ways to diagnose the syndrome and accurately monitor the development of the condition.

How long does long QT syndrome last?

The duration of long QT syndrome depends on its type;

In conclusion, Long QT syndrome is very dangerous because of its few symptoms, so you should have your heart rhythm checked regularly Al Mousa Specialist HospitalEspecially if you suspect that you have this syndrome, health is the real treasure that you may lose your life if you neglect to guard it.