2.+Arrhythmias

In addition to increasing the effectiveness of each heart beat, digitoxin is able to keep irregular heart rhythms (known as arrhythmias) under control. Arrhythmias usually occur when electrical signals are not carried properly by the atrioventricular (AV) node from the upper half of the heart to the ventricles. This can cause irregular heart beats. Digitoxin is able to bind to the AV node and slow down its conduction capabilities. This means that Digitoxin can aid patients with Arrhythmias that cause their hearts to beat too fast. If a person's heart is beating too slowly, Digitalis-based drugs can not be of any use.

Atrial Fibrillation is one type of arrhythmias that is treated with digitalis. Arrhythmias is a disorder in which the heart rate or heart rhythm is irregular, too fast, or too slow. Atrial fibrillation causes the two upper chambers (the atria) of the heart to quiver. This happens when parts of the atria emit electrical signals that are not coordinated. The heart may begin to pump so quickly and unevenly that the blood can not be pumped efficiently out of the heart. Blood may pool or clot if it is not completely pumped out of the atria. A blood clot in this area may leave the heart and end up in an artery in the brain, ultimately causing a stroke. This short video explains Atrial Fibrillation:

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