Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a condition where a person’s heart beats abnormally. It is often completely harmless, but it can also be life-threatening. Almost everyone experiences an arrhythmia at some point in their life, often brought on by some exciting event or life experience.

Types of Arrhythmia

The heart’s normal rhythm is about 60 to 100 beats per minute. Any deviation is technically an arrhythmia. The most common types of arrhythmia are:

• Tachycardia – A fast heart rhythm with a rate of more than 100 beats per minute.
• Bradycardia – A slow heart rhythm with a rate below 60 beats per minute.
• Supraventricular Arrhythmias – Arrhythmias that begin in the atria (the heart’s upper chambers). 
• Ventricular Arrhythmias – Arrhythmias that begin in the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers).
• Bradyarrhythmias – Slow heart rhythms that may be caused by disease in the heart’s conduction system.

Arrhythmia Causes

Potential causes of arrhythmias include:

• coronary artery disease
• high blood pressure
• changes in the heart muscle
• valve disorders
• electrolyte imbalances in the blood, such as sodium or potassium
• injury from a heart attack
• the healing process after heart surgery
• an exciting life event
• alcohol use
• smoking
• caffeine
• stress
• exercise
• congenital structural defects

Symptoms and Treatment

Most arrhythmias are not dangerous. However, if you have other heart problems, an abnormal heart rhythm can be a potential issue. Generally, arrhythmias that start in the lower chambers of the heart are more dangerous than those that start in the upper chambers. Arrhythmia symptoms include:

• palpitations or rapid thumping in your chest
• feeling tired or light-headed
• passing out
• shortness of breath
• chest pain

Treatment may or may not be necessary depending on severity of the condition. A slow heartbeat might be treated with a pacemaker or a treatment plan that targets the cause of the problem. Fast heartbeats might be treated with:

• vagal maneuvers
• anti-arrhythmic medications
• cardioversion (electrical shock)
• ablation therapy (which uses catheters to destroy problem areas of the heart tissue)
• implantable pacemaker
• surgeries like a maze procedure, ventricular aneurysm surgery, or coronary bypass

Visit the Arrhythmia Learning Center for more information.