Cardiac arrhythmia

Cardiac arrhythmia is a group of conditions in which the heartbeat is irregular, too fast, or too slow. A heart rate that is too fast – above 100 beats per minute in adults – is called tachycardia, and a heart rate that is too slow – below 60 beats per minute – is called bradycardia. Many types of arrhythmia have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may include palpitations or feeling a pause between heartbeats. More serious symptoms such as fainting, shortness of breath, or chest pain may also occur.

Types of Cardiac Arrhythmia

There are many types of cardiac arrhythmia, including:

• Atrial fibrillation: This is the most common type of arrhythmia, where the heart's upper chambers (the atria) beat irregularly.
• Atrial flutter: Similar to atrial fibrillation, but the rhythm in your atria is more organized and less chaotic than the abnormal patterns caused by atrial fibrillation.
• Ventricular tachycardia: A rapid heart rate that originates with abnormal electrical signals in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles).
• Ventricular fibrillation: A life-threatening arrhythmia that can cause cardiac arrest and sudden death.

Causes

Cardiac arrhythmias can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Drug abuse
• Stress
• Certain medications
• Genetic factors

Treatment

Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia can include medications, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes. The goal of treatment is to restore the normal rhythm of the heart, to control the rate of the heart's contractions, and to treat any underlying conditions causing the arrhythmia.

See Also

• Heart disease
• Electrocardiogram
• Cardiology