Arrhythmias

What are they?

Arrhythmias are abnormal rhythms of your heartbeat. This means your heart may beat too slowly (bradycardia), too fast (tachycardia) or in an irregular pattern. These abnormal rhythms can occur when the electrical impulses coming from your heart don’t fire as they normally should. 

There are many types of arrhythmias that can occur with varying degrees of symptoms, including:

Bradycardia: Your heart rate is too slow, causing you to tire easily or too quickly and feel dizzy or faint. The most common treatment is a pacemaker, which restores a normal heartbeat.
Tachycardia: Your heart rate is too fast while you're at rest. Treatments vary from anti-arrhythmic drugs to ablation (surgical) procedures to change the electrical properties of your heart.
Atrial fibrillation (Afib): You feel like your heart is racing and fluttering, causing shortness of breath. It's the most common type of arrhythmia and can put you at risk of a stroke. Treatments include blood-thinning medications or ablation (surgical) procedures.
Ventricular fibrillation: The lower chambers (ventricles) of your heart are racing so rapidly, they quiver and stop pumping blood normally. This is immediately life-threatening and requires an electric shock from a defibrillator to restore a normal rhythm.
Conduction disorders: You have abnormalities in the electrical impulses in your heart.
Long QT syndrome: You have a rapid heartbeat that can make you faint. It’s often an inherited condition. Treatment involves medications, surgery or an implanted device.

If you’re having symptoms that are interfering with daily living — causing fatigue, fainting or chest pain — you should be evaluated by a physician to diagnose if an arrhythmia is the cause.

Symptoms

Palpitations (feeling of skipped, fluttering, heart racing)
Dizziness, fainting or feeling lightheaded
Shortness of breath
Extreme fatigue or weakness; lack of energy
Sweating
Chest discomfort

Risk factors

Coronary heart disease
Hypertension
Congenital heart disease
Thyroid problems
Caffeine or nicotine use
Stress
Sleep apnea
Substance abuse (diet pills, illicit drugs, alcohol)

Diagnosing arrhythmia

Complete medical history and physical examination
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Electrophysiology (EP) studies
Implantable loop recorder
Wearable heart monitor (Holter monitor)

Treating arrhythmia

Medication management
Lifestyle changes (e.g., quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and being active)
Radiofrequency ablation
Defibrillator/pacemaker implant surgery
Device implantation (e.g., Watchman™)
Robotic cardiac ablation
Extravascular implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (EV ICD)

Learn more about arrhythmia

Experts from HonorHealth Heart Care explain more about arrhythmias, their signs and treatment options that are available.