Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesIs It Serious?DiagnosisTreatmentCopingOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Is It Serious?
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Outlook
The term “arrhythmia” broadly describes any irregular cardiac rhythm, such as heartbeats that are too fast (tachycardia), slower than usual (bradycardia), or erratic and uncoordinated (fibrillation).
There are many different types of arrhythmia.Depending on the type, irregular heartbeats can be healthy and harmless or potentially life-threatening and deadly.
Read on to learn about different types of cardiac arrhythmia, how to tell when abnormal heart rhythms are serious and require medical attention, which treatment options help fix various arrhythmias, and if worrisome heartbeat irregularities can be cured.
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Types of Arrhythmia
Cardiac arrhythmia types are typically categorized based on whether rhythmic irregularities start in the heart’s upper or lowerchambers; there are two upper chambers (the left atrium and theright atrium) and two lower chambers (the left ventricle and theright ventricle).
Ventricular Arrhythmia
Ventricular arrhythmias are abnormal cardiac rhythms that start in the heart’s lower chambers, known as ventricles.
Some common types of ventricular arrhythmia include:
Supraventricular Arrhythmia
Supraventricular arrhythmias are abnormal rhythms originating in the heart’s upper chambers (the atria).
Types of supraventricular arrhythmias include:
Understanding Idioventricular Rhythm
Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)
There are several different types of bradycardias or bradyarrhythmias, such as:
What Does Tachycardia Mean?Tachycardia is a medical term that describes rapid heartbeats above 100 beats per minute.
What Does Tachycardia Mean?
Tachycardia is a medical term that describes rapid heartbeats above 100 beats per minute.
Arrhythmia Symptoms
Although slightly irregular heart rhythms often go unnoticed and are asymptomatic, some classic arrhythmia symptoms include:
Anyone experiencing heart arrhythmia symptoms should speak to a healthcare provider promptly, orcall 911 immediatelyif it’s an emergency.
What Causes an Irregular Heartbeat?
Many factors can cause arrhythmia. For example, anxiety, daily stressors, or anything that triggers the fight-or-flightstress responsecan speed up your heart rate and cause tachycardia. Other common causesof irregular heartbeats associated with cardiac arrhythmia include:
Is Arrhythmia Always Serious?
Arrhythmia is not always serious. The seriousness of a cardiac arrhythmia depends on the type. If arrhythmias cause irregular heartbeats consistently, they can weaken or damage the heart. This may cause serious health outcomes.
Testing to Diagnose Arrhythmia
Cardiac arrhythmias are typicallydiagnosedusing technological devices that monitor and record heart rhythms, such as anelectrocardiogram. In addition to medical history and physical exam, the following heart-monitoring tools are used to perform diagnostic tests for arrhythmia:
Sinus Arrhythmia: What’s Normal vs. Irregular
Heart Arrhythmia Treatment
How cardiac arrythmia istreateddepends on the type of arrhythmia and its seriousness. Some types of arrhythmia aren’t serious and don’t require any treatment, whereas others require immediate medical attention.
In many cases, cardiac arrhythmias are fixable. Some common heart arrhythmia treatment options include:
Living a Healthy Life With Arrhythmia
The following are lifestyle changes that can improve your chances of living a healthy life with arrhythmia:
Outlook for Heart Arrhythmia
In general, the outlook for heart arrhythmia is good. Everyone experiences irregular heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms from time to time. That said, some types of heart arrhythmia can be fatal within minutes. Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if someone with a cardiac arrhythmia experiences anysigns and symptoms of a heart attack.
Summary
“Arrhythmia” is a broad term used to describe the loss of normal rhythm. Abnormal heart rhythms characterize cardiac arrhythmias. There are many different types of heart arrhythmia. Most arrhythmias aren’t life-threatening, but some can be lethal. Ventricular fibrillation is the most serious and potentially fatal arrhythmia. VF requires immediate treatment, such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and a defibrillator.
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