Arrhythmia

What is an arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia is also known as a heart rhythm problem, causing the heart to either beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or to have an irregular pattern. This results when the electrical pulses that coordinate the heartbeats do not work properly.

What are the symptoms of arrhythmia?

People with an arrhythmia may not experience any symptoms, but a prominent arrhythmia may result in the following symptoms:

What causes an arrhythmia?

In some cases, arrhythmias may arise in patients who do not have any other abnormalities. In other cases, arrhythmias may be secondary to other abnormalities.

Potential secondary causes include:

What is the treatment for arrhythmia?

Mild arrhythmias often won’t require treatment, but when an arrhythmia is serious treatment will be required.

Treatment can consist of:

  • Medication – to control the heart beat better
  • Catheter ablation – minimally-invasive procedure that destroys diseased tissue in the heart causing the arrhythmia
  • Cardioversion – electric shocks are used to return the heart beat to a normal rhythm

In specific circumstances, a pacemaker or ICD (a device that monitors heart rhythm, and uses small shocks to maintain a normal rhythm), may be required.

06-07-2023
Top Doctors

Arrhythmia

Dr Saagar Mahida - Cardiology

Created on: 11-13-2012

Updated on: 06-07-2023

Edited by: Aoife Maguire

What is an arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia is also known as a heart rhythm problem, causing the heart to either beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or to have an irregular pattern. This results when the electrical pulses that coordinate the heartbeats do not work properly.

What are the symptoms of arrhythmia?

People with an arrhythmia may not experience any symptoms, but a prominent arrhythmia may result in the following symptoms:

What causes an arrhythmia?

In some cases, arrhythmias may arise in patients who do not have any other abnormalities. In other cases, arrhythmias may be secondary to other abnormalities.

Potential secondary causes include:

What is the treatment for arrhythmia?

Mild arrhythmias often won’t require treatment, but when an arrhythmia is serious treatment will be required.

Treatment can consist of:

  • Medication – to control the heart beat better
  • Catheter ablation – minimally-invasive procedure that destroys diseased tissue in the heart causing the arrhythmia
  • Cardioversion – electric shocks are used to return the heart beat to a normal rhythm

In specific circumstances, a pacemaker or ICD (a device that monitors heart rhythm, and uses small shocks to maintain a normal rhythm), may be required.

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