What Is an Arrhythmia?
Your heartbeat is controlled by electrical signals that coordinate each chamber's contraction. When those signals fire too quickly, too slowly, or from the wrong place, the heart beats out of its normal rhythm. Arrhythmias range from occasional, harmless skipped beats to conditions that meaningfully increase health risks if left untreated.
What Are the Common Types?
Atrial fibrillation (AFib): a rapid, irregular rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart, and one of the most common arrhythmias, especially with age.
Bradycardia: a heart rate that's slower than normal, which can cause fatigue or fainting if severe.
Tachycardia: a heart rate that's faster than normal even at rest.
Premature contractions: extra, early heartbeats that often feel like a skip or flutter and are frequently harmless.
What Are the Symptoms?
- A fluttering or pounding sensation in the chest
- A racing or unusually slow heartbeat
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort or fainting, in more serious cases
Some arrhythmias cause no symptoms at all and are found only during a routine exam or EKG.
How Are Arrhythmias Diagnosed?
An electrocardiogram (EKG) captures the heart's electrical activity and is the starting point for most evaluations. If the arrhythmia comes and goes, a portable heart monitor worn for a day or longer can catch episodes an in-office EKG might miss.
How Are Arrhythmias Treated?
- Lifestyle adjustments — reducing caffeine, alcohol, or stress triggers
- Medications to control heart rate or rhythm
- Blood thinners, when the type of arrhythmia raises stroke risk
- Cardiac ablation, a procedure that targets the specific tissue causing the abnormal rhythm
- A pacemaker, for arrhythmias involving a heart rate that's too slow
Everything in One Place
From the first EKG to ongoing monitoring, medication management, or a procedure like ablation, Hospital CMQ's cardiology team follows arrhythmia care from diagnosis through treatment under one roof.
When Should I Seek Emergency Care?
Go to the emergency room if a racing or irregular heartbeat comes with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or a sense that something is seriously wrong.
A racing, fluttering, or skipping heartbeat deserves an EKG. Ask our cardiology team for an evaluation.
References
- American Heart Association — Arrhythmia
- Mayo Clinic — Heart arrhythmias overview
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH) — Arrhythmia
