BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuArrhythmiasAbnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia; FibrillationAn arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.Heart rateThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article An arrhythmia can be harmless, a sign of other heart problems, or an immediate danger to your health. Causes Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersNormally, your heart works as a pump that brings blood to the lungs and the rest of the body.To help this happen, your heart has an electrical system that makes sure it contracts (squeezes) in an orderly way.The electrical impulse that signals your heart to contract begins in an area of the heart called the sinoatrial node (also called the sinus node or SA node). This is your heart's natural pacemaker. The signal leaves the SA node and travels through the heart along a set electrical pathway. Different nerve messages signal your heart to beat slower or faster. Arrhythmias are caused by problems with the heart's electrical conduction system. Abnormal extra signals may occur. Electrical signals may be blocked or slowed. Electrical signals travel in new or different pathways through the heart. Some common causes of abnormal heartbeats are:Abnormal levels of potassium, magnesium, or other substances in the body Heart attack, or a damaged heart muscle from a past heart attack Heart disease that is present at birth (congenital) Heart failure or an enlarged heart Overactive thyroid gland No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersArrhythmias may also be caused by some substances or drugs, including:Alcohol or stimulant drugs Certain medicines Cigarette smoking (nicotine)Some of the more common abnormal heart rhythms are:Atrial fibrillation or flutter Atrial fibrillation or flutterAtrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) Heart block or atrioventricular block Multifocal atrial tachycardia Multifocal atrial tachycardiaMultifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is a rapid heart rate. It occurs when too many signals (electrical impulses) are sent from the upper heart (atri...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardiaParoxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is episodes of a rapid heart rate that start in a part of the heart above the ventricles. "Paroxysmal...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sick sinus syndrome Sick sinus syndromeNormally, the heartbeat starts in an area in the top chambers of the heart (atria). This area is the heart's pacemaker. It is called the sinoatrial...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia Ventricular fibrillationVentricular fibrillation (VF) is a severely abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that is life threatening.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Wolff-Parkinson-White syndromeWolff-Parkinson-White syndromeWolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart that leads to periods of rapid heart r...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms When you have an arrhythmia, your heartbeat may be:Too slow (bradycardia) Too quick (tachycardia) Irregular, uneven, possibly with extra or skipped beats An arrhythmia may be present all of the time or it may come and go. You may or may not feel symptoms when the arrhythmia is present. Or, you may only notice symptoms when you are more active.Symptoms can be very mild, or they may be severe or even life threatening.Common symptoms that may occur when the arrhythmia is present could include:Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fainting FaintingFainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lightheadedness, dizziness LightheadednessFainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Paleness PalenessPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Palpitations (feeling your heart beat fast or irregularly) Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sweating Exams and Tests Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersThe health care provider will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and feel your pulse. Your blood pressure may be low or normal or even high as a result of being uncomfortable.An ECG will be the first test done. ECGAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart monitoring devices are often used to identify the rhythm problem, such as a: Holter monitor (where you wear a device that records and stores your heart rhythm for 24 or more hours) Holter monitorA Holter monitor is a machine that continuously records the heart's rhythms. The monitor is worn for 24 to 48 hours during normal activity.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Event monitor or loop recorder (worn for 2 weeks or longer, where you record your heart rhythm when you feel an abnormal rhythm) Other long-term monitoring options An echocardiogram is sometimes ordered to examine the size or structure of your heart.EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In selected cases, coronary angiography may be performed to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart.Coronary angiographyCoronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A special test, called an electrophysiology study (EPS), is sometimes done to take a closer look at the heart's electrical system.Electrophysiology studyIntracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) is a test to look at how well the heart's electrical signals are working. It is used to evaluate abnormal...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment When an arrhythmia is serious, you may need urgent treatment to restore a normal rhythm. This may include:Electrical therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion) Implanting a short-term heart pacemaker Medicines given through a vein or by mouth Sometimes, better treatment for your angina or heart failure will lower your chance of having an arrhythmia.Medicines called anti-arrhythmic drugs may be used: To prevent an arrhythmia from happening again To keep your heart rate from becoming too fast or too slow Some of these medicines can have side effects. Take them as prescribed by your provider. Do not stop taking the medicine or change the dose without first talking to your provider.Other treatments to prevent or treat abnormal heart rhythms include:Cardiac ablation, used to target areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems Cardiac ablationCardiac ablation is a procedure that is used to scar small areas in your heart that may be involved in your heart rhythm problems. This can prevent ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article An implantable cardioverter defibrillator, placed in people who are at high risk of sudden cardiac death Implantable cardioverter defibrillatorAn implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device that detects a life-threatening, rapid heartbeat. This abnormal heartbeat is called an a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Permanent pacemaker, a device that senses when your heart is beating too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that makes your heart beat at the correct pace. PacemakerA pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. This device senses when your heart is beating too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that mak...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome depends on several factors:The kind of arrhythmia you have. Whether you have coronary artery disease, heart failure, or valvular heart disease.Coronary artery diseaseCoronary heart disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called co...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your provider if:You develop any of the symptoms of a possible arrhythmia. You have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment. Prevention Taking steps to prevent coronary artery disease may reduce your chance of developing an arrhythmia.Prevent coronary artery diseaseCoronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesAl-Khatib SM, Stevenson WG, Ackerman MJ, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: Executive summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Heart Rhythm. 2018;15(10):e190-e252. PMID: 29097320 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29097320/.Olgin JE. Approach to the patient with suspected arrhythmia. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 56.Nattel S, Tomaselli GF. Mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 62.Tracy CM, Epstein AE, Darbar D, et al. 2012 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused update of the 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60(14):1297-1313. PMID: 22975230 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22975230/.AllVideoImagesTogArrhythmiasAnimation No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersArrhythmias - Animation A change in the heart’s normal electrical conduction system can result in an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. An arrhythmia can be an abnormally slow heartbeat, or an abnormally fast heartbeat. In some cases, it can be fatal.What makes your heart beat?Animation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersWhat makes your heart beat? - Animation Let’s take a closer look inside the heart. The yellow objects are not nerves. They’re actually specialized cardiac muscle cells in the walls of the heart. Their job is to send signals to the rest of the heart muscle and cause a contraction. Together, this group of cells is called the Cardiac conduction system. The main components of the Cardiac conduction system are the SA node, AV node, Bundle of His, Bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers. Let’s follow a signal through the contraction process. The SA node starts the sequence by causing the atrial muscles to contract. That’s why doctors sometimes call it the anatomical pacemaker. From there, the signal travels to the AV node, through the Bundle of His, down the Bundle branches, and through the Purkinje fibers, causing the ventricles to contract. This signal creates an electrical current that can be seen on a graph called an Electrocardiogram, or EKG. Doctors us an EKG as a way of seeing how well the Cardiac conduction system works. Any changes to the EKG can mean serious problems.ElectrocardiogramAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersElectrocardiogram - Animation If your heart has been beating too fast, or you've been having chest pain, both you and your doctor will want to find out what's causing the problem so you can get it treated. One way to diagnose heart problems is with a test of the heart's electrical activity, called an electrocardiogram or ECG, or EKG for short. Your heart is controlled by an electrical system, much like the electricity that powers the lights and appliances in your home. Electrical signals make your heart contract so that it can pump blood out to your body. Heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, and other heart problems can affect those signals. Using an ECG, your doctor can identify problems in your heart's electrical system and diagnose heart disease. So, how is an ECG done? First you'll lie down on a table. You'll have to lie very still while the test is done. Small patches, called electrodes, will be attached to several places on your arms, legs, and chest. The patches won't hurt, but some of the hair in those areas may be shaved so the patches will stick to your skin. The patches are then attached to a machine. You'll notice that when the machine is turned on, it produces wavy lines on a piece of paper. Those lines represent the electrical signals coming from your heart. If the test is normal, it should show that your heart is beating at an even rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Many different heart conditions can show up on an ECG, including a fast, slow, or abnormal heart rhythm, a heart defect, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or an enlarged heart. An abnormal ECG may also be a sign that you've had a heart attack in the past, or that you're at risk for one in the near future. If you're healthy and you don't have any family or personal history of heart disease, you don't need to have an ECG on a regular basis. But if you are having heart problems, your doctor may recommend getting this test. An ECG is pretty accurate at diagnosing many types of heart disease, although it doesn't always pick up every heart problem. You may have a perfectly normal ECG, yet still have a heart condition. If your test is normal but your doctor suspects that you have a heart problem, he may recommend that you have another ECG, or a different type of test to find out for sure.Heart - section through the middle - illustration The interior of the heart is composed of valves, chambers, and associated vessels.Heart - section through the middleillustrationHeart - front view - illustration The external structures of the heart include the ventricles, atria, arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood into the heart. The vessels colored blue indicate the transport of blood with relatively low content of oxygen and high content of carbon dioxide. The vessels colored red indicate the transport of blood with relatively high content of oxygen and low content of carbon dioxide.Heart - front viewillustrationNormal heart rhythm - illustration An electrocardiogram (ECG) test measures the electrical activity of the heart. A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.Normal heart rhythmillustrationBradycardia - illustration Bradycardia heart rhythms are characterized by a slowness of the heartbeat, usually at a rate under 60 beats per minute (normal resting rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute).BradycardiaillustrationVentricular tachycardia - illustration Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid resting heart rate initiated within the ventricles, typically at 160 to 240 beats per minute (normal resting rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute).Ventricular tachycardiaillustrationAtrioventricular block - ECG tracing - illustration This picture shows an ECG (electrocardiogram, EKG) of a person with an abnormal rhythm (arrhythmia) called an atrioventricular (AV) block. P waves show that the top of the heart received electrical activity. Each P wave is usually followed by the tall (QRS) waves. QRS waves reflect the electrical activity that causes the heart to contract. When a P wave is present and not followed by a QRS wave (and heart contraction), there is an atrioventricular block, and a very slow pulse (bradycardia).Atrioventricular block - ECG tracingillustrationConduction system of the heart - illustration The intrinsic conduction system sets the basic rhythm of the beating heart by generating impulses which stimulate the heart to contract.Conduction system of the heartillustrationArrhythmiasAnimation No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersArrhythmias - Animation A change in the heart’s normal electrical conduction system can result in an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. An arrhythmia can be an abnormally slow heartbeat, or an abnormally fast heartbeat. In some cases, it can be fatal.What makes your heart beat?Animation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersWhat makes your heart beat? - Animation Let’s take a closer look inside the heart. The yellow objects are not nerves. They’re actually specialized cardiac muscle cells in the walls of the heart. Their job is to send signals to the rest of the heart muscle and cause a contraction. Together, this group of cells is called the Cardiac conduction system. The main components of the Cardiac conduction system are the SA node, AV node, Bundle of His, Bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers. Let’s follow a signal through the contraction process. The SA node starts the sequence by causing the atrial muscles to contract. That’s why doctors sometimes call it the anatomical pacemaker. From there, the signal travels to the AV node, through the Bundle of His, down the Bundle branches, and through the Purkinje fibers, causing the ventricles to contract. This signal creates an electrical current that can be seen on a graph called an Electrocardiogram, or EKG. Doctors us an EKG as a way of seeing how well the Cardiac conduction system works. Any changes to the EKG can mean serious problems.ElectrocardiogramAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersElectrocardiogram - Animation If your heart has been beating too fast, or you've been having chest pain, both you and your doctor will want to find out what's causing the problem so you can get it treated. One way to diagnose heart problems is with a test of the heart's electrical activity, called an electrocardiogram or ECG, or EKG for short. Your heart is controlled by an electrical system, much like the electricity that powers the lights and appliances in your home. Electrical signals make your heart contract so that it can pump blood out to your body. Heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, and other heart problems can affect those signals. Using an ECG, your doctor can identify problems in your heart's electrical system and diagnose heart disease. So, how is an ECG done? First you'll lie down on a table. You'll have to lie very still while the test is done. Small patches, called electrodes, will be attached to several places on your arms, legs, and chest. The patches won't hurt, but some of the hair in those areas may be shaved so the patches will stick to your skin. The patches are then attached to a machine. You'll notice that when the machine is turned on, it produces wavy lines on a piece of paper. Those lines represent the electrical signals coming from your heart. If the test is normal, it should show that your heart is beating at an even rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Many different heart conditions can show up on an ECG, including a fast, slow, or abnormal heart rhythm, a heart defect, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or an enlarged heart. An abnormal ECG may also be a sign that you've had a heart attack in the past, or that you're at risk for one in the near future. If you're healthy and you don't have any family or personal history of heart disease, you don't need to have an ECG on a regular basis. But if you are having heart problems, your doctor may recommend getting this test. An ECG is pretty accurate at diagnosing many types of heart disease, although it doesn't always pick up every heart problem. You may have a perfectly normal ECG, yet still have a heart condition. If your test is normal but your doctor suspects that you have a heart problem, he may recommend that you have another ECG, or a different type of test to find out for sure.Heart - section through the middle - illustration The interior of the heart is composed of valves, chambers, and associated vessels.Heart - section through the middleillustrationHeart - front view - illustration The external structures of the heart include the ventricles, atria, arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood into the heart. The vessels colored blue indicate the transport of blood with relatively low content of oxygen and high content of carbon dioxide. The vessels colored red indicate the transport of blood with relatively high content of oxygen and low content of carbon dioxide.Heart - front viewillustrationNormal heart rhythm - illustration An electrocardiogram (ECG) test measures the electrical activity of the heart. A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.Normal heart rhythmillustrationBradycardia - illustration Bradycardia heart rhythms are characterized by a slowness of the heartbeat, usually at a rate under 60 beats per minute (normal resting rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute).BradycardiaillustrationVentricular tachycardia - illustration Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid resting heart rate initiated within the ventricles, typically at 160 to 240 beats per minute (normal resting rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute).Ventricular tachycardiaillustrationAtrioventricular block - ECG tracing - illustration This picture shows an ECG (electrocardiogram, EKG) of a person with an abnormal rhythm (arrhythmia) called an atrioventricular (AV) block. P waves show that the top of the heart received electrical activity. Each P wave is usually followed by the tall (QRS) waves. QRS waves reflect the electrical activity that causes the heart to contract. When a P wave is present and not followed by a QRS wave (and heart contraction), there is an atrioventricular block, and a very slow pulse (bradycardia).Atrioventricular block - ECG tracingillustrationConduction system of the heart - illustration The intrinsic conduction system sets the basic rhythm of the beating heart by generating impulses which stimulate the heart to contract.Conduction system of the heartillustrationRelated Information Pulse(Medical Test)Angina(Condition)Heart attack(Condition)Heart failure(Condition)Stroke(Condition)Atrial myxoma(Condition)Cardiac ablation procedures (Surgery)Heart pacemaker(Surgery)Atrial fibrillation - discharge (Discharge)Taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) - what to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions)Heart pacemaker - discharge(Discharge)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/8/2022 Reviewed By: Fang JC, O'Gara PT. History and physical examination: an evidence-based approach. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2022: chap 13. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
ArrhythmiasAbnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia; FibrillationAn arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.Heart rateThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article An arrhythmia can be harmless, a sign of other heart problems, or an immediate danger to your health. Causes Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersNormally, your heart works as a pump that brings blood to the lungs and the rest of the body.To help this happen, your heart has an electrical system that makes sure it contracts (squeezes) in an orderly way.The electrical impulse that signals your heart to contract begins in an area of the heart called the sinoatrial node (also called the sinus node or SA node). This is your heart's natural pacemaker. The signal leaves the SA node and travels through the heart along a set electrical pathway. Different nerve messages signal your heart to beat slower or faster. Arrhythmias are caused by problems with the heart's electrical conduction system. Abnormal extra signals may occur. Electrical signals may be blocked or slowed. Electrical signals travel in new or different pathways through the heart. Some common causes of abnormal heartbeats are:Abnormal levels of potassium, magnesium, or other substances in the body Heart attack, or a damaged heart muscle from a past heart attack Heart disease that is present at birth (congenital) Heart failure or an enlarged heart Overactive thyroid gland No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersArrhythmias may also be caused by some substances or drugs, including:Alcohol or stimulant drugs Certain medicines Cigarette smoking (nicotine)Some of the more common abnormal heart rhythms are:Atrial fibrillation or flutter Atrial fibrillation or flutterAtrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) Heart block or atrioventricular block Multifocal atrial tachycardia Multifocal atrial tachycardiaMultifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is a rapid heart rate. It occurs when too many signals (electrical impulses) are sent from the upper heart (atri...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardiaParoxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is episodes of a rapid heart rate that start in a part of the heart above the ventricles. "Paroxysmal...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sick sinus syndrome Sick sinus syndromeNormally, the heartbeat starts in an area in the top chambers of the heart (atria). This area is the heart's pacemaker. It is called the sinoatrial...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia Ventricular fibrillationVentricular fibrillation (VF) is a severely abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that is life threatening.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Wolff-Parkinson-White syndromeWolff-Parkinson-White syndromeWolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart that leads to periods of rapid heart r...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms When you have an arrhythmia, your heartbeat may be:Too slow (bradycardia) Too quick (tachycardia) Irregular, uneven, possibly with extra or skipped beats An arrhythmia may be present all of the time or it may come and go. You may or may not feel symptoms when the arrhythmia is present. Or, you may only notice symptoms when you are more active.Symptoms can be very mild, or they may be severe or even life threatening.Common symptoms that may occur when the arrhythmia is present could include:Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fainting FaintingFainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lightheadedness, dizziness LightheadednessFainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Paleness PalenessPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Palpitations (feeling your heart beat fast or irregularly) Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sweating Exams and Tests Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersThe health care provider will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and feel your pulse. Your blood pressure may be low or normal or even high as a result of being uncomfortable.An ECG will be the first test done. ECGAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart monitoring devices are often used to identify the rhythm problem, such as a: Holter monitor (where you wear a device that records and stores your heart rhythm for 24 or more hours) Holter monitorA Holter monitor is a machine that continuously records the heart's rhythms. The monitor is worn for 24 to 48 hours during normal activity.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Event monitor or loop recorder (worn for 2 weeks or longer, where you record your heart rhythm when you feel an abnormal rhythm) Other long-term monitoring options An echocardiogram is sometimes ordered to examine the size or structure of your heart.EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In selected cases, coronary angiography may be performed to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart.Coronary angiographyCoronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A special test, called an electrophysiology study (EPS), is sometimes done to take a closer look at the heart's electrical system.Electrophysiology studyIntracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) is a test to look at how well the heart's electrical signals are working. It is used to evaluate abnormal...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment When an arrhythmia is serious, you may need urgent treatment to restore a normal rhythm. This may include:Electrical therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion) Implanting a short-term heart pacemaker Medicines given through a vein or by mouth Sometimes, better treatment for your angina or heart failure will lower your chance of having an arrhythmia.Medicines called anti-arrhythmic drugs may be used: To prevent an arrhythmia from happening again To keep your heart rate from becoming too fast or too slow Some of these medicines can have side effects. Take them as prescribed by your provider. Do not stop taking the medicine or change the dose without first talking to your provider.Other treatments to prevent or treat abnormal heart rhythms include:Cardiac ablation, used to target areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems Cardiac ablationCardiac ablation is a procedure that is used to scar small areas in your heart that may be involved in your heart rhythm problems. This can prevent ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article An implantable cardioverter defibrillator, placed in people who are at high risk of sudden cardiac death Implantable cardioverter defibrillatorAn implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device that detects a life-threatening, rapid heartbeat. This abnormal heartbeat is called an a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Permanent pacemaker, a device that senses when your heart is beating too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that makes your heart beat at the correct pace. PacemakerA pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. This device senses when your heart is beating too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that mak...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome depends on several factors:The kind of arrhythmia you have. Whether you have coronary artery disease, heart failure, or valvular heart disease.Coronary artery diseaseCoronary heart disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called co...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your provider if:You develop any of the symptoms of a possible arrhythmia. You have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment. Prevention Taking steps to prevent coronary artery disease may reduce your chance of developing an arrhythmia.Prevent coronary artery diseaseCoronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesAl-Khatib SM, Stevenson WG, Ackerman MJ, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: Executive summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Heart Rhythm. 2018;15(10):e190-e252. PMID: 29097320 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29097320/.Olgin JE. Approach to the patient with suspected arrhythmia. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 56.Nattel S, Tomaselli GF. Mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 62.Tracy CM, Epstein AE, Darbar D, et al. 2012 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused update of the 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60(14):1297-1313. PMID: 22975230 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22975230/.