Symptoms & Types of Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia also referred to as cardiac arrhythmia, is an abnormal rhythm of the heart.

An arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah) is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Arrhythmias can be associated with serious symptoms that can affect your ability to function. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.

When the heart rate is too fast, too slow, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.

Symptoms of Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias may not cause any signs or symptoms. In fact, your doctor might find you have an arrhythmia during a routine examination. Symptoms of heart arrhythmia include:

Chest pain

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit the emergency room. Chest pain varies depending on the person. Chest pain is only one of the possible signs of an impending heart attack. If you notice one or more of the signs below in yourself or someone else, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Shortness of breath

Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.

Dizziness

Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced. It affects the sensory organs, specifically the eyes and ears, so it can sometimes cause fainting. Dizziness isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of various disorders.

Dizziness is disorientation in space, lightheadedness, or a sense of unsteadiness. It affects your sense of balance and can increase your risk of falling.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a term used to describe an overall feeling of tiredness or lack of energy. It isn't the same as simply feeling drowsy or sleepy. When you're fatigued, you have no motivation and no energy. Being sleepy may be a symptom of fatigue, but it's not the same thing.

Types of Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias that are recurrent or related to an underlying heart condition are more concerning and should always be evaluated by a doctor. There are have some types of Arrhythmia.

They are;

Tachycardia

Tachycardia refers to a fast resting heart rate, usually over 100 beats per minute. Depending on its underlying cause and how hard the heart has to work, it can be dangerous.

When tachycardia is present, either the upper or lower chambers of the heart beat significantly faster.

When the heart beats too rapidly, it pumps less efficiently. Blood flow to the rest of the body, including the heart, reduces.

The heart has a natural pacemaker, called the sinoatrial node, in the right atrium. This produces electrical impulses. Each one triggers an individual heartbeat.

As the electrical impulses leave the sinoatrial node, they cross the atria, making the atrial muscles contract. This contraction pushes blood into the ventricles.

Bradycardia

Bradycardia means your heart rate is slow. This can be completely normal and desirable, but sometimes it can be an abnormal heart rhythm. If you have bradycardia and you have certain symptoms along with the slow heart rate, then it means your heartbeat is too slow.

Supraventricular tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), also called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, is defined as an abnormally fast heartbeat. It's a broad term that includes many forms of heart rhythm problems that originate above the ventricles (supraventricular) in the atria or AV node.

Most people with rare episodes of supraventricular tachycardia live healthy lives without restrictions or interventions.

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