ISSN: 1755-5310 (Electronic)1755-5302 (Print)

Interventional Cardiology

Cardiac Arrhythmia

 Arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats are not working correctly. An irregular heartbeat may feel like a racing heart or fluttering.   Many heart arrhythmias are harmless. However, if they are highly irregular or result from a weak or damaged heart, arrhythmias can cause severe and potentially fatal symptoms and complications.   In this article, we define arrhythmia, as well as its causes and symptoms. We also explain the possible treatments and different types.   Cardiac arrhythmia refers to a group of conditions that cause the heart to beat irregular, too slowly, or too quickly.   There are several categories of arrhythmia, including:   ·         bradycardia, or a slow heartbeat ·         tachycardia, or a fast heartbeat ·         irregular heartbeat, also known as a flutter or fibrillation ·         early heartbeat, or a premature contraction ·         Most arrhythmias are not severe and do not cause complications. Some, however, can increase the risk of stroke or cardiac arrest.   Some people may hear doctors use the word “dysrhythmia” when referring to their irregular heartbeat. The words arrhythmia and dysrhythmia mean the same, but the word arrhythmia is more prevalent.   Doctors identify a healthy heartbeat by counting the number of times the heart beats every minute (bpm) during rest. This is known as the resting heart rate.   The range for a healthy resting heart rate varies between individuals, but the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that it is usually between 60 and 100 bpm.   The fitter a person is, the lower their resting heart rate becomes. Olympic athletes, for example, will usually have a resting heart rate of less than 60 bpm, because their hearts are highly efficient.   The heart should beat with a regular rhythm, consisting of double “ba-bum” beats with even spaces in between each.  

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