Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. The risk of developing this type of heart arrhythmia increases with age.
Cardiac arrhythmias, also known as heart arrhythmia, is an abnormal heart rhythm. The type of cardiac arrhythmia is determined by whether the irregular heartbeat is too fast or too slow. The two main categories of cardiac arrhythmia are bradycardia, when the heart beats too slowly, and tachycardia, when the heart’s rhythm becomes too rapid. The most common type of cardiac arrhythmia is a form of tachycardia called atrial fibrillation.
While it's normal for heart rates to alter with behavior—slower rates while resting or sleeping and faster rates while being physically active—cardiac arrhythmia occurs when the heart rate doesn't match the activity level. The resting heart rate can identify both types of heart arrhythmia. A healthy resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. When a person's resting heart rate is regularly outside of this range, they may have cardiac arrhythmia.
Cardiac arrhythmia may not cause any symptoms. In cases where symptoms occur, people with cardiac arrhythmia can experience the following:
Our specialists are experienced in treating heart rhythm conditions, including all types of bradycardia and tachycardia.
Bradycardia cases typically have a resting heart rate of below 60 beats per minute.
Tachycardia can be broken into two primary categories. The difference between these conditions depends on where the problem occurs in the heart. Supraventricular arrhythmias occur within the upper parts of the heart, known as the atria. Ventricular arrhythmias occur lower in the heart, known as the ventricles.
Causes of cardiac arrhythmia are varied and not always known. However, there are several suspected irregular heartbeat causes to consider. Many of these align with general causes of heart disease and can also be considered the dominant risk factors of cardiac arrhythmias.
While some, like genetic heart disease, may be outside of your control, other cardiac arrhythmia risk factors like alcohol consumption and smoking are behaviors you can avoid or manage. Similarly, risk factors like high blood pressure can often be managed with the assistance of medicine or lifestyle changes. Risk factors for cardiac arrhythmia include:
Early indications of cardiac arrhythmia may lead to a more thorough examination with specialized tests. It's relatively common for arrhythmia to be identified through symptoms or during a regular checkup. Our cardiac imaging specialists offer the latest diagnostic procedures for all cardiac arrhythmias, which may include:
These tests use different techniques to create a picture of the heart so that doctors may analyze it for abnormalities.
These tests may be used to assess risk of arrhythmias:
Because heart arrhythmias don't always occur regularly, portable heart monitors can continue to record data while a patient is at home. The prolonged recording increases the odds of finding an irregular heart rhythm if there is one.
Once a diagnosis is made, we offer the most advanced treatments and procedures to help manage arrhythmias. Heart arrhythmia treatments can vary significantly between patients and conditions. While most cases may include some lifestyle recommendations, such as healthy exercise and diet, medication and surgery are common treatments. In some cases of cardiac arrhythmia, treatment may not be required to manage symptoms, but in more extreme cases, arrhythmias can lead to life-threatening risks if left untreated.
Basic lifestyle recommendations are a frequent component of cardiac arrhythmia treatments. These include maintaining a healthy level of physical activity, consuming a heart-healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco consumption, and keeping a healthy sleep cycle.
Medications are the other primary, non-surgical treatment approach for cardiac arrhythmia. Depending on your case, condition, and severity, your physician may prescribe you a medication that can help regulate your heart's rhythm.
Electrical cardioversion is a non-surgical procedure that can correct some cardiac arrhythmias. An electrical current is pushed through the chest, encouraging the heart to resume a normal rhythm. While this procedure is non-invasive, it often involves a sedative and can be fairly involved.
Surgical heart arrhythmia treatments generally attempt to fix the problem within the heart directly or by implanting a device that can help regulate the heart's rhythm.
While cardiac arrhythmia may not be preventable in many cases, it's often possible to lower your risk by addressing potential causes and risk factors. In general, follow heart-healthy lifestyle practices and maintain an awareness of your heartbeat. Even when prevention isn't an option, early detection can significantly affect prognosis.
Living with heart arrhythmia is similar in some ways to preventing it. The lifestyle changes that may reduce your risk of developing cardiac arrhythmia may also reduce your symptoms and risks if you already have heart arrhythmia. However, when living with this condition, it's vital to consult your doctor and ensure you receive any necessary treatments.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. The risk of developing this type of heart arrhythmia increases with age.
Occasionally, an irregular heartbeat may only occur briefly before returning to normal. However, if this happens often or in prolonged episodes, it can present several health risks. Depending on the type of heart arrhythmia in question, and other health factors, leaving this condition untreated could lead to stroke or other life-threatening problems.
In many cases, the condition is managed rather than cured. However, catheter ablation may be able to reverse the condition in some cases by eliminating arrhythmogenic tissue or abnormal electrical connections.
If you notice your heart beating too slowly or too rapidly, you may want to schedule an appointment to be examined. If you are experiencing severe symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia, seek medical aid promptly.
Some mobile devices can detect an abnormal pulse or heart rhythm.
In particular, there are devices that identify atrial fibrillation and may present a more convenient option than more cumbersome medical devices that require a prescription. However, these personal mobile devices are not intended to diagnose cardiac arrhythmias on their own. Therefore, it is recommended that patients consult their doctor or cardiologist for a more thorough diagnostic testing if abnormal heart rhythms are detected.