Your heart rhythmically beats around 100,000 times a day. Each beat follows a precise electrical signal that travels through the heart in a coordinated pattern, telling it exactly when to contract and pump blood to the rest of your body.
When this electrical signalling is disrupted, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly, the condition is called arrhythmia.
Some arrhythmias cause noticeable symptoms, whereas others are detected only on a routine ECG or cardiac evaluation.
Common symptoms to watch for include:
Occasional irregular heartbeats are common. But when the changes are persistent, sudden, or come with other symptoms, it’s time to see a cardiologist.
Arrhythmias are grouped based on where they originate in the heart and whether they cause it to beat too fast or too slow.
Tachycardia refers to a heart rate above 100 beats per minute at rest. It includes:
Bradycardia refers to a heart rate below 60 beats per minute. It can result from:
Depending on the cause, bradycardia may require a pacemaker to keep the heart beating at a healthy pace.
These are common and usually harmless, especially if occasional.
Ventricular fibrillation (VFib) is one of the most serious, life-threatening arrhythmias in which instead of contracting normally, the heart’s lower chambers flutter chaotically, and blood flow to the body stops almost immediately.
Arrhythmia can develop because of changes in the heart’s electrical system or because of another health condition. Possible arrhythmia causes and risk factors are:
This condition can also affect people without known heart disease. Arrhythmia in young adults may sometimes be connected with inherited rhythm disorders, congenital heart conditions or episodes of SVT. So, age is not an excuse to ignore symptoms that keep coming back.
The treatment depends on what type of arrhythmia you have, what is causing it, your symptoms, and how serious it is. Based on your condition, a cardiologist may suggest one or more of the following treatment options:
Medicines may be prescribed to control heart rate or rhythm. For certain arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, medication may also be used to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke. Your cardiac care specialist may adjust the medicine based on your response and other health conditions.
If an abnormal electrical pathway is responsible for the rhythm problem, catheter ablation for arrhythmia may be considered.
During an electrophysiology procedure:
Ablation is commonly used for conditions such as SVT and can also be used for atrial flutter and some cases of atrial fibrillation.
Cardioversion may be used for certain fast or irregular rhythms to restore a more regular heart rhythm. It can be performed using medication or a controlled electrical shock, depending on the situation.
When the heart beats too slowly or has certain conduction problems, pacemaker implantation may be recommended. A pacemaker monitors the heart rhythm and delivers electrical impulses when needed to maintain the right heart rate.
An ICD implant surgery may be recommended for people at risk of certain life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The device continuously monitors the heart and can deliver therapy when it detects a dangerous rhythm. Some ICDs can also provide pacing when the heart rate becomes too slow.
For some people, managing the causes and underlying conditions is an important part of treatment. Improving sleep, limiting alcohol, managing blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight and reviewing medicines or stimulants with a doctor, are the parts of this treatment approach.
If frequent palpitations, an abnormal ECG or a diagnosed rhythm disorder is affecting your daily life, specialist evaluation can help determine whether you need monitoring, medication or an interventional procedure.
At the CK Birla Hospital, patients can benefit from:
Book a consultation at the CK Birla Hospital, to discuss persistent palpitations, an irregular heartbeat or a diagnosed arrhythmia.
No. Some arrhythmias are harmless or require only observation, whereas others can affect how effectively the heart pumps blood or increase the risk of complications. The seriousness depends on the type of arrhythmia, its cause and the person’s overall heart health.
It depends on the type. Some rhythm disorders can be successfully treated with catheter ablation or other procedures; on the other hand, others require long-term medication, monitoring or an implanted device.
An ECG is usually recommended. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor, event monitor, echocardiogram, blood tests, or an electrophysiology (EP) study.
Recovery varies according to the type of arrhythmia, the procedure performed and your overall health. Many people can return to routine activities relatively quickly, but strenuous activity may need to be avoided for a short period.
Sometimes lifestyle measures can help reduce symptoms or manage factors that contribute to an arrhythmia, but they cannot replace medical treatment when a specific rhythm disorder requires it.
