Cardiac Arrhythmia

Also known as: arrhythmia, heart arrhythmia, abnormal heart rhythm, heart rhythm problems

What is ​Cardiac Arrhythmia?

Any form of abnormality with the rhythm of your heartbeat, whether it's fast, slow or irregular, is known as a cardiac arrhythmia. There are literally hundreds of different types of arrhythmia.

What causes cardiac arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia can have a number of different causes. Some run in the family and are inherited. Others are caused by lifestyle factors like stress, smoking, alcohol, caffeine or high blood pressure. Diseases such as diabetes, a previous heart attack or several others can also lead to arrhythmia.

What are the symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia?

In many cases, people don't notice an arrhythmia. When they do, it may cause a noticeable heartbeat or fluttering in the chest, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating or fainting.

What are cardiac arrhythmia care options?

Treatments for arrhythmia vary widely based on the nature and severity of the disease. Some may be managed with stress reduction techniques or medications. Others might require procedures such as surgery or the implantation of a pacemaker or another device in order to regulate the heartbeat.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: July 10, 2020 09:49 AM