Arrhythmia (Irregular Heartbeat) | Heart and Vascular

Arrhythmia is a condition in which your heartbeat may be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular. Physicians may also refer to this condition as heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrhythmia or dysrhythmia.

If your heart doesn't beat properly, blood can't travel effectively to your lungs, brain or other organs. Without proper blood flow, your organs may become damaged or stop working.

Severity of arrhythmia can vary from no symptoms to stroke or cardiac arrest. This is based on the source of arrhythmia, the cause as well as the type of arrhythmia.  

Arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, can happen for many reasons. Heart rhythm problems often result when the electrical signals that direct your heartbeat don't work properly.

Changes in heartbeat are normal and expected during sleep, physical activity and moments of stress.

However, you should talk to your physician if you experience irregular heartbeat, as it may be a serious problem. Untreated arrhythmias could result in cardiac arrest and stroke.

Risk factors for arrhythmia include:

Expect your physician to do a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Keep track of when and how often your symptoms occur, and bring that information to your appointment. Your observations can help your physician diagnose and treat arrhythmia.

There are several types of arrhythmias. They can range from a minor to severe risk to your health.

Your physician may order common tests to confirm an irregular heartbeat and any conditions that can cause arrhythmias.

These tests may include: 

• Ambulatory monitors (Holter monitor) that record your heart’s activity over a period of time  
• Blood tests to check your electrolyte levels or look for genetic issues 
• Cardiac catheterization, a procedure where physicians place a tube called a catheter in your coronary arteries to understand how your heart is working.  
• Tilt table test may be used if you’ve had fainting spells. It safely tests your body’s reaction to moving from lying to standing.  
• Stress tests that are medically supervised exercise tests performed on a treadmill or stationary bike. If your physician suspects physical exertion is triggering your arrhythmia, they may recommend this test.  

 Your physician may also recommend imaging tests, such as: 

• Computed tomography (CT) scan to assess the size and function of your heart and heart valves. CT scans use X-rays to produce images of your chest. 
• Echocardiogram that uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart’s size, structure, and motion 
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to detect your heart’s electrical activity and measure the time and duration  
• Electrophysiology testing (EP study) which reveals the electrical activity in your heart through electrodes placed in the heart’s blood vessels.  
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that uses magnets and radio waves to create images of your heart 

Arrhythmia is a common condition that is treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, therapies, and surgery to help prevent blood clots and restore your heart’s normal rhythm.

Your physician will recommend treatments based on the type and severity of your arrhythmia and can include: 

Medications

There are several medications available that restore your heart’s normal rhythm by slowing your heart rate. There are others that physicians use to prevent blood clots from forming.

Your physician may recommend: 

• Beta blockers
• Blood thinners
• Calcium channel blockers
• Other heart rhythm medications

Lifestyle Changes and Therapies

Adopting heart-healthy lifestyle changes is the most common way to prevent arrhythmia and reduce your risk of more severe health complications.

These changes include: 

• Controlling cholesterol levels 
• Controlling blood pressure 
• Eating a heart healthy diet 
• Exercising regularly 
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption 
• Avoiding drugs of abuse 
• Losing excess weight 
• Managing stress 
• Quitting smoking or other tobacco use 

Check out our classes to learn more about heart health

Therapies 

In addition to medication and lifestyle changes, your physician may also recommend therapies to correct your irregular heartbeat.

These therapies include: 

• Cardioversion 
• Catheter ablation 
• Implantable devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators 

Surgery 

If medications, therapies and lifestyle changes are not effective, your physician may recommend surgery to treatment the arrhythmia. Some surgeries involve the use of a narrow tube (catheter) to implant a device that will restore the rhythm of your heart. Other procedures may require open-heart surgery.

Arrhythmia surgeries include: 

• Catheter ablation
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
• Maze procedure
• Pacemaker implant