Arrhythmia: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors

September 30, 2022 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in Diseases

Arrhythmia: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart’s rhythm is irregular and is not able to pump enough blood.. It can be caused by a number of different things, including some medicines and heart defects. It is important to know that arrhythmia doesn’t always cause symptoms.

It can be caused by a number of factors, including inherited conditions, high blood pressure, and heart attack. In some cases it may be related to an abnormal heart rate due to other factors like caffeine or alcohol use. It can also happen during pregnancy or as you grow older.

What is Arrhythmia?

Arrhythmias are a type of disturbance in the normal heart rhythm, which means the heart rhythm can be either too fast or too slow. Arrhythmia that lasts for more than 24 hours is called persistent arrhythmia.

The two most common types of arrhythmia are atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots, stroke, or heart failure. It is caused by an irregular heartbeat called an arrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia is also an arrhythmia that can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, and a fast heartbeat.

Some symptoms for both atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia include:

  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fainting

How does the heart beat with arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heartbeat is irregular or too fast. The heart beats too fast because it receives an electrical signal that makes it speed up.

Atrial fibrillation occurs when there is an abnormal electrical impulse that causes the upper chambers of the heart to contract more frequently than normal. Supraventricular tachycardia results when the electrical impulses in your heart’s upper chambers are not coordinated with those in your lower chambers. Ventricular fibrillation is an abnormal heartbeat that can stop blood flow to your brain and other organs.

A healthy heart usually produces a normal resting heart rate of 60-100 beats per minute, but it may vary depending on the person.

The heart has two parts: the right and left ventricles. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body. When there is arrhythmia, these two parts don’t work together as they should. Instead, they pump at different times and in different amounts. This can cause problems throughout your body as well as your heart.

Types

There are many types of arrhythmia, but it is important to distinguish between them in order to understand the severity of the condition. There are many types of arrhythmia, and some can be more serious than others.

In general, heart arrhythmias are grouped by the speed of the heart rate. For example:

  • Tachycardia is a fast heart. The resting heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute.
  • Bradycardia is a slow heartbeat. The resting heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a common heart condition where the heart beats more than 100 times per minute. In most cases, it is harmless and can be treated by slowing down one’s activities or medications. However, there are some cases when tachycardia can lead to serious health problems and even death.

Types:

There are three types of tachycardia: Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), Atrial Fibrillation, and Ventricular Tachycardia.

  • Supraventricular Tachycardia is the most common type of arrhythmia and is caused by an electrical impulse that originates in the atria. This type of tachycardia can be treated with medication or with a catheter ablation procedure.
  • Atrial Fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that originates in the top chambers of the heart. It can lead to a potentially fatal condition called Atrial Flutter. This condition can be treated with medication or a catheter ablation procedure.
  • Ventricular Tachycardia is the most dangerous type of arrhythmia and is caused by an electrical impulse that originates in the bottom chambers of the heart. It can lead to a potentially fatal condition called Ventricular Fibrillation. This type of tachycardia can be treated with medication or a catheter ablation procedure.

Bradycardia

Bradycardia is a condition in which the resting heart rate is too slow. It can be caused by various factors, such as lack of sleep, physical stress, and some medications. Bradycardia can also be a symptom of other medical conditions such as congestive heart failure or anemia.

Bradycardia may seem harmless at first but it can lead to serious problems if not treated. The most common symptoms are dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting spells.

Types:

There are four types of bradycardia, which are: Sinus bradycardia, Atrial bradycardia, Junctional bradycardia and Ventricular bradycardia.

  • Sinus bradycardia: It is the most common type of Bradycardia and it occurs when there is an abnormally low heart rate in the sinus node. of the heart. Sinus bradycardia can cause symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue and fainting spells.
  • Atrial bradycardia: This happens when your heart rate is too slow at the Atria of your heart.
  • Junctional bradycardia: It happens when your heartbeat is too slow in the junction between atria and ventricles.
  • Ventricular bradycardia: This happens when your heartbeat is too slow in the ventricles of your heart.

Bradycardias can sometimes be serious conditions, but most are a cause for concern only if they are symptomatic enough to be a threat to the person’s health.

Symptoms

There are many different types of arrhythmia, but the most common symptoms are:

  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting or near-fainting spells
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Lightheadedness or feeling faint
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Fatigue

The first symptom of arrhythmia is often palpitations – these are feelings of your heart beating unusually fast or slow and may include chest pain and shortness of breath. Some people with arrhythmia don’t have any symptoms at all and find out they have it only when they go to the doctor for other reasons.

Causes

Arrhythmia is the technical term for an irregular heartbeat. It can be caused by a number of different factors, and it can be life-threatening.

There are many causes of arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias are caused by a heart attack or a heart defect, while others are caused by medication or electrolyte imbalance.

Some of the most common causes of arrhythmia are:

Risk Factors

Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats too quickly or too slowly. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:

  1. Cardiac problems, such as coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy
  2. Congenital heart defects
  3. Electrolyte disturbances, such as low potassium levels
  4. Severe emotional stress
  5. Alcohol abuse
  6. Malignant hyperthermia
  7. Infections, such as viral myocarditis and Lyme disease

Other risk factors include:

  • Genetics
  • Stress
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Some medications and
  • Other medical conditions

The risk factors for arrhythmia are varied and depend on the person’s health condition. The most common risk factor is age as people tend to develop arrhythmia as they grow older.

Summary

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly. These irregularities can be caused by many factors, including heart disease, electrolyte disturbances, and alcohol consumption.

Arrhythmias can be classified as either fast or slow depending on the rate of their heartbeat. A fast arrhythmia has a rate that is too high for the person’s activity level, while a slow arrhythmia has a rate that is too low for the person’s activity level.

If you are experiencing symptoms of arrhythmia, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible in order to find out what causes your arrhythmia and get treatment for it.

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