This is the irregular beating of the atrial chambers, and nearly always involves tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation A-fib is common and mainly develops in adults over 65 years of age. Instead of producing a single, strong contraction, the chamber fibrillates, or quivers, often producing a rapid heartbeat. While fibrillation causes many random and different quivers in the atrium, atrial flutter is usually from one area in the atrium that is not conducting properly.
This produces a consistent pattern in the abnormal heart conduction. The condition known as supraventricular tachycardia SVT refers to a rapid but rhythmically regular heartbeat.
An individual can experience a burst of accelerated heartbeats that can last from a few seconds to a few hours. This condition refers to abnormal electrical impulses that start in the ventricles and cause an abnormally fast heartbeat. This often happens if the heart has a scar from a previous heart attack.
This is an irregular heart rhythm consisting of rapid, uncoordinated, and fluttering contractions of the ventricles. The ventricles do not pump blood but quiver instead. Ventricular fibrillation can be life threatening and usually has links to heart disease.
A heart attack often triggers it. Find out more about ventricular fibrillation here. This syndrome refers to a heart rhythm disorder that sometimes causes rapid, uncoordinated heartbeats. This can result in fainting, which may be life threatening. Any interruption to the electrical impulses that stimulate heart contractions may result in arrhythmia.
A person with good heart health will hardly ever experience long-term arrhythmia unless they have an external trigger, such as a substance use disorder or an electric shock. However, an underlying heart problem can mean that electrical impulses do not travel through the heart correctly. This increases the risk of arrhythmia. Arrhythmia might not cause noticeable symptoms.
However, a doctor may detect an arrhythmia during a routine examination or after requesting an electrocardiogram EKG. Even if an individual notices symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that they have a severe arrhythmia.
Some people with life threatening arrhythmias may have no symptoms, while others with symptoms may not have a severe arrhythmia. Some people may not experience active symptoms due to arrhythmia. However, treatment is still essential for preventing further complications, which may include stroke and heart failure.
Stroke : Atrial fibrillation means that the heart is not pumping effectively. This condition can cause blood to collect in pools and form clots. If a clot dislodges, it may travel to a brain artery, causing a potentially fatal blockage, or stroke.
Stroke can cause brain damage and require emergency treatment. Learn more about stroke and how to prevent one occurring. Heart failure: Prolonged tachycardia or bradycardia can result in heart failure. When the heart is failing, it cannot pump enough blood to the body and its organs.
Treatment can usually help improve this. Treatment for arrhythmia is only necessary if the condition is increasing the risk of more severe arrhythmia or a complication, or if the symptoms are severe. If bradycardia occurs due to an underlying condition, a doctor will need to treat that condition first. If they find no underlying problem, the doctor may advise implanting a pacemaker.
As with atrial fibrillation, some but not all of these signals travel to the lower chambers. As a result, the upper chambers and lower chambers beat at different rates. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia PSVT. In PSVT, electrical signals that begin in the upper chambers and travel to the lower chambers cause extra heartbeats. This arrhythmia begins and ends suddenly. It can happen during vigorous physical activity. It is usually not dangerous and tends to occur in young people.
Ventricular arrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia is a fast, regular beating of the ventricles that may last for only a few seconds or for much longer. A few beats of ventricular tachycardia often do not cause problems. However, episodes that last for more than a few seconds can be dangerous. Ventricular tachycardia can turn into other more serious arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, or v-fib. Torsades de pointes is a type of arrhythmia that causes a unique pattern on an EKG and often leads to v-fib.
Ventricular fibrillation occurs if disorganized electrical signals make the ventricles quiver instead of pumping normally.
Without the ventricles pumping blood to the body, sudden cardiac arrest and death can occur within a few minutes. Causes - Arrhythmia. Changes to the heart. Exertion or strain. Imbalances in the blood. An excess of thyroid hormone can cause the heart to beat faster, and thyroid deficiency can slow your heart rate.
Dehydration can cause the heart to race. Low blood sugar, from an eating disorder or insulin doses that are too high in someone who has diabetes, can lead to slow or extra heartbeats. Low levels of potassium, magnesium, or calcium can trigger arrhythmia. These electrolyte disturbances can occur after a heart attack or surgery.
Problems with the electrical signals in the heart. Disorders of electrical signaling in the heart are called conduction disorders. Want to learn more about why arrhythmias occur? Read more. The parasympathetic nervous system slows the heart rate and prepares other functions when the body is at rest.
It is stimulated by extreme cold or bouts of coughing. Nerve activity slows electrical signals in the heart and extends the time it takes for the heart to relax and fill. Overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system can lead to bradycardia. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for action, making the heart beat faster and making it easier to breathe.
The adrenal glands release the hormone adrenaline that sparks these changes. Overstimulation from intense stress can also cause tachyarrhythmias. Read less. Look for. Treatment will discuss heart-healthy lifestyle changes that your doctors may recommend if you are diagnosed with arrhythmia. Risk Factors - Arrhythmia.
Family history and genetics. Lifestyle habits. Your risk for arrhythmia may be higher because of certain lifestyle habits, including: Drinking alcohol Smoking Using illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines. Other medical conditions. These include: Aneurysms Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus Cardiomyopathy , which affects the heart muscle Diabetes, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and coronary heart disease Eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia, which cause electrolyte imbalance and severe malnutrition Heart attack Heart inflammation Heart failure , which weakens the heart and changes the way electrical signals move through the heart Heart tissue that is too thick or stiff or that has not formed normally.
Arrhythmias can be more common among people who have had surgery to repair a congenital heart defect. Additionally, we offer information and resources on how we are working hard to support necessary COVID research.
Kidney disease Heart valves. Leaking or narrowed heart valves make the heart work too hard and can lead to heart failure. Low blood sugar Lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD Musculoskeletal disorders Obesity Overactive or underactive thyroid gland, caused by too much or too little thyroid hormone in the body. Sepsis , a toxic immune response to infection Sleep apnea , which can stress the heart by preventing it from getting enough oxygen.
Race or ethnicity. Screening and Prevention - Arrhythmia. Screening tests. Your doctor may also give you a portable monitor to wear for a day or several days if no arrhythmia was detected during testing in the clinic. If you have a child who is at risk of arrhythmia because of a genetic condition, the doctor may recommend regular testing for your child and his or her siblings.
Genetic testing can help you understand your risk when a family member has been diagnosed with a genetic condition. Testing is especially important if your newborn or another close relative died suddenly and had a genetic risk.
Your doctor may also suggest genetic testing if you have a history of fainting or have survived cardiac arrest or near drowning. Imaging tests, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging MRI , can help detect scarring or other problems that can increase your risk of arrhythmia.
Prevention strategies. Learn about prevention strategies that your doctor may recommend, including: Avoiding triggers, such as caffeine or stimulant medicines, that can cause arrhythmias or make them worse. Your doctor can also help if you are trying to avoid illegal drugs. Getting an implantable or wearable cardioverter defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac arrest from arrhythmia if you have heart disease.
Defibrillators can correct arrhythmias by sending an electric shock to the heart. Making heart-healthy lifestyle changes, such as heart-healthy eating , being physically active , aiming for a healthy weight , quitting smoking , and managing stress Monitoring you after surgery, if you are having heart surgery.
The surgical team may also use medicine and maintain or supplement electrolyte levels during or after the procedure to prevent arrhythmia.
If your child is a newborn, follow safe sleep recommendations to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome SIDS.
Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures that your doctor may use to diagnose types of arrhythmia. Living With will discuss what your doctor may recommend to prevent your arrhythmia from recurring, getting worse, or causing complications. Research for Your Health will discuss how we are using current research and advancing research to prevent arrhythmia.
Participate in NHLBI Clinical Trials will explain our open and enrolling clinical studies that are investigating prevention strategies for arrhythmia. Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Arrhythmia. Signs and symptoms. More serious signs and symptoms include: Anxiety Blurred vision Chest pain Difficulty breathing Fainting or nearly fainting Foggy thinking Fatigue Sweating Weakness, dizziness, and light-headedness What else will your doctor want to know about your symptoms?
Did it happen at night? Did you stand up after sitting or lying down? Were you lying down? Were you playing a sport or otherwise exerting yourself? Were you swimming or diving? Cognitive impairment and dementia. This may be due to reduced blood flow to the brain over time. Heart failure. Repeat arrhythmias can lead to a rapid decline in the ability of the lower chambers to pump blood.
Heart failure is especially likely to develop or to grow worse as a result of arrhythmia when you already have heart disease. This can occur in some patients who have atrial fibrillation. With arrhythmia, blood can pool in the atria, causing blood clots to form. If a clot breaks off and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke.
Sudden cardiac arrest. The heart may suddenly and unexpectedly stop beating as a result of ventricular fibrillation. Sudden infant death syndrome SIDS. SIDS can be attributed to an inherited conduction disorder that causes arrhythmia.
Worsening arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias trigger another type of arrhythmia or get worse over time. Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures used to detect signs of arrhythmia and help rule our other conditions that may mimic arrhythmia. Treatment will discuss treatment-related complications or side effects. Diagnosis - Arrhythmia. Medical history. Physical exam. During a physical exam, your doctor may take these steps: Check for swelling in your legs or feet, which could be a sign of an enlarged heart or heart failure Check your pulse to find out how fast your heart is beating Listen to the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat Listen to your heart for a heart murmur Look for signs of other diseases, such as thyroid disease, that could be causing the arrhythmia.
Diagnostic tests and procedures. Your doctor may order some of the following tests to diagnose arrhythmia: Blood tests to check the level of certain substances in the blood, such as potassium and thyroid hormone, that can increase your risk of arrhythmia.
Cardiac catheterization to see whether you have complications from heart disease. Chest X-ray to show whether your heart is larger than normal. Echocardiography echo to provide information about the size and shape of your heart and how well it is working.
Echocardiography may also be used to diagnose fetal arrhythmia in the womb. This is the most common test used to diagnose arrhythmias. Electrophysiology study EPS to look at the electrical activity of the heart. The study uses a wire to electrically stimulate your heart and trigger an arrhythmia. If your doctor has already detected another condition that raises your risk, an EPS can help him or her assess the possibility that an arrhythmia will develop.
An EPS also allows your doctor to see whether a treatment, such as medicine, will stop the problem. Implantable loop recorder to detect abnormal heart rhythms. An implantable loop recorder helps doctors figure out why a person may be having palpitations or fainting spells, especially if these symptoms do not happen very often.
Sleep study to see whether sleep apnea is causing your arrhythmia. Stress test or exercise stress test to detect arrhythmias that happen while the heart is working hard and beating fast. If you cannot exercise, you may be given medicine to make your heart work hard and beat fast.
Tilt table testing to help find the cause of fainting spells. You lie on a table that moves from a lying-down position to an upright position. The change in position may cause you to faint.
Your doctor watches your symptoms, heart rate, EKG reading, and blood pressure throughout the test. Ultrasound to diagnose a suspected fetal arrhythmia in the womb. Return to Risk Factors to review family history, lifestyle, or other environmental factors that increase your risk of developing arrhythmia.
Return to Signs, Symptoms, and Complications to review common signs and symptoms of arrhythmia. Return to Screening and Prevention to review how to screen for arrhythmia.
Treatment - Arrhythmia. Healthy lifestyle changes. Aiming for a healthy weight Being physically active Heart-healthy eating Managing stress Quitting smoking. Adenosine to slow a racing heart. Adenosine acts quickly to slow electrical signals. It can cause some chest pain, flushing, and shortness of breath, but any discomfort typically passes soon. Atropine to treat a slow heart rate. This medicine may cause difficulty swallowing. Beta blockers to treat high blood pressure or a fast heart rate or to prevent repeat episodes of arrhythmia.
Beta blockers can cause digestive trouble, sleep problems, and sexual dysfunction and can make some conduction disorders worse. Blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots forming. This helps prevent stroke. With blood-thinning medicines, there is a risk of bleeding. Calcium channel blockers to slow a rapid heart rate or the speed at which signals travel.
Typically, they are used to control arrhythmias of the upper chambers. In some cases, calcium channel blockers can trigger ventricular fibrillation. They can also cause digestive trouble, swollen feet, or low blood pressure. Digitalis, or digoxin, to treat a fast heart rate. This medicine can cause nausea and may trigger arrhythmias. Potassium channel blockers to slow the heart rate. They work by lengthening the time it takes for heart cells to recover after firing, so that they do not fire and squeeze as often.
Potassium channel blockers can cause low blood pressure or another arrhythmia. Sodium channel blockers to block transmission of electrical signals, lengthen cell recovery periods, and make cells less excitable.
However, these drugs can increase risks of sudden cardiac arrest in people who have heart disease. Other treatments. Techniques can include: Having you cough or gag Having you hold your breath and bear down, which is called the Valsalva maneuver Having you lie down Putting a towel dipped in ice-cold water over your face. Living With will explain what your doctor may recommend including lifelong lifestyle changes and medical care to prevent your condition from recurring, getting worse, or causing complications.
Research for Your Health will explain how we are using current research and advancing research to treat people with arrhythmia. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kusumoto FM, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Accessed Aug. How the heart works. Panchal AR, et al. Overview of arrhythmias. Merck Manual Professional Version. Zipes DP, et al. Assessment of the patient with a cardiac arrhythmia. Philadelphia, Pa. Bonow RO, et al. Diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. Cronin EM, et al. European Society of Cardiology. Ferri FF. Atrial fibrillation. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Arrhythmia management for the primary care clinician.
Long B, et al. American Journal of Emergency Medicine ; doi Braswell-Pickering EA. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. June 29, Asirvatham SJ expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 27, Long QT syndrome. Lee R. Surgical ablation to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation.
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