Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmia)

Irregular heartbeat describes a large group of conditions where abnormal electrical impulses cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. Irregular heartbeat is also known as arrhythmia or cardiac disrhythmia.

Each heartbeat is triggered by an electrical signal originating in the sinoatrial (SA) node which passes down through the heart causing contractions of the heart chambers that pump blood through the body. Each heartbeat involves 5 major stages. A problem with any of these stages causes irregular heartbeat.

There are many types of irregular heartbeat. When the heart beats too fast it is called tachycardia and when it beats too slowly it is known as bradycardia, but the interval between the beats is usually constant. A common form of arrhythmia is called atrial fibrillation where the intervals between the beats is not regular.

Causes of irregular heartbeat include coronary heart disease, chemical imbalances in the blood, injury from heart attack, healing after heart surgery. Irregular heartbeat can also occur in people with a healthy heart and may be caused by medications, stress, or too much caffeine or nicotine.

Symptoms of irregular heartbeat include fast heartbeat, slow heartbeat, skipped heartbeats, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, paleness and sweating.

There are many procedures to diagnose arrhythmia such as electrocardiography, holter monitor, stress testing and echocardiography. Treatment for irregular heartbeat include medication such as beta-blockers, electrical cardioversion, pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Heart surgery may be required when the cause of irregular heartbeat is coronary heart disease.