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Key Points
- An arrhythmia is a change in the heart's rhythm
that causes the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. A heartbeat
that is too fast is called tachycardia. A heartbeat that is too slow is called
bradycardia.
- An arrhythmia happens when some part of the
heart's electrical system doesn't function as it should.
- Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be
serious or even life threatening.
- Millions of Americans have arrhythmias, and
arrhythmias are especially common among older adults. About 2.2 million
Americans have atrial fibrillation. Health experts think that most of the
sudden
cardiac deaths that occur every year (about 335,000) are due to ventricular
fibrillation.
- Arrhythmias have many causes. Heart disease is a
common cause of serious arrhythmias. Stress, smoking, heavy alcohol use, heavy
exercise, some drugs (such as cocaine or amphetamines), and some medicines can
lead to arrhythmias in some people.
- Signs and symptoms of an arrhythmia include:
- Palpitations (an unpleasant feeling that your
heart is skipping beats or beating too hard)
- A fast or racing heartbeat, a slow heartbeat,
or an irregular heartbeat
- Weakness, dizziness, light-headedness,
sweating, and fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Anxiety
- Usually the first test used to diagnose an
arrhythmia is an
EKG
(electrocardiogram).
- Arrhythmias can be treated with medicines,
medical procedures (for example, electrical energy delivered to the heart), and
surgery.
- Serious arrhythmias can often be successfully
treated. Most people with arrhythmias are able to live normal lives.
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Living With
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