An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don't necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias -- less than 60 beats per minute). arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias -- faster than 100 beats per minute).
Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. When the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.
Causes
The heart has 4 compartments, or chambers. The walls of the heart squeeze together (contract) to push blood through the chambers. The contractions are controlled by an electrical signal that begins in the heart's natural "pacemaker" (called the sinoatrial node). The rate of the contractions is influenced by nerve impulses and hormones in the blood. A problem in any of these can cause an arrhythmia.
There are several causes of arrhythmia, such as the sinoatrial node (SAN) firing more quickly or slowly (sometimes both) or another part of the heart taking over the job of the SAN. Sometimes there may be no known cause for an arrhythmia.
Symptoms
Arrhythmias may not cause any signs or symptoms. In fact, your doctor might detect them before you do, during a routine examination. Noticeable signs and symptoms don't always indicate a serious problem. Some people who feel arrhythmias don't have a serious problem, while others who have life-threatening arrhythmias have no symptoms at all.
Many arrhythmias cause no signs or symptoms. When signs or symptoms are present, the most common ones are:
* Palpitations (a feeling that your heart has skipped a beat or is beating too hard)
* A slow heartbeat
* An irregular heartbeat
* Feeling of pauses between heartbeats
Treatment
Treatment of arrhythmia depend on the type of arrhythmia, the patients age, physical condition and age. Methods are available for prevention of arrhythmia. These methods include relaxation techniques to reduce stress, limit intake of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and stimulant drugs. Many arrhythmias require no treatment, they are naturally controlled by the body's immune system. However if it is necessary that arrhythmias must be controlled, they can be controlled by drugs, Cardioversion, Automatic implantable defibrillators or an Artificial pacemaker. Arrhythmias are very serious.
Because arrhythmias are such a heterogeneous group of conditions, treatment needs to be carefully selected by a patient with their physician. Some arrhythmias require no treatment at all. Others require immediate emergency treatment if death is to be avoided. Treatments include physical maneuvers, antiarrhythmic drugs, other drugs, electricity, and electro or cryo cautery.
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