What Is Arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Your heart may beat too slow, too fast, or in an unsteady rhythm if you have an arrhythmia.
Each time your heart beats, electrical signals travel through your heart’s chambers, prompting them to expand or contract. These expansions and contractions keep blood flowing through your heart. Any interferences with your heart’s electrical signals could cause an arrhythmia.
Your heart typically slows down when you rest and speeds up when you exert yourself. It’s also common to experience an occasional flutter in your heartbeat. However, if irregular rhythms happen frequently, you may need treatment with a cardiologist.
Types of Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias can affect your upper heart chambers (atria) or your lower heart chambers (ventricles). There are several different types of arrhythmias:
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib)—AFib is the most common type of arrhythmia. It causes a rapid, chaotic rhythm in your atria and increases your risk of stroke, heart failure, and death.
- Atrial flutter—An atrial flutter causes your upper heart chambers to beat up to 200-350 beats per minute. The electrical signals that control your heartbeat may hit scar tissue and move around the scar instead of in a typical pattern.
- Bradycardia—Bradycardia is a slow heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute. Some people have naturally low heart rates. But in some people, a slow heart rate points to a problem with the system that controls your heart’s electrical signals.
- Cardiac arrest/ventricular fibrillation—Ventricular fibrillation is a fast, chaotic heartbeat in your ventricles. It requires an emergency shock to restore your heartbeat. Without emergency treatment, ventricular fibrillation can lead to death.
- Premature atrial complexes (PACs)—PACs occur when the electrical signal that starts your heartbeat happens outside the usual rhythm in the upper chamber. Everyone experiences occasional PACs, but if having it frequently one might benefit from treatment.
- Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs)—A PVC is a single beat in your lower heart chambers that’s out of sync with your usual heart rhythm. It doesn’t always cause problems or require treatment but if the burden is high it can lead to other problems like heart failure.
- Supraventricular tachycardia—This is a broad term for arrhythmias that cause your heart to beat faster than 100 beats per minute.
- Ventricular tachycardia—Ventricular tachycardia is a fast heartbeat in your ventricles and can be dangerous. Scar tissue in your lower heart chambers is the most common cause.
Arrhythmia Symptoms
An arrhythmia may feel like your heart is racing or pounding. It also could feel like a flutter or like your heart has skipped a beat. In general, you may also experience a few other signs of an irregular heartbeat:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Inability to tolerate exercise
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Heart palpitations (racing or pounding heart)
But arrhythmias don’t always cause noticeable symptoms. For some people, a notification on a fitness tracker, like a smart watch, is the first sign of changes in your heart rate. See your health care provider for evaluation if you notice any device saying you have an irregular heart rhythm.
When Should I Worry About an Irregular Heartbeat?
You should see a cardiologist any time you experience symptoms of an irregular heart rhythm. Some arrhythmias are mild and don’t require treatment.
But because some types of heart rhythms can lead to complications and decrease your lifespan, you should always see a health care provider for evaluation.
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Arrhythmia Causes
There are several common causes of arrhythmias:
- Diabetes
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Getting older
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
You also have a higher risk of developing an arrhythmia if you have a history of other heart problems:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Prior heart surgery
Can Anxiety Cause Irregular Heartbeat?
Many people who experience anxiety experience sensations of their heart racing (palpitations). The adrenaline rush that causes a pounding heartbeat is called a panic attack. This differs from a chronic (long-term) arrhythmia that occurs even when you don’t feel anxious.
If you have concerns about rapid heartbeats, speak with a cardiologist about heart monitoring and evaluation.
How Is Arrhythmia Diagnosed?
Your cardiologist will use several tools to diagnose an irregular heart rhythm:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)—Your cardiologist attaches electrodes (sticky patches containing sensors) to your chest that record your heart’s electrical activity. An EKG will only detect an arrhythmia if you experience one during the test.
- Holter monitor—You wear a small device that attaches to your chest with electrodes. The Holter monitor records your heart’s electrical activity for up to a few weeks.
- Event recorder—Also called a mobile cardiac telemetry device, an event recorder is a device that attaches to your chest with electrodes. You can wear it for up to 30 days. You push a button that activates the device when you start experiencing symptoms of an arrhythmia. The device starts recording 15–30 seconds before the arrhythmia and stops recording 30 seconds after the irregular activity has ended.
- Implantable loop recorder—Your cardiologist implants this device beneath your skin. It continually records your heart’s electrical activity for up to 2–3 years. The device sends your data remotely to your cardiologist so they know if you experience an irregular heart rhythm.
Heart Arrhythmia Treatment
Your treatment plan varies depending on what type of arrhythmia you have. Some arrhythmias don’t require treatment beyond regular checkups to monitor your heart.
You usually need treatment only if the irregular rhythm causes significant symptoms or puts you at risk of health complications. Your cardiologist will work with you to find the best treatment:
- Heart arrhythmia medication, or antiarrhythmic drugs, work by controlling your heart rate, slowing your heart rhythm, or preventing blood clots.
- Cardioversion restores a regular heart rhythm by delivering an electrical shock to your chest.
- In catheter ablation, your specialist threads a long instrument (catheter) through a blood vessel and up to your heart. This process makes small scar patterns that prevent abnormal rhythms.
- Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators are devices we put beneath your skin to send out electrical signals that steady your heartbeat.
How Long Does Arrhythmia Last?
Most arrhythmias don’t go away, but you can manage them with treatment. Depending on what type of arrhythmia you have, a catheter ablation may cure it.
How Long Can You Live With an Irregular Heartbeat?
How long you can live with an irregular heartbeat depends on multiple factors, including your overall health and the type of arrhythmia you have. For example, some types of arrhythmias, such as AFib and ventricular tachycardia, can affect your lifespan. Treatment with a cardiologist can increase your longevity and decrease your chances of complications.
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Our team of heart and vascular experts has a proven track record of excellence in arrhythmia treatment. General cardiologists, electrophysiologists, exercise physiologists, and dietitians work together to give you the best care possible.
Our doctors are researchers and educators who advance the field of arrhythmia care. We continually improve our practice by offering you the newest therapies and treatments.
How to Schedule an Appointment with a Cardiologist
You don’t need a referral to schedule an appointment with a general cardiologist. Call 801-585-7575 or schedule an appointment online.
Resources for Our Patients
Why Is My Heart Racing So Fast?
Everyone has a racing heart from time to time. Stress, exercise, or even too much alcohol or caffeine can cause your heart to beat faster than normal. But if your heart races a lot—or if you notice your heartbeat is often irregular—then you should see a doctor.
Inherited Arrhythmia & Cardiomyopathy Clinic
Inherited arrhythmias are arrhythmias are passed down (inherited) from parent to child. They can cause the heart to beat too fast or two slow. Learn about treatments for these inherited conditions.
When Is It Time to See a Cardiologist?
How severe should your heart symptoms be before you see a heart specialist (cardiologist)? How can you tell if someone you love should see a cardiologist?
What to Expect at Your Cardiology Appointment
It’s important to get timely care when you need to see a heart specialist. At University of Utah Health, all members of our care team work in collaboration with your cardiologist to provide you with high-quality, compassionate care at the time you need it.