An arrhythmia is a heart rhythm that isn’t normal. Your heart may be beating too fast when you’re at rest or just not beating in a regular pattern, for example. Arrhythmias range from harmless to serious, with symptoms and without. There are many options to treat arrhythmias, but some don’t need them. The prognosis varies greatly depending on the type.
What is arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) is an abnormal heartbeat. Arrhythmias can start in different parts of your heart and they can be too fast, too slow or just irregular. Normally, your heart beats in an organized, coordinated way. Issues with various parts of your heart — or even the blood your heart pumps — can affect your heart’s normal rhythm. Having a normal heart rhyth matters because your heart supplies your whole body with nutrients and oxygen through the blood it pumps.How serious is a heart arrhythmia?
Some types of arrhythmia are harmless and don’t require treatment. Others can put you at risk for cardiac arrest. Many are in between these two extremes. A healthcare provider can tell you which type of arrhythmia you have and what kind of treatment you need, if any.What are the types of arrhythmia?
Healthcare providers describe arrhythmias by where in your heart they start. Supraventricular arrhythmias:These begin in your atria (your heart’s upper chambers). “Supraventricular” means above your ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Ventricular arrhythmias: These begin in your heart’s ventricles or lower chambers. Bradyarrhythmias and junctional rhythms: These can happen because of issues in your heart’s conduction system, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node or His-Purkinje network.How common is arrhythmia?
An estimated 1.5% to 5% of people have arrhythmias. However, some people don’t have symptoms, making it difficult to estimate how many people actually have arrhythmias. In the U.S., atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia.120M
in the world affected by Cardiac Arrhythmia.US$510K
average lifetime earnings losses per individual due to premature retirement.1st
leading cause of death by 2030.>84%
underdiagnosed globally.Cardiac arrhythmia that are not diagnosed or are left untreated can cause complications affecting your heart and brain.
| Cardiac arrest | Cardiac arrhythmia can cause your heart to stop beating suddenly and unexpectedly. |
|---|---|
| Heart failure | Repeat arrhythmias cause cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. |
| Problems with thinking and memory |
Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are more common in people who have arrhythmias. |
| Stroke | With cardiac arrhythmia , blood can pool in the upper chambers of the heart, causing blood clot to form. If a clot breaks off and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. |
| Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) | If born with an inherited type of arrhythmia, your baby may have a higher risk of SIDS. |
| Worsening cardiac arrhythmia |
Some arrhythmias can get worse over time or can trigger another type of Cardiac arrhythmia. |