Your heartbeat is triggered by electrical impulses produced by the sinus node, a group of cells located within your right atrium. The electrical signal starts in your atria and works downward toward the ventricles. As it travels, it causes the individual chambers to contract, pumping blood throughout your body. This occurs between 60 and 100 times per minute.
A heart arrhythmia (HA) is a problem that either accelerates or slows your heartbeat. In many cases, they're relatively mild and will not affect your standard of living. However, there are circumstances in which a problematic heartbeat can hamper the flow of blood to the rest of your body. If that happens, an arrhythmia can be potentially life-threatening. Below, we'll describe a few types of arrhythmias that may require medical attention.
Atrial Fibrillation
One of the most common (and serious) forms of HA is atrial fibrillation (AF). This is a condition in which the atria quivers at a rate that can climb to 600 beats per minute. The beat is erratic and disorganized, and fails to travel the normal path from the atria to the ventricles. That prevents the atria from properly pumping blood to the ventricles and out to the rest of your body. Atrial fibrillation is not always life-threatening, but can increase the likelihood of suffering a stroke or heart failure.
Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
The electrical impulses from the sinus node can occasionally reroute themselves back into the atria rather than traveling through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles. The condition is called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and causes an accelerated heartbeat within the atria. It rarely happens perpetually. Instead, it occurs and ends abruptly.
A condition that is related to PSVT is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. This is characterized by the electrical signals traveling from the atria to the ventricles through an alternate route. The result is an erratic rhythm and heartbeat within the ventricles.
Ventricular Tachycardia And Fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia is rarely serious. This is an arrhythmia in which the ventricles' rhythm accelerates for a few seconds after which it returns to normal. Having said that, if the rapid beat continues for longer than a few seconds, ventricular tachycardia can become dangerous and lead to ventricular fibrillation (V-fib).
Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by the quivering of the ventricles. When this happens, the ventricles cannot pump blood to the rest of your body. This type of HA is potentially fatal is it is not treated immediately.
Bradyarrhythmias
The arrhythmias described above are tachycardias; they describe circumstances in which your heartbeat accelerates. Bradyarrhythmias represent the opposite effect - a circumstance in which your heart rate slows. In severe cases, the muscle cannot effectively pump blood. As is the case with ventricular fibrillation, it is potentially fatal if not treated quickly.
Not all arrhythmias are serious. However, if you suspect an abnormal heart rate, consult your physician to discuss your options. - 32389
A heart arrhythmia (HA) is a problem that either accelerates or slows your heartbeat. In many cases, they're relatively mild and will not affect your standard of living. However, there are circumstances in which a problematic heartbeat can hamper the flow of blood to the rest of your body. If that happens, an arrhythmia can be potentially life-threatening. Below, we'll describe a few types of arrhythmias that may require medical attention.
Atrial Fibrillation
One of the most common (and serious) forms of HA is atrial fibrillation (AF). This is a condition in which the atria quivers at a rate that can climb to 600 beats per minute. The beat is erratic and disorganized, and fails to travel the normal path from the atria to the ventricles. That prevents the atria from properly pumping blood to the ventricles and out to the rest of your body. Atrial fibrillation is not always life-threatening, but can increase the likelihood of suffering a stroke or heart failure.
Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
The electrical impulses from the sinus node can occasionally reroute themselves back into the atria rather than traveling through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles. The condition is called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and causes an accelerated heartbeat within the atria. It rarely happens perpetually. Instead, it occurs and ends abruptly.
A condition that is related to PSVT is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. This is characterized by the electrical signals traveling from the atria to the ventricles through an alternate route. The result is an erratic rhythm and heartbeat within the ventricles.
Ventricular Tachycardia And Fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia is rarely serious. This is an arrhythmia in which the ventricles' rhythm accelerates for a few seconds after which it returns to normal. Having said that, if the rapid beat continues for longer than a few seconds, ventricular tachycardia can become dangerous and lead to ventricular fibrillation (V-fib).
Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by the quivering of the ventricles. When this happens, the ventricles cannot pump blood to the rest of your body. This type of HA is potentially fatal is it is not treated immediately.
Bradyarrhythmias
The arrhythmias described above are tachycardias; they describe circumstances in which your heartbeat accelerates. Bradyarrhythmias represent the opposite effect - a circumstance in which your heart rate slows. In severe cases, the muscle cannot effectively pump blood. As is the case with ventricular fibrillation, it is potentially fatal if not treated quickly.
Not all arrhythmias are serious. However, if you suspect an abnormal heart rate, consult your physician to discuss your options. - 32389
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