

The extra heartbeat disrupts the regular heartbeat, affecting the heart rhythm. Chandra: While arrhythmias can be complex and serious, we have a robust array of diagnostics and treatment options available to treat every type of heart rhythm disorder.Īt Georgia Heart Institute, we have an experienced team of fellowship-trained electrophysiologists – experts specializing in the treatment of arrhythmias – along with advanced practice providers, all working together to effectively diagnose and treat your arrhythmia.What are premature ventricular contractions?Ī premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is an extra heartbeat that arises from the lower half of the heart (otherwise known as the ventricle). Other arrhythmias can also result in more serious health conditions having atrial fibrillation is associated with a greatly increased risk of stroke.ĭr. If your heart beats too fast, for example, the heart’s ventricles may “quiver,” which can cause an abrupt loss of heart function known as sudden cardiac arrest. When your heart’s rhythm is disrupted, it isn’t pumping oxygenated blood efficiently, which can cause harm to the heart and the rest of the body. But when they occur persistently, they can be serious. In many cases, these irregular heartbeats are harmless and will resolve on their own. At some point, every person experiences an arrhythmia, which probably feels like your heart is fluttering or racing. If you’re diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your medical provider can recommend whether treatment is necessary and what type of treatment is best for your unique needs.ĭr. Persistent arrhythmias can cause other symptoms to develop, including fatigue or weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, sweating and chest pain or pressure.īecause these symptoms overlap with those of a heart attack, it’s important to be evaluated by a medical provider. Depending on the type of arrhythmia, it may feel like a skipped beat, fluttering or pounding in the chest. Chandra: When you experience an irregular heartbeat, you’ll likely notice some sensation in your chest and/or heart. For individuals experiencing arrhythmia episodes, there are certain factors that can trigger an irregular heartbeat, such as dehydration, caffeine and stress.ĭr. There’s also an important distinction between triggers and causes. This can include everything from other medical or heart-related conditions or thyroid disorders. In fact, arrhythmias can have physical, emotional and genetic causes, and in many cases, it’s a combination of several different factors. If your heart has ever “skipped a beat” when you’re anxious about something, you know that your mental health can affect your heart.

Chandra: An irregular heartbeat can have many causes. You may have heard about atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia, which is when your heart beats erratically and fast.ĭr. And when your heart beats erratically, it’s called fibrillation. When your heart beats too early, it’s called premature contraction.

When your heart beats too slow, it’s called bradycardia. Chandra: When your heart beats too fast, it’s called tachycardia. Q: What are the different types of arrhythmia?ĭr. In some cases, an abnormal heartbeat may be temporary and will come and go (episodic) or it can be present all the time (persistent). However, when that system is disrupted or not functioning correctly due to damage, disease or other factors, this can cause your heartbeat to become abnormal. Chandra: The heart’s electrical system is what coordinates each heartbeat and coordinates the contracting and pumping between its chambers. Chandra answers that question and provides key insights about this common heart condition below:ĭr. If you’ve been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, is it a serious health issue? Dr.

“There are many different forms of arrhythmias that can cause your heart to beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly.” “Put simply, arrhythmia is the medical name for an irregular heartbeat,” says Shalabh Chandra, MD, an electrophysiologist at Georgia Heart Institute. However, for individuals living with an arrhythmia, feelings and sensations such as this may occur without any exertion or stress at all. However, when you experience stress or you’re performing strenuous exercise, you may notice a higher heart rate or even sensations of fluttering in your chest. But when your heart literally skips a beat, it’s known as an arrhythmia.ĭay in and day out, you likely don’t notice your heartbeat at all, especially if it’s functioning normally. While we may say our heart skips a beat when it comes to falling in love.
