Finding care for an arrhythmia starts with knowing which type you have.
Heart arrhythmias are problems with your heart’s electrical signals. These conditions cause abnormal heart rates or rhythms in which your heart beats too quickly (tachycardia), too slowly (bradycardia) or in an irregular pattern. If you have a heart arrhythmia, you may feel like your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or “skipping a beat.”
The heart muscle has two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. All four chambers play a vital role in efficiently pumping blood through the heart and lungs and back into the body. Typically, your heart sends electrical signals that tell each chamber to pump in a predictable, coordinated manner. Heart arrhythmias interfere with the usual rate or rhythm.
Some heart arrhythmias are harmless, while others cause more serious issues. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, understanding the type you have will help you better understand your treatment options.
Types of arrhythmia
There are many different heart arrhythmias. Some common types include:
Arrhythmia symptoms
Symptoms of arrhythmia may include:
- An abnormally fast or slow heart rate
- Anxiety
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Difficulty exercising
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Extreme tiredness
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Weakness
Arrhythmia risk factors
You may be more likely to have a heart arrhythmia if you have the following risk factors:
- Anxiety or chronic stress
- Being overweight or obese
- Drinking too much caffeine
- Electrolyte imbalances that occur when you have too little or too much of certain minerals in your body
- Genetic factors
- Misusing drugs and alcohol
- Smoking
- Taking some medications and dietary supplements
- Poor sleep habits or patterns
Sometimes heart arrhythmia symptoms appear or get worse when triggered by something else, such as:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs
- Dehydration
- Emotional or physical stress
- Having an infection, virus or another unrelated illness
- Nicotine from smoking or vaping
- Not getting enough sleep
Arrhythmia causes
Many health conditions can cause an arrhythmia, such as:
- Congenital heart disease or heart conditions present from birth
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary heart disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a nervous system condition
- Structural problems in the heart, often due to damage from another heart issue, such as a heart attack
- Thyroid conditions, such as Graves’ disease
- Other health concerns, such as fever, infection, a blood clot or other sources of physical or mental stress
Diagnosing arrhythmias
Typically, the first step in diagnosing an arrhythmia is an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP will ask about your medical history and symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may order testing or refer you to a cardiologist if they suspect an arrhythmia.
To diagnose an arrhythmia or determine its underlying cause, one or more of these tests may be ordered:
Arrhythmia treatment
You have many options for heart arrhythmia treatments. AFib and other forms of the condition may be treated with one or a combination of the following methods:
Find a location near you
We help you get care at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations for arrhythmia care, including specialized centers in North and Central Texas.
Loading locations...
Loading locations...