Arrhythmia is a term used for an irregular heartbeat. This does not mean the heart rate is irregular though, one can have arrhythmia and not experience an irregular heart rate. A normal heart rate is between 50 and 100 beats per minute. Whether you have a slow or fast heart rate, you can suffer from arrhythmia, and in the United States alone more than 850,000 people are hospitalized for an arrhythmia each year.
Causes of Arrhythmia
There are several factors that can lead to arrhythmia, including the following:
- Coronary artery disease
- Electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as sodium or potassium)
- Changes in your heart muscle
- Injury from a heart attack or during the healing process after a heart surgery
These are not the only way a person can get arrhythmia though, it also occurs in “healthy” hearts without a certain predetermined cause. Basically arrhythmia is one of those conditions you cannot prevent or treat directly by changing your life style. This is however not a carte blanche for unhealthy living: by engaging in regular exercise and watching your weight you will build strong muscles, including your heart, which in itself will significantly reduce the chances of developing arrhythmias.
Symptoms of Arrhythmia
You may or may not experience symptoms when you have an arrhythmia, but your doctor will be able to detect it during a physical examination or using an electrocardiogram (ECG).
When you do experience symptoms of arrhythmia, they will include any of the following:
- Pounding in your chest
- Palpitations
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed
- Fainting.
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort.
- Weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired)
If you are experiencing any symptoms you should consult your doctor immediately for an examination. There are several different types of arrhythmia, and some of them do require treatment.