Dysrhythmias; Abnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia

An arrhythmia may be present all of the time or it may come and go. You may or may not feel symptoms when the arrhythmia is present. Or, you may only notice symptoms when you are more active.

Symptoms can be very mild when present, or they may be severe or even life-threatening.

Common symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Fast or slow heartbeat (palpitations)
• Light-headedness , dizziness
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath
• Skipping beats - changes in the pattern of the pulse
• Sweating

The doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and feel your pulse. Your blood pressure may be low or normal.

The following tests may be performed to identify arrhythmias:

• Ambulatory cardiac monitoring with a Holter monitor (used for 24 hours), event monitor, or loop recorder (worn for 2 weeks or longer)
• Coronary angiography
• ECG
• Echocardiogram
• Electrophysiology study (EPS)

If an arrhythmia is detected, various tests may be done to confirm or rule out suspected causes. EPS testing may be done to find the arrhythmia and determine the best treatment, especially if a pacemaker or catheter ablation procedure is being considered.

Images

Cardiac conduction system

Bradycardia

Normal heart rhythm

Atrioventricular block, ECG tracing

Heart, front view

Ventricular tachycardia

Arrhythmias

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Arrhythmias Overview

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Arrhythmias Treatment

Review Date: 06/05/2010
Reviewed By: Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)