Breaking Down the 6 Most Common Arrhythmias

Your heartbeat is such an integral part of your daily life that you probably pay virtually no attention to it unless something feels off. At that point, it can become impossible to think of little else. A beating heart is an alive heart, so there’s no surprise that changes in the rate of your heartbeat would be troubling. 

At Heart and Vascular Care, we understand how stressful it can be to experience an unusual heart rhythm. We offer comprehensive diagnostic services to determine the cause of your irregular heartbeat and get you started on a treatment path if necessary. If you live in or around Plano or McKinney, Texas, our team is here for you. 

What is an arrhythmia?

The rate of your heartbeats will rise and fall throughout each day, depending on your environment, your level of physical exertion, and your stress levels. But in general, your heartbeat follows a rhythm, with the same span of time coming in between each beat.  

Arrhythmia is the medical term for an abnormal heartbeat. Some arrhythmias are faster than normal, some are slower than normal, and some have an irregular rhythm. 

An occasional change in your heart’s rhythm is usually nothing to worry about. But if you have ongoing arrhythmia that you can feel, it’s important to get checked out by a cardiologist. Some arrhythmias are a sign of serious heart health issues. In fact, an arrhythmia could lead to a diagnosis that enables early intervention, which can be lifesaving. 

Here are the six most common heart arrhythmias.

#1: Atrial fibrillation

This arrhythmia is the most common, affecting as many as 2.5 million Americans. It happens when the signalling in the atria, or the upper chambers of your heart, do not communicate properly with the bottom chambers, creating an uncoordinated and abnormally fast heartbeat. 

This type of arrhythmia indicates that the heart is not able to move sufficient oxygenated blood through the body, which can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart issues.

#2: Atrial flutter

This develops when the signal that prompts your atria to beat is damaged or blocked (possibly by scar tissue). As a result, the muscles in the upper chambers of the heart beat rapidly, creating a fluttering feeling within your chest. 

#3: Ventricular tachycardia

This arrhythmia arises when the signaling in the lower chambers of your heart is impaired. That can lead to a situation in which too little blood is ejected from the heart with each heartbeat. This type of arrhythmia can lead to very serious outcomes, especially if conditions like coronary artery disease already weaken your heart. 

#4: Ventricular fibrillation

This arrhythmia occurs when the electrical signals generated by your heart cause the ventricles to quiver instead of pumping. This means your heart cannot pump oxygenated blood, which causes a medical emergency almost immediately. 

#5: Supraventricular tachycardia

You can develop this arrhythmia if a problem arises with the electrical currents in the upper chambers of your heart, such as a malfunction, or if the area has rapidly firing cells. If this lasts more than a few seconds, it can progress to a more serious arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. 

#6: Bradycardia

This abnormal heart rhythm is slower than it should be. An electrical problem in the heart usually causes it, and your risk increases as you age, experience thyroid dysfunction, or take certain medications. An abnormally slow heart rate can lead to dizziness, fainting, or fatigue. 

What to do if you experience abnormal heart rhythms

If you notice a change in your heart’s rhythm, don’t ignore the situation. Come see us at Heart and Vascular Care to determine the cause of abnormal heartbeats. Not all arrhythmias require treatment, and you may be able to restore a normal rhythm through lifestyle modifications and close monitoring. 

If treatment is needed, we can get you started right away at our offices in Plano or McKinney, Texas. Just try our online booking page, or give us a call when your schedule permits.