Arrhythmias

Learn what an electrocardiogram, or ECG, is and how it works, and why it might be used.

Learn how to take antiarrhythmic medications safely.

Learn what cardiac arrest is, what the risks are for it, and what you should do if you notice someone having cardiac arrest.

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. It may feel like fluttering or a brief pause. It may be so brief that it doesn't change your heart rate (the number of times per minute that your heart beats). Or it can cause the heart rate to be too slow or too fast. Some arrhythmias don't cause any symptoms. Others can make you feel lightheaded or dizzy. © AHA

If your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly, you have an arrhythmia. It's a problem with the rhythm of your heart. For many people, an arrhythmia is harmless. But for some, it can be life-threatening.

As the name suggests, premature ventricular contractions are contractions in the lower chambers of the heart that occur too early in the rhythm sequence. These contractions, also called Paces, are common, particularly in older adults. This video discusses what effect these contractions can have on your health.

Bradycardia is when the heart beats too slowly and can cause problems. Learn how it's diagnosed, and what treatments can help.

Tachycardia is when the heart beats too fast. Find out what symptoms it causes, how it's diagnosed, and what treatments can help manage it.

This is test of your heart. It lets your doctor see how well your heart is working. A doctor can use this test to find out if you have a heart problem, or to monitor a heart problem your doctor already knows you have.

When the heart suddenly stops beating, it is called sudden cardiac arrest. Emergency treatment is needed to get the heart beating again. If treatment is not started right away, sudden cardiac arrest can lead to death.

Sometimes problems with the heart's electrical signals lead to a fast heart rhythm. Too many signals may make the heart beat very fast (tachycardia). Or signals may be sent so rapidly and irregularly that the heart muscle sometimes quivers and doesn't beat at all (fibrillation).

If your blood pressure drops too low, your brain may not get enough oxygen-rich blood. Your body responds by losing consciousness briefly. You also slump or fall down. This problem is called syncope, fainting, or a blackout.

Syncope (fainting) has many causes. Sometimes it's not serious. In other cases, it's a sign of a heart problem. Read on to learn more.

Your healthcare provider will ask you about your fainting episode and your past health. They'll also do an exam. You may need a number of tests to assess your symptoms

If you have been told that your fainting is not caused by a heart problem, you can help prevent fainting. And you can learn to respond to your body's warning signs.

If heart trouble caused your fainting, treatment may improve blood flow, stop syncope, and help prevent further heart problems. Your provider can explain the benefits and risks of each treatment.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). They are very common. They can occur in people of all ages from time to time. They usually cause only mild symptoms.

Your heart uses electrical signals to keep pumping normally. With right bundle branch block, some signals are slowed when they pass through the heart.

An event monitor is a device used to record your heart's electrical activity. It's portable, so you carry it with you. It helps to diagnose some kinds of abnormal heart rhythm and other health conditions. It records your heart's activity when you have symptoms.

Lead extraction is the removal of wires from your heart. The wires are part of an implanted cardiac device.

Left bundle branch block is a problem in the heart's electrical system. It causes the left lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart to pump more slowly than normal.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a type of abnormally fast heartbeat. The heart normally beats 60 to 100 beats per minute. With SVT, the heart beats more than 100 times a minute. It may beat as fast as 250 times a minute.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a disease of the heart muscle. It replaces normal heart muscle with fatty fibrous tissue. This interrupts normal electrical signals in the heart.

Vasovagal syncope is fainting caused by a complex nerve and blood vessel reaction in the body. It's the most common cause of fainting. Unlike other causes of fainting, it's not a sign of a problem with the heart or brain.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease of the heart muscle. ARVC is a rare genetic disease. It usually starts between ages 10 and 50. It replaces normal heart muscle with fatty fibrous tissue, mainly in the right ventricle.

Vasovagal syncope is fainting caused by a complex nerve and blood vessel reaction in the body. It's the most common cause of fainting. Unlike other causes of fainting, it's not a sign of a problem with the heart or brain.

Lead extraction is the removal of wires from your heart. The wires are part of an implanted cardiac device. This sheet tells you what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

Left bundle branch block is a problem in the heart's electrical system. Learn more about the types of treatment for this condition.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). They are very common. They can occur in people of all ages from time to time. They usually cause only mild symptoms.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a type of abnormally fast heartbeat. The heart normally beats 60 to 100 beats per minute. With SVT, the heart beats more than 100 times a minute. It may beat as fast as 250 times a minute.

Atrial flutter is a type of arrhythmia. It causes the heart to beat faster than normal. Atrial flutter can increase the risk for certain serious problems, such as stroke.

Any abnormal change in the speed or pattern of the heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia that causes the heart to beat slower than normal is called bradycardia.

First-degree heart block is a condition where the wiring of the heart is slow to send electrical signals, but all of the signals still pass successfully. It often does not cause problems.

Heart palpitations are a symptom. It's the feeling you have when your heartbeat seems to be racing, pounding, skipping, or fluttering.

Heart block is a condition in which the electrical wiring system of the heart does not work properly. Second-degree heart block causes a missed heartbeat and an irregular pulse.

If you have a heart rhythm problem that causes the heart to beat faster than normal, this is known as tachycardia. There are many types of tachycardia.

A person with third-degree heart block usually has a very slow heartbeat. It is caused by a problem with how the heart's electrical system works.

Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is a type of abnormal heartbeat, or arrhythmia. If you have SSS, you may have episodes when your heart beats very slowly, stops beating for a short while, or beats very rapidly.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a kind of abnormally fast heartbeat.

Atrial flutter is when the upper chambers of the heart beat too fast. Learn how it happens, and how it can be treated.

Disorders in the heart's electrical system can lead to arrhythmias, or an abnormal heart rhythm. There are many types of arrhythmias and they're classified by where they occur in the heart and their pattern of abnormality. This segment will explain the arrhythmia known as Atrial Fibrillation.

Watch this to learn what atrial fibrillation is, some symptoms of it, and different treatments for it.

Disorders in the heart's electrical system can lead to arrhythmias, or an abnormal heart rhythm. There are many types of arrhythmias and they're classified by where they occur in the heart and their pattern of abnormality. This segment will explain the arrhythmia known as Atrial Fibrillation.

Viewers will learn what steps they should take to manage their atrial fibrillation at home.

If you've been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation and you're under the care of a cardiologist, take the medications prescribed for you, and you make lifestyle changes where needed so you can live the best quality life possible.

Follow this checklist to manage your medications for atrial fibrillation.

Watch this to know when to call your doctor to avoid discomfort or any more serious problems of atrial fibrillation.

When diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the first line treatment that cardiologists typically recommend is medications. However, over time the medications may no longer be effective or may not provide symptom relief. In these cases your health care provider may recommend a heart procedure known as catheter ablation.

Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat out of rhythm. To get the heart beating normally again, sometimes the heart is 'shocked' into normal rhythm. The idea of shocking the heart may be intimidating, but it's actually a quick and painless procedure.

John Criswell explains atrial fibrillation, it's symptoms, causes, and the importance of treating it.

John Criswell explains atrial fibrillation, it's symptoms, causes, and the importance of treating it.

Dr. Emilia Benjamin describes risk for complications from atrial fibrillation (AFib) and ways to start reducing those risks today.

Understanding your treatment options is very important. To help make a decision, it is always helpful to identify what problem you are trying to solve.

As captain of their healthcare team, Dr. Mark Estes encourages patients to take an active role in managing their health.

Dr. Mark Estes shares how taking initiative to change your lifestyle can make a significant impact in your length and quality of life.

John Criswell shares his experience of being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib) and how he manages his disease to live the most active, healthy life.

Marci Wilson shares how she lives with atrial fibrillation and encourages you to motivate yourself to stay healthy and take care of your heart.

Electrophysiology (EP) studies are tests done to find out why your heart isn't beating in a regular way. These tests study the electrical activity in your heart. They are also called cardiac mapping. The results can help your health care team find where an arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) is coming from and determine the best treatment for you. © AHA

In atrial fibrillation, or AFib, the heart's two small upper chambers (atria) beat irregularly and too fast, quivering instead of contracting properly. During AFib, some blood may not be pumped efficiently from the atria into the ventricles. Blood that's left behind can pool in the atria and form blood clots. © AHA

Watch how Kersey has lived and made lifestyle changes after being diagnosed with heart disease.

Atrial fibrillation can be controlled. With treatment, most people with atrial fibrillation lead normal lives.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common abnormal heart rhythm in the world. It causes the atria to quiver instead of pumping normally. This can cause blood clots and lead to stroke.

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a common type of heart arrhythmia. It causes fast, chaotic electrical signals in the atria.

LAAC seals off the left atrial appendage (LAA) of the heart. This reduces the risk for stroke in people who have atrial fibrillation.

Catheter ablation destroys (ablates) an abnormal electrical pathway or groups of electrical cells that may be causing a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia). Read on to learn what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

This catheter ablation procedure destroyed (ablated) a few of the cells in your heart that were causing your heart rhythm problem. During the procedure, a thin, flexible wire (called a catheter) was inserted into a blood vessel in your upper thigh and threaded up to the heart.

Your doctor performed a procedure called cardioversion. Your doctor used a controlled electric shock or a medication to briefly stop all electrical activity in your heart. This helped restore your heart's normal rhythm. Here are some instructions to follow while you recover.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment that may help a person whose heart isn't pumping as well as it should.

Your health care provider recommends that you have cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This is a procedure to place a small device in your chest and wires in your heart. CRT improves the timing of your heart's contractions. This helps your heart pump better. CRT can be done with a pacemaker or a defibrillator. Your health care provider will decide which device is better for you.

Your CRT device needs special care. You will also need to make some lifestyle changes. Find out how to take care of the device and your health.

Cardioversion is a procedure that is done to return your heartbeat to a normal rhythm. It's done when the heart is beating very fast or irregular.

Cardioversion is a procedure that is done to return your heartbeat to a normal rhythm. You take medicine, either through an IV or by mouth.

Cardioversion is a procedure that is done to return your heartbeat to a normal rhythm. You take medicine, either through an IV or by mouth.

Cardioversion is a procedure that is done to return your heartbeat to a normal rhythm. It's done when the heart is beating very fast or irregular.

An implantable loop recorder is a device that records information about how your heart is working.

This procedure replaces a pacemaker or an ICD that is running low on battery power. The surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure. You can go home the same day.