Arrhythmia Summary An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. It means that your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern. When the heart beats faster than normal, it is called tachycardia. When the heart beats too slowly, it is called bradycardia. The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular and fast heart beat. Many factors can affect your heart’s rhythm, such as having had a heart attack, smoking, congenital heart defects, and stress. Some substances or medicines may also cause arrhythmias. Symptoms of arrhythmias include Fast or slow heart beat Skipping beats Lightheadedness or dizziness Chest pain Shortness of breath Sweating Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have an arrhythmia. Treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm may include medicines, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker, or sometimes surgery. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here About Arrhythmia American Heart Association Arrhythmia American Academy of Family Physicians Arrhythmia National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Categories of Arrhythmias Texas Heart Institute Related Issues AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Programs: Questions and Answers American Heart Association All about Heart Rate (Pulse) American Heart Association Automated External Defibrillators: Do You Need an AED? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Substances and Heart Rhythm Disorders Heart Rhythm Society Sudden Death in Young People–Heart Problems Often Blamed Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What Causes Heart Block? 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Consumers Union of U.S. Array Arrhythmias Arrhythmias Atrial fibrillation or flutter Cardiac ablation procedures Cardiac conduction system Ectopic heartbeat Electrocardiogram Exercise stress test Heart palpitations Heartbeat Holter monitor (24h) Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) Ventricular tachycardia Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Teenagers Arrhythmias Nemours Foundation Children Arrhythmias (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Children and Arrhythmia American Heart Association Facts about Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation Treating Arrhythmias in Children American Heart Association Types of Arrhythmia in Children American Heart Association Specifics Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia American Academy of Family Physicians Atrial Flutter Heart Rhythm Society Bradycardia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Brugada Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Bundle Branch Block Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Heart Block National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Heart Diseases and Disorders Heart Rhythm Society Long QT Syndrome National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute MedlinePlus: Cardiac Arrest National Library of Medicine Other Rhythm Disorders American Heart Association Palpitations National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Postural Tachycardia Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Premature Contractions American Heart Association Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Sick Sinus Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Sudden Cardiac Arrest National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Tachycardia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Tachycardia | Fast Heart Rate American Heart Association Types of Arrhythmia National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Types of Heart Block National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Ventricular Fibrillation Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and Accessory Pathways American Heart Association Women Cardiac Arrhythmia Management: Why Women Are Different from Men Women’s Heart Foundation Reference Desk Cardiovascular Glossary Texas Heart Institute Heart Anatomy Texas Heart Institute Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia American Heart Association How the Heart Works National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Understanding the Heart’s Electrical System and EKG Results National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia Cardioversion Digitalis toxicity Heart block His bundle electrography Intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) Multifocal atrial tachycardia Pulse Sick sinus syndrome Ventricular fibrillation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Arrhythmias, Cardiac National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Bradycardia National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Tachycardia National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Common Tests for Arrhythmia American Heart Association Electrocardiogram National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) American Heart Association Holter and Event Monitors National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute How Are Arrhythmias Diagnosed? 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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Skipped Beats Heart Rhythm Society Slow Heartbeat Heart Rhythm Society Stress Testing National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Syncope National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Tilt Table Test Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Andersen-Tawil syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Brugada syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: chronic atrial and intestinal dysrhythmia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: progressive familial heart block National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Romano-Ward syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: short QT syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: sick sinus syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Timothy syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: transthyretin amyloidosis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome National Library of Medicine Videos and Tutorials Insertable Cardiac Monitor OR-Live Living With Living with an Arrhythmia National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Living with Heart Block National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Living with Long QT Syndrome National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Check Tools Palpitations DSHI Systems Rapid Pulse DSHI Systems Journal Articles Arrhythmia Prevention and Risk Factors Risk Factors and Prevention Heart Rhythm Society Understand Your Risk for Arrhythmia American Heart Association Who Is at Risk for Arrhythmia? 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