The symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias are highly variable
from person to person. My patients usually complain about heart palpitations,
lightheadedness, and fainting spells. In some cases, there may be no symptoms
at all. A palpitation is a sensation of the heart beating within your chest.
You may feel palpitations during a normal heart rhythm, particularly when
nervous or exercising. They can vary in intensity, speed, and regularity.
If palpitations seem unusually fast, frequent, or are accompanied by other
symptoms such as dizziness, it is important to mention them to your primary
care provider.
Lightheadedness and fainting are symptoms that may or
may not be due to an arrhythmia. When the cause is an arrhythmia, these
symptoms signify that the heart is not pumping enough blood to the brain.
Cardiac arrest is the most severe symptom of any arrhythmia. In general,
survival is only possible if someone immediately present knows cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation (CPR). Prompt attention of an ambulance (in the
United States dialing 911) and transport to a nearby hospital is essential.
Even today, the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest is only about two
percent in most large American cities.
Types
of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Abnormalities of heart rate are classified as those that
are too fast (called tachycardia) and
those that are too slow (called bradycardia).
Arrhythmias are also classified by the region of the heart that gives rise
to the rhythm. Normally, your heartbeat arises from the sinus
node, a tiny area on the upper right side of the heart; therefore,
the normal heart rhythm is called normal sinus
rhythm. Places where abnormal heart rhythms can start include
the atrium (thin chambers at the top
of the heart) and the ventricles (muscular
chambers at the bottom of the heart).
Several common arrhythmias include:
