Arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. Each heartbeat starts with an electrical impulse from the sinus node, which is the normal pacemaker of the body. The impulse travels along the other parts of the electrical system to activate the atria and the ventricles, thereby completing a single heartbeat. Damage to any part of the heart's electrical system can result in an abnormally slow heart rate, called bradycardia, or an abnormally fast heart rate, called tachycardia.

What Are the Symptoms of Arrhythmias?

Symptoms of bradycardia (a slow heart rate) include:

• Fatigue
• Poor exercise tolerance
• Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness

Symptoms of tachycardia (a fast heart rate) include:

• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting

What Are the Treatments for Arrhythmias?

Bradycardia (slow heart rate) may be improved or prevented with the surgical insertion of a permanent pacemaker. This mechanical device provides an electrical trigger for a heart beat when and where it is needed.

Tachycardia (fast heart rate) may be treated with:

• Medications
• Electrical therapy, which involves delivering electrical impulses directly to the atrial or ventricular tissue
• Radiofrequency ablation, which is generally performed in the cardiac catheterization lab, usually with the patient under general anesthesia. Catheters or wires are placed into the patient's heart by way of large veins in the legs and neck. The cardiologist then "maps" the heart's electrical system to locate the electrical short-circuit or over-active cells. Once found, this small amount of abnormal tissue can be destroyed by direct heating of the tip of a catheter using radiofrequency current
• Heart surgery

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