What is an arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is a change in the normal rhythm of the heart. Your heart may beat too fast or too slow or beat with an irregular or skipping rhythm.
Why do heart rhythm problems cause symptoms?
Arrhythmias cause symptoms because the heart isn't beating regularly or isn't pumping blood as well as normal.
- Lightheadedness.
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Your heart can't pump blood as well as it should during very fast or slow heart rates. The ineffective pumping decreases blood pressure. This reduces the amount of blood that reaches your brain and causes lightheadedness.
- Fainting (syncope).
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The arrhythmia causes such a sharp drop in blood pressure that the brain doesn't receive enough blood to keep you awake. So you lose consciousness. For this to happen, your heart rate must be extremely fast or extremely slow, or you must also have some other heart condition.
- Shortness of breath.
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When the heart beats too fast, it doesn't pump as well as it should. There may not be enough time between heartbeats for the heart to fill with blood. Blood backs up into the lungs. Increased pressure and fluid in the lungs can cause shortness of breath.
How is an arrhythmia diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health and will do a physical exam. You will have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). This test checks for problems with the heart's electrical activity. You may also have other tests to check the health of your heart.
How is an arrhythmia treated?
Treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia. You may take medicines that slow your heart rate or stop the arrhythmia. Procedures such as cardioversion and catheter ablation may be done. Other options include a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). A pacemaker helps your heart beat normally. An ICD can stop a dangerous arrhythmia.
How can you care for yourself when you have cardiac arrhythmia?
General care
- Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines your doctor prescribes.
- Avoid infections such as COVID-19, colds, and the flu. Get a pneumococcal vaccine. If you have had one before, ask your doctor if you need another dose. Get a flu vaccine every year. Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
- Wear medical alert jewelry that says you have an abnormal heart rhythm. You can buy this at most drugstores.
Heart-healthy lifestyle
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- If they cause symptoms, limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine.
- Do not smoke or use nicotine. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
- Stay at a healthy weight. Lose weight if you need to.
- Ask your doctor whether you can take over-the-counter medicines (such as decongestants). These can make your heart beat fast.
- If you think you may have a problem with drug use, talk to your doctor. Certain drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, can speed up your heart's rhythm.
- Talk to your doctor about any limits to activities, such as driving.
Activity
- Get regular exercise. Try for 30 minutes on most days of the week. Ask your doctor what level of exercise is safe for you. If activity is not likely to cause health problems, you probably do not have limits on the type or level of activity that you can do. You may want to walk, swim, bike, or do other activities.
- When you exercise, watch for signs that your heart is working too hard. You are pushing too hard if you cannot talk while you exercise. If you become short of breath or dizzy or have chest pain, sit down and rest.
- Keep a diary of your heart rate and symptoms if your doctor asks you to. Check your pulse daily. Place two fingers on the artery at the palm side of your wrist, in line with your thumb.
Cardiac arrhythmia: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You have symptoms of sudden heart failure. These may include:
- Severe trouble breathing.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
- Coughing up pink, foamy mucus.
- You passed out.
- You have symptoms of a stroke. These may include:
- Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
- Sudden vision changes.
- Sudden trouble speaking.
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.
- Sudden problems with walking or balance.
- A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have new or changed symptoms of heart failure, such as:
- New or increased shortness of breath.
- New or worse swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet.
- Sudden weight gain, such as more than 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. (Your doctor may suggest a different range of weight gain.)
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded or like you may faint.
- Feeling so tired or weak that you cannot do your usual activities.
- Not sleeping well. Shortness of breath wakes you at night. You need extra pillows to prop yourself up to breathe easier.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You have new or worse symptoms.
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