goodtoknow says: Sometimes the heart beats faster or slower than normal. This is nothing to worry about and you may not even realize it's happened. However, there are several types of abnormal heart rhythms or heartbeats (arrhythmias) which should be investigated. Main symptoms include palpitations, a fast, slow or irregular pulse, dizziness, breathlessness and chest pains. A painless, harmless EEG test will usually detect what's wrong and a range of treatment can be offered, such as medication to control the heart beat or other sophisticated surgical techniques, all of which are extremely effective.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of Arrhythmias from patient.co.uk, read on.
This leaflet gives an overview of the hearts conduction system. It briefly describes some common problems of the heartbeat and heart rhythm (arrhythmias). There are other more detailed leaflets on some of the conditions mentioned.
The heart has four chambers - two atria and two ventricles. The walls of these chambers are mainly made of special heart muscle. The chambers have to contract (squeeze) in the correct order for the heart to pump blood correctly with each heartbeat.
The sequence of each heartbeat is as follows.
This means a normal heartbeat which is faster than usual (more than 100 beats a minute). This is usual when you exercise. It may also occur if you: are anaemic, have a fever (raised temperature), have an overactive thyroid gland, or are frightened (when you release adrenaline into the bloodstream which can speed up the heart).
This means a normal heartbeat which is slower than usual (less than 60 beats a minute). Many people who are fit have a heart rate between 50 and 60 beats a minute - sometimes slower. It may also occur if you have an underactive thyroid gland.
These are 'extra' heartbeats which occur 'out of sync' to the normal regular rate. They are very common and are usually harmless. Most people with normal hearts have at least on ectopic beat a day. You do not normally notice them. Sometimes you may notice them as a slight 'thud' in the chest if you are lying still in bed. Caffeine in tea or coffee may cause you to have more ectopic beats than usual. Some people with some types of heart disease have frequent ectopic beats.
An arrhythmia is an abnormal rate and/or rhythm of the heartbeat. There are various types, and some are more serious than others. Some are intermittent and 'come and go', others are permanent unless treated.
The main types of arrhythmia include the following.
In this arrhythmia the heartbeat is not controlled by the SA node (the normal timer of the heart). Another part of the heart overrides this timer with faster regular impulses. The source or 'trigger' of the impulse in an SVT is somewhere above ('supra') the ventricles. But, the impulse then spreads to the ventricles. The heart then contacts (beats) faster than normal, usually between 140 and 240 beats a minute. The heartbeat is regular. An episode of SVT may last just a few minutes, but can last several hours (sometimes even longer).
The time between episodes of SVT can vary greatly. In some cases, short bursts of SVT occur several times a day. At the other extreme, an episode of SVT may occur just once or twice a year. In most cases it is somewhere in between, and an episode ('paroxysm') of SVT occurs now and again.
In atrial fibrillation (AF) many random electrical impulses 'fire off' from different parts of the atria. The atria then 'fibrillate'. That means they only partially contract - but very rapidly (up to 400 beats per minute). Only some of these impulses pass through to the ventricles in a haphazard way. So, the ventricles contract between 160-180 beats a minute, but in an irregular way with varying force. If you feel your pulse you may count up to 180 beats per minute, the force of each beat can vary, and it feels erratic.
Once AF develops it is usually permanent. But, in some cases, episodes of AF come and go (paroxysmal AF). AF is common in older people, but it also affects some younger people. (See separate leaflet called 'Atrial Fibrillation' for more details.)
This is an uncommon arrhythmia. In this condition the ventricles beat faster than normal (between 120 and 200 beats a minute). The rate in the atria is normal. So, there is a trigger of electrical impulses somewhere in the ventricles which overrides the normal impulses coming down from the atria.
In ventricular fibrillation (VF) many random electrical impulses 'fire off' from different parts of the ventricles. The ventricles then 'fibrillate'. This means they only partially contract, which is not enough to push blood out of the heart. This is life-threatening and a common cause of 'cardiac arrest'. It is fatal unless corrected within a few minutes. It is a complication of various heart disorders, most commonly after a large heart attack (myocardial infarction).
There is is where the electrical impulses are partially or fully blocked between the atria and the ventricles. The SA node in the right atrium 'fires' at the normal rate, but the rate at which the ventricles contract (pulse rate) depends on how many impulses get through to the ventricles.
This condition is where the SA node (the heart's natural pacemaker) becomes damaged. The heart then tends to beat slowly or miss a few beats. But, in some cases the heart alternates between beating slow for a while, and then fast for a while.
There are other rare types of arrhythmias.
There are various causes of arrhythmias. They include the following.
Many arrhythmias occur as a complication of a heart condition. For example:
Certain medicines and excess thyroid hormone can sometimes trigger an arrhythmia.
For example, some cases of atrial fibrillation and SVT occur 'out of the blue' in otherwise healthy hearts. A section of the conducting fibres just becomes faulty and can trigger fast impulses.
Symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of the condition. If the arrhythmia is intermittent and 'comes and goes', the symptoms develop suddenly, and can go just as suddenly. Symptoms include:
Some arrhythmias are more serious than others. A heart rate that is very fast or very slow can result in too little blood flowing through the heart. In some cases this can lead to heart failure, or you may collapse.
Sometimes a doctor can easily diagnose that you have an arrhythmia by taking your pulse and examining you. However, some people have intermittent symptoms which may or may not be due to an arrhythmia. For example, some people who have 'palpitations' may have ectopic beats, or may be just more aware of their normal heartbeat. Some people have dizzy spells, or fainting attacks which may be due to an intermittent arrhythmia. Tests can help to confirm if you have an arrhythmia, and to find which type it is.
The ECG test is painless and harmless. Small metal electrodes are stuck onto your arms, legs and chest. Wires from the electrodes are connected to the ECG machine. The electrical impulses in your heart can be detected by the ECG machine. The machine detects and amplifies the electrical impulses that occur each heartbeat and records them onto a paper or computer. An ECG can confirm if you have an arrhythmia at the time of the test. Different arrhythmias cause different ECG patterns so this test can often clarify the type of arrhythmia.
If you have an intermittent arrhythmia, this may not be 'caught' by a standard ECG done at one particular time. You may then be advised to have an ambulatory ECG. This test records the electrical activity of your heart when you are walking about (ambulatory) and doing your normal activities. Wires from electrodes placed on your chest are connected to a small lightweight recorder. The recorder is attached to a belt which you wear round your waist. (It is like wearing a personal stereo or 'walkman'.) The electrical activity is usually recorded for 24-48 hours.
You will be given a diary to record the times when you develop any symptoms (such as palpitations). The ECG tracing is analysed at the end of the test. But, any times you record where symptoms occurred will be most carefully analysed to see if there was an arrhythmia to account for the symptoms.
Sometimes an ECG is taken whilst you exercise on a treadmill or bike to try and provoke symptoms which may be an intermittent arrhythmia.
Other more sophisticated tests may be advised in difficult cases.
Each type of arrhythmia has specific treatment options. Also, treating any underlying cause (such as ischaemic heart disease, or high blood pressure) may also be important in controlling certain arrhythmias. The following are the sort of treatments which may be considered.
Various medicines can interfere with the electrical impulses in your heart. They are often used to prevent intermittent arrhythmias, or to control the heart rate in atrial fibrillation.
This is an option for some cases of SVT, ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. A catheter (small wire) is passed via a large vein in your leg into the chambers of your heart. It is guided by special x-ray techniques. The tip of the catheter can destroy a tiny section of heart tissue that is the source or 'trigger' of abnormal electrical impulses. This treatment is suitable only if the exact site of the trigger can be found by special tests, and be located accurately by the catheter tip.
This may be an option for some types of tachycardia. For example, in some cases of atrial fibrillation which have recently developed, and some cases of ventricular tachycardia. Whilst under anaesthetic, you are given an electrical shock over the heart. This may revert the abnormal rhythm back to normal.
These are used in cases of complete heart block and in certain other situations. An artificial pacemaker is a small device which is inserted just under the skin on the upper chest. Wires from the pacemaker are passed through veins into the heart chambers. The pacemaker can then stimulate the heart to maintain a regular normal heartbeat.
These are sometimes used in difficult cases. They are small devices which are similar to pacemakers and are inserted under the skin in the upper chest. Wires are passed through a vein to the heart. The device monitors the heartbeat. If it detects a change to an abnormal rhythm, the device can send a short electrical shock to the heart to stop the abnormal rhythm.
British Heart Foundation 14 Fitzhardinge Street London W1H 4DH Tel (Heart Information Line): 08450 70 80 70 Web: www.bhf.org.uk
Arrhythmia Alliance PO Box 3697 Stratford Upon Avon Warwickshire CV37 8YL Tel: 01789 450787 Web: www.arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk Aims to promote better understanding, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for individuals with cardiac arrhythmia.
© EMIS and PIP 2005 Updated: April 2005 Review Date: October 2006 CHIQ Accredited PRODIGY Validated