Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias (pronounced: ah-RITH-me-ahs) are conditions characterized by an irregular heartbeat. They can occur in the atria or the ventricles. Arrhythmias are caused by problems with the heart's electrical system.
Etymology
The term "arrhythmia" is derived from the Greek words "a," meaning "without," and "rhythmos," meaning "rhythm." Thus, it literally means "without rhythm."
Types of Arrhythmias
There are several types of arrhythmias, including:
- Atrial fibrillation - This is the most common type of serious arrhythmia. It's a very fast, irregular contraction of the atria.
- Atrial flutter - This is similar to atrial fibrillation, but the rhythm in your atria is more organized and less chaotic than the abnormal patterns caused by atrial fibrillation.
- Ventricular fibrillation - This is a life-threatening arrhythmia that results in a rapid, erratic heartbeat. It can cause the pumping chambers in your heart (the ventricles) to quiver instead of pumping blood.
- Premature contraction - These are abnormal beats that occur earlier than the next regular beat.
- Tachycardia - This refers to a fast heartbeat, typically over 100 beats per minute.
- Bradycardia - This refers to a slow heartbeat, typically under 60 beats per minute.
Symptoms
Symptoms of arrhythmias can include palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, sweating, chest pain, and anxiety. However, some people with arrhythmias have no symptoms at all.
Treatment
Treatment for arrhythmias can include medication, lifestyle changes, pacemaker, cardioversion, ablation, or surgery. The specific treatment will depend on the type and severity of the arrhythmia.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Arrhythmias
- Wikipedia's article - Arrhythmias
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski