Surprisingly, some of my patients who are younger or physically fit have resting heart rates that are quite low, and in these cases, it’s a sign of a healthy heart. In this type of arrhythmia, the heart beats too slowly. Generally, symptoms are disruptive and uncomfortable, but the arrhythmia is typically not dangerous. This can happen to anyone, but the risk factors depend on the specific type of tachycardia. This occurs when electricity from the top of the heart misbehaves. This is absolutely normal behavior, and is not an arrhythmia. It happens when the SA node sends out electrical signals too quickly. This is generally caused by things like stress, anxiety, fever, or strenuous exercise. A heart rate over 100 beats per minute is technically referred to as “tachycardia”, but really, an increase from your normal heart rate, particularly associated with symptoms, may indicate an arrhythmia. Heart rates can differ depending on your age and overall health. However, they can cause symptoms, or when you have a lot of them, can even cause reversible damage to your heart – so they should not be ignored, and expert consultation should be sought. Like other fleeting palpitations mentioned above, they usually aren’t cause for alarm. PVCs happen when the bottom of your heart has an early beat. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) I advise patients with these kinds of irregular heartbeats to see their doctor on a regular basis, in case their condition needs to be treated. Some other kinds of arrhythmias should be monitored more closely. That is part of caring for you as your doctor.

Chances are, your fleeting palpitations are normal, and you might gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing that. The bottom line is this: If you have any palpitations that concern you, let your doctor know. Any symptom of an arrhythmia in a person with a known heart problem.Palpitations or other arrhythmia symptoms that occur often or last longer than a few seconds.It can be the result of something as simple as drinking too much coffee or feeling stressed or anxious, or with no behavioral explanation at all – it just happened.īut signs or symptoms that might need to be evaluated and monitored by a physician include: These “butterflies” are usually nothing to worry about when they happen now and then, and usually last a few seconds at most. Your heart “skipping a beat.” We’ve all had the feeling that our heart skipped a beat. I generally break them down into three categories: 1. Which arrhythmias require medical attention?Īs I mentioned before, there are different types of arrhythmias, and not all of them require a doctor’s care. Risk factors for arrhythmias depend on the type of arrhythmia but may include aging, having high blood pressure, being overweight, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, having other diseases or conditions that weaken the heart, or a family history of arrhythmia. In my practice, I see patients of all ages with arrhythmias - from teens to people in their 100s. In some cases, people are born with heart defects that may show up as arrhythmias. Their arrhythmias may have been found incidentally during testing for other medical conditions. However, some of my patients with arrhythmias have few or no symptoms. A pounding or fluttering sensation in their chest (known as palpitations).Many experience some of the following symptoms: When this impulse misbehaves or is disrupted, it can cause an arrhythmia, which affects how well your heart pumps blood to your body. This node is sometimes called the heart’s natural pacemaker. The electrical impulse that “kick-starts” each heartbeat comes from the sinoatrial (SA) node. What is a heart arrhythmia?Ī heart arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.

I think it’s helpful to first understand the basics of arrhythmias. While that was an extreme arrhythmia case, I tell my patients it’s important to have some insight into which arrhythmias are nothing to worry about, versus those that might need treatment or close monitoring. Thankfully, Eriksen’s life was saved, and he ultimately received the care he needed, including a surgical placement of a cardiac defibrillator, to help manage his condition. Others can be serious or potentially life-threatening if left untreated, as was the case with Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a match in the summer of 2021. Some kinds of heart arrhythmias are harmless. As a cardiac electrophysiologist - a physician who deals with the electrical system that controls the heart’s rhythm - I work with a lot of patients who are experiencing irregular heartbeats, also called heart arrhythmias.

Regular heartbeat