Heart Rhythm Problems
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PrintDo you have an arrythmia?
Are you asking yourself: what is an arrythmia?
An arrhythmia is a change in the steady, regular beat of your heart. You may notice a skipped beat, beating irregularly, or beating very fast or very slowly.
Arrythmias are common — about 2.2 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (one type of rhythm problem). Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. They also may indicate a serious problem and lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death (Americanheart.org).
A little bit about how the heart beats with electrical conduction:
(information below from www.americanheart.org)
The heart beats (contracts) when an electrical impulse from the sinoatrial node (also called the SA node or sinus node) moves through it. The SA node is sometimes referred to as the heart's "natural pacemaker" because it initiates impulses for the heartbeat.
The normal electrical sequence begins in the right atrium and spreads throughout the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node. From the AV node, electrical impulses travel down a group of specialized fibers called the His-Purkinje system to all parts of the ventricles.
This exact route must be followed for the heart to pump properly. As long as the electrical impulse is transmitted normally, the heart pumps and beats at a regular pace. In an adult, a normal heart beats 60 to 100 times a minute.
Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) is a painless, non-invasive procedure that records the heart’s electrical activity and can help diagnose arrhythmias.
Watch for more postings to learn more about different kinds of arrythmias.
