An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. It means that the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern. The heart has an electrical system that controls the heartbeat. The electrical signals that tell the heart to beat go through the upper heart chambers to the atrioventricular (AV) node, and then pass into the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles. This causes the heart to squeeze, which pumps blood throughout the body. An arrhythmia occurs when the electrical signals that tell the heart to beat dont work properly. The heart may beat too fast or too slow, or the pattern of the heartbeat may be inconsistent.

Arrhythmias can be harmless or serious, with symptoms and without. Some types of arrhythmias are:

• Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh): a fast heartbeat. The heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute.
• Bradycardia (brad-e-KAHR-dee-uh): a slow heartbeat. The heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.
• Atrial fibrillation: the most common type of arrhythmia, which causes an irregular and fast heartbeat.

Arrhythmias can be caused by various factors, such as:

• A delay or blockage of the electrical signals that control the heartbeat.
• Another part of the heart taking over as pacemaker.
• Changes to heart tissue caused by changes in blood flow, damage to the heart’s electrical system, or stiffening or scarring of the heart tissue.
• Excessive exertion, strain, or stress.
• An imbalance of fluids, hormones, or electrolytes in the blood.
• Certain heart medications.
• A heart attack or scarring from a previous heart attack.
• Blocked arteries in the heart, called coronary artery disease.
• Changes to the hearts structure, such as from cardiomyopathy.
• Diabetes.
• High blood...