What is an arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia (also referred to as dysrhythmia) is an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which can cause the heart to pump less effectively.
Arrhythmias can cause problems with contractions of the heart chambers by:
- not allowing the chambers to fill with an adequate amount of blood because the electrical signal is causing the heart to pump too fast.
- not allowing a sufficient amount of blood to be pumped out to the body because the electrical signal is causing the heart to pump too slowly or too irregularly.
In any of these situations, the body may not receive enough blood because the heart cannot pump out an adequate amount with each beat as a result of the arrhythmia's effects on the heart rate.
What are the symptoms of arrhythmias?
The effects on the body are often the same, however, whether the heartbeat is too fast, too slow, or too irregular. Some symptoms of arrhythmias include, but are not limited to:
- weakness
- fatigue
- palpitations
- low blood pressure
- dizziness
- fainting
The symptoms of arrhythmias may resemble other conditions. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.
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