An arrhythmia is a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or irregular. It occurs when the electrical signals that stimulate our heart to beat do not work properly. There are many different types of arrhythmia.
When your heart is healthy, a steady, electrical signal that originates in the Sino Atrial node in the right upper part of your heart keeps your heart at a regular beat, usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute. This is called sinus rhythm. An arrhythmia is any disturbance in this sinus rhythm. Most arrhythmias are harmless or not serious; however, others can predispose a person to a stroke or cardiac arrest.
What are the Symptoms of an Arrhythmia?
Some arrhythmias cause no symptoms and are only diagnosed during a routine physical or investigations for unrelated reasons.
Noticeable arrhythmia symptoms may include:
A feeling like your heart is racing
A slow heartbeat
Palpitations, or a fluttering in your chest
Dizziness
Breathlessness
Chest pain
Sweating
Fainting or almost fainting.
What Causes an Arrhythmia?
Since there are many different types of arrhythmia, there are also many reasons why arrhythmias occur. Some common reasons include:
Certain medications and supplements
Coronary artery disease
Current or prior heart attack
Diabetes
Drug or substance abuse
Excess caffeine
Genetics
High blood pressure
Metabolic disturbances
Overindulgence in alcohol
Sleep apnea
Smoking
Stress
Structural problems within the heart
Thyroid problems (over or underactive)
How Are Arrhythmias Diagnosed?
If you have any symptoms of an arrhythmia see your doctor. Your doctor with review your medical and medication history and conduct a physical examination. Tests may be conducted that will determine if you have any underlying conditions that may be causing your arrhythmia.
Other tests may include:
An electrocardiogram: Sensors are placed on your chest that detects the electrical activity of your heart.
A Holter monitor: This is a portable ECG which measures your heart rhythm over 24 hours or longer
An event monitor: For people who have sporadic arrhythmias, a button can be pushed which records the electrical activity of the heart when they have symptoms
Echocardiogram: A handheld device is placed on your chest which records your hearts size structure and motion through sound waves
Implantable loop recorder: A device is implanted under your skin which detects abnormal heart rhythms.
Other tests may include a stress test, tilt table testing or electrophysiological testing.
Your arrhythmia will be diagnosed according to how the heart is beating, for example:
Too slow: bradycardia.
Too fast: tachycardia.
Irregular: fibrillation or flutter
Too early: premature contraction.
How is an Arrhythmia Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia, how severe the symptoms are, and if the underlying condition is putting the person at risk of more serious arrhythmia or a complication.
Treatments may include:
Ablation therapy
Cardioversion
Coronary bypass surgery
ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator)
Maze procedure
Medications
Pacemakers
Surgery
Vagal maneuvers
Ventricular aneurysm surgery.
Drugs used to treat Arrhythmia
The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity
Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx
Prescription only.
OTC
Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC
Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label
This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA
An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access
Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A
Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B
Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C
Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D
There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X
Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N
FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M
The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U
CSA Schedule is unknown.
N
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1
Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2
Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3
Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X
Interacts with Alcohol.
Further information
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