Are you afraid that you’ve inherited or developed heart rhythm disorders?
Most of the common heart disorders are those that cause fast and irregular heart rhythms. Yet, some also cause slow heart rhythms. Knowing about these conditions allows you to know what do if you ever experience them.
In this guide, we’ll list the top heart rhythm disorders. Read on and learn more today:
Table of Contents
1. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common heart conditions. It occurs when you have an irregular, disorganized, and rapid heart rhythm. The chaotic electrical impulses in the atrium cause serious complications like stroke.
This heart problem occurs in 10% of people aged 65 and older. The best treatment is anticoagulation and atrial occlusion devices. If you want to expand your knowledge on atrial fibrillation, learn more here.
2. Atrial Flutter
Atrial flutter and AFib are heart disorders often linked to one another. A third of people who experience AFib also experience an atrial flutter. Atrial flutter features an irregular heartbeat, which may occur for days to weeks.
Unlike AFib, the electrical impulses travel in a circle in the upper half of the heart. It causes a steady but fast heart rhythm. Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and trouble exercising.
3. Ventricular Fibrillation (VFib)
One of the riskiest heart rhythm disorders is ventricular fibrillation. During VFib, electrical impulses cause a fast and chaotic heart rhythm. It stops the heart from beating and pumping blood.
When it occurs, it most likely leads to cardiac arrest. The best emergency response is CPR and defibrillation. The longer you wait, the lower the patient’s survival rate.
4. Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
A PVC is a heartbeat occurring too early, causing the next heartbeat to be stronger. It disrupts the heart’s normal rhythm, often causing the feeling of a “skipped heartbeat.” Because it’s a common type of arrhythmia, everyone may experience it.
The most common cause can be stress, caffeine, nicotine, or exercise. Heart diseases and imbalances also cause PVCs. If you often experience PVCs, consider seeing a doctor right away.
5. Bradycardia
If tachycardia is the abnormal and fast heart rhythm, bradycardia is the opposite. In short, it’s when your heart rhythm is 30 to 40 beats per minute. Related heart problems are bradyarrhythmias like sinus node dysfunction and heart block.
Don’t get too shocked if you’re an athlete and have bradycardia. It’s natural for athletes to have a slower heart rhythm. Exercise strengthens the heart and causes it to pump more blood every heartbeat.
Become More Aware of These Top Heart Rhythm Disorders
We hope you enjoyed learning about these top heart rhythm disorders. If you experience irregular cardiac rhythms often, see a cardiologist. Don’t wait for the adverse side effects to show up or for your disorder to get worse.
Seeing a doctor is vital if you have ancestors with heart disorders or problems.
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