heart and blood vessel disorders
Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms
Symptoms of Abnormal Heart Rhythms
Some people who have abnormal heart rhythms may be aware of them. However, awareness of heartbeats (called Palpitations ) varies widely among people. Some people can feel normal heartbeats, and most people can feel heartbeats when they lie on their left side. Arrhythmias have consequences that range from harmless to life threatening. The seriousness of an arrhythmia may not be closely linked with the severity of the symptoms it causes. Some life-threatening arrhythmias cause no symptoms, and some otherwise inconsequential arrhythmias may cause severe symptoms. The nature and severity of the underlying heart disorder are often more important than the arrhythmia itself. When arrhythmias impair the heart’s ability to pump blood, they can cause weakness, a reduced capacity for exercise, shortness of breath, light-headedness, dizziness, Fainting (syncope), or death. Fainting occurs when the heart is pumping so inefficiently that it can no longer maintain adequate blood pressure. If such an arrhythmia persists, death may result. Arrhythmias may also aggravate the symptoms of an underlying heart disorder, including chest pain and shortness of breath. Arrhythmias that cause symptoms require prompt attention. Some otherwise inconsequential arrhythmias may cause troubling symptoms, while some life-threatening arrhythmias may cause no symptoms. 