Cardiac arrhythmia(abnormal heart rhythm or dysrhythmia) is characterized by a heartbeat that loses its normal rhythm.

There are several different types of bradycardias or bradyarrhythmias, such as:

What Does Tachycardia Mean?

Tachycardia is a medical term that describes rapid heartbeats above 100 beats per minute.

Man getting heart rate measured

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What Causes an Irregular Heartbeat?

Many factors can cause arrhythmia.

Other common causesof irregular heartbeats associated with cardiac arrhythmia include:

Is Arrhythmia Always Serious?

Arrhythmia is not always serious.

The seriousness of a cardiac arrhythmia depends on the jot down.

If arrhythmias cause irregular heartbeats consistently, they can weaken or damage the heart.

This may cause serious health outcomes.

In many cases, cardiac arrhythmias are fixable.

Everyone experiences irregular heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms from time to time.

That said, some types of heart arrhythmia can be fatal within minutes.

Summary

“Arrhythmia” is a broad term used to describe the loss of normal rhythm.

Abnormal heart rhythms characterize cardiac arrhythmias.

There are many different types of heart arrhythmia.

Most arrhythmias aren’t life-threatening, but some can be lethal.

Ventricular fibrillation is the most serious and potentially fatal arrhythmia.

VF requires immediate treatment, such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and a defibrillator.

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