Arrhythmias (original) (raw)

An arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm, usually means your heart is beating too fast, too slow or irregularly.

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Arrhythmia explained

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. Your heart is controlled by a conduction system which sends out electrical impulses. This causes a heartbeat.

Arrhythmias are caused by a problem in this conduction system, which can make your heart beat too slowly, too quickly, or in an irregular way.

There are different types of arrhythmia, the most common are:

Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular, often fast heart rhythm.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a very fast heart rhythm. There are different types of SVT. Most are due to electrical impulses not travelling normally from the top chambers of the heart to the bottom chambers of the heart
Atrial flutter is usually a fast heart rhythm where the top chambers of the heart contract at a very fast rate compared to the lower chambers. This can cause the top chambers to beat extremely fast, sometimes up to 300 beats per minute (bpm)
Tachybrady syndrome (sick sinus syndrome) causes periods of very fast or slow heart beats
Heart blocks are caused by a delay or blockage in the conduction system between the top and bottom chambers of the heart which can cause a slow heart rate.

Is your heart rate fast or slow?

Sinus tachycardia is when your heart beats in a regular way and faster than 100 bpm

Sinus bradycardias is when your heart beats in a regular way and 60 bpm or below

If you have sinus tachycardia or sinus bradycardia it doesn’t mean there's something wrong with your heart and you might not need treatment. Sometimes it can be due to an underlying condition which you may need treatment for, so your doctor might want to send you for further tests to find out more.

Symptoms of arrhythmia

The symptoms you have depend on what type of arrhythmia you have. The most common symptoms include:

palpitations (a thumping or fluttering sensation in your chest)
dizziness
feeling as if you may ‘black out’
breathlessness
chest discomfort
feeling tired.

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When to get medical help

You should speak to your GP about your symptoms if:

your palpitations last a long time, don't improve or get worse
you have a history of heart problems
you're concerned about the palpitations.

You should dial 999 for an ambulance if:

along with palpitations, you start to feel short of breath, have chest pain or feel faint or dizzy.

Causes of an arrhythmia

Some underlying conditions which could cause an arrhythmia are:

Some abnormal heart rhythms can be caused by inherited conditions, such as Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, CPVT and PCCD.

If this is the case for you, your doctor will talk to you about having family members tested. Although this can be scary, it can help them know if they need treatment now or in the future.

Other common triggers of an arrhythmia include:

viral illnesses
recreational drugs
alcohol
smoking
caffeine
medications (over-the-counter and prescribed).

Diagnosing arrhythmia

Your GP might refer you for tests including:

An ECG may include different tests such as a 24hr ECG, exercise ECG, and an implantable loop recorder. Information on what these tests are and what to expect can be found above on our ECG page.

Treating arrhythmia

Your treatment will depend on your type of arrhythmia. Common treatments include:

medication
cardioversion
catheter ablation
inserting an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker.

Are you finding it hard to get medical help?

We know that many of you are experiencing delays to treatment at this time, or have questions and concerns about getting medical help. We've created this set of information to help you with these issues.

If you are having emergency heart attack symptoms, do not wait for an appointment and call 999 immediately.

Read where to get help if your appointment or surgery is delayed.

Living with an arrhythmia

Most arrhythmias are manageable. This means that with the right treatment you can carry on living as you were before you were diagnosed.

Living with an abnormal heart rhythm can be emotionally challenging for you and your family. It's important to manage anxiety and stress and get support from your GP or loved ones if needed.

You might have to think about practical matters like driving, going on holiday and returning to work after being diagnosed with an arrhythmia.

If your ability to drive is affected, you must let your insurance company and the DVLA know. Your GP can advise on whether you need to do this.

If your job has an occupational health department, talk to them if you think your job role might have to be altered to better suit you.

Read about Jim, who has atrial fibrillation.

Heart Helpline & other support:

speak to our cardiac nurses by phone, callback, email or online chat on Heart Helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
contact us to talk to our customer care advisors, find your local BHF shop and for any comments, compliments and complaints you may have
sign up to our Heart Matters magazine for online information packed with health and lifestyle advice.

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Page last updated: June 2022

Next update due: June 2025