Written & Reviewed by Clinics Asia Healthcare Team | Learn more about our expert review process.
Overview
Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia) are when your heart beats too quickly or too slowly or your heartbeat is not steady. It might not be serious but see a GP if you think you're having symptoms.
Symptoms
There are different types of heart rhythm problem.
You may have a fast heartbeat (tachycardia), a slow heartbeat (bradycardia) or an irregular heartbeat where the rhythm changes.
This can make you feel:
- like your heart is pounding, racing, fluttering or missing a beat (heart palpitations) – this may last for a few seconds up to a few minutes
- short of breath
- lightheaded, dizzy or like you might faint
- tired
- chest pain or discomfort
Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have a heart rhythm problem.
Causes
Heart rhythm problems happen when there's a fault with the electrical system that makes your heart beat.
This can be the result of a heart rhythm condition, such as atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
Sometimes other conditions can also cause heart rhythm problems, including:
- high blood pressure
- coronary heart disease
- heart valve disease
- heart attack
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
You can also get an abnormal heartbeat from:
- medicines
- viruses
- caffeine
- alcohol, smoking or drugs
Treatment Options
How a heart rhythm problem is treated depends on the type you have and what's causing it.
Many people may not need any treatment at all or will only need regular check-ups.
Possible treatments include:
- medicine to control the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat, such as beta blockers
- burning or freezing the section of heart that's causing your faulty heart rhythm (ablation)
- using electrical signals to reset your heart rhythm (cardioversion)
- having a small electronic device that helps monitor and correct your heart rhythm fitted under your skin (pacemaker implantation)
You may also need treatment for any condition that's causing your heart rhythm problems.
When To See A Doctor
See a GP if:
- you think you may have heart rhythm problems
- you have heart palpitations that keep happening or are getting worse
Call an ambulance or go to the emergency department if:
You currently have heart palpitations with any of these symptoms:
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- fainting or feeling like you might faint
Our content undergoes a thorough process of research, writing, peer review, and rigorous checks and approvals. It is designed for educational purposes and is freely accessible for individual patients to read and share. For detailed information regarding usage, copyright, and disclaimers, please visit our Terms & Conditions page.