Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia refers to a disturbance in the heart's rhythm, causing it to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. This occurs when the electrical impulses coordinating heartbeats malfunction.

Arrhythmias may occur independently or be linked to underlying factors, such asLifestyle factors including excessive caffeine or alcohol consumptionStress, diabetes, genetic factors, or recreational drug usePrior heart attack or myocardial damageHeart failure or heart enlargementCongenital heart diseaseHigh blood pressure Electrolyte imbalanceThyroid disorders

While some individuals with arrhythmia may not exhibit symptoms, noticeable cases can lead to:

• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting/blackouts
• Excess sweating
• Chest discomfort
• Breathlessness

Treatment for arrhythmias varies. While mild cases may not necessitate treatment, more serious arrhythmias might require medications, cardioversion (electric shocks to restore normal heart rhythm), catheter ablation, or device insertion (pacemaker, in some cases, defibrillator)