Cardiac arrhythmias are a group of conditions which happen when the heart beats irregularly. Hence, it can beat either too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. These medical conditions happen when the electrical signals to the heart that coordinate heartbeats don’t work properly.

Even though cardiac arrhythmias can be harmless, if they happen due to damaged heart, they can have serious or even fatal consequences. Some arrhythmias don’t show any symptoms, while other cause breathlessness, palpitations, and dizziness. Cardiac arrhythmias are usually a result of smoking, diabetes, or mental stress.

There are numerous types of cardiac arrhythmias. If you want to know more about each one of the types of cardiac arrhythmias, keep reading!

Types of Cardiac Arrhythmias

This group of conditions can be either classified by the place where they originate (ventricles or atria) or by the speed of heart rate they cause. Hence, if a person is experiencing a fast heartbeat, it is probably tachycardia. On the other hand, if a slow heartbeat takes place, it refers to bradycardia. This doesn’t mean that you are suffering from tachycardia when running because then it’s normal to have a fast heartbeat.

Tachycardias in the atria

There are different types of tachycardias which originate from the atria, such as atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Atrial flutter is a rapid heartbeat with organized and rhythmic electrical impulses. This type of cardiac arrhythmia might lead to serious complications such as stroke.

Atrial fibrillation is a rapid heart rate triggered by chaotic electrical impulses in the atria. This type is quite similar to atrial flutter. Article fibrillation causes uncoordinated and rapid contractions of the atria which bombard the AV node. As a result, there is a fast and irregular rhythm of the ventricles. This condition might be temporary, but if it persists and it’s not treated, it might lead to a stroke.

Supraventricular tachycardia is a broad term which refers to various forms of arrhythmia, which come from above the ventricles (supraventricular) in the atria or AV node.

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a type of supraventricular tachycardia. In this type of cardiac arrhythmia, there is an extra electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles, which is present at birth. People having Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome might not be aware that they have it until they become adults.

Tachycardias in the ventricles

There are several types of tachycardias which originate from the ventricles, including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and Long QT syndrome.

Ventricular fibrillation is a condition when rapid, chaotic electrical impulses trigger the ventricles to quiver ineffectively instead of pumping necessary blood to the body. It is usually a result of an underlying heart disease or serious trauma. In fact, this type of cardiac arrhythmia can be fatal if the heart isn't restored to a normal rhythm within minutes.

Ventricular tachycardia is a medical emergency which happens when the heart rate is irregular and rapid. The heart rate originates with abnormal electrical signals in the ventricles and doesn't allow the ventricles to fill and contract efficiently to pump enough blood to the body. If not treated promptly, it might worsen into ventricular fibrillation.

Long QT syndrome is a heart disorder which happened when the heartbeats are chaotic and fast. This syndrome might lead to fainting and can even be life-threatening. The long QT syndrome is usually caused by some medications or medical conditions, such as congenital heart defects.

Bradycardia

There are several bradycardias which happen when the heart rate is slow and below 60 beats a minute. This condition can be caused by hypertension or certain medications. There are two most common types of bradycardia, such as sick sinus syndrome and conduction block.

Sick sinus syndrome happens when the sinus node doesn’t send the impulses properly. The sinus node is responsible for setting the pace of your heart. This condition can be caused by scarring near the sinus node. This scarring can either disrupt, slow, or block the travel of impulses.

Conduction block is a block of your heart's electrical pathways which can happen in or near the AV node. The AV node lies on the pathway between your atria and your ventricles or other pathways to each ventricle. This block, depending on the location, can trigger a steady, although usually slower, heartbeat. The conduction block can show no symptoms whatsoever, or cause skipped beats or bradycardia.

Premature heartbeats

Premature heartbeat is a type of arrhythmia in which the beat occurs earlier than expected. It is an extra beat which indicates a more serious health issue and can cause a longer lasting arrhythmia. Premature heartbeats usually happen as a result of stress or certain substances, such as nicotine or caffeine.

Risk factors

There are numerous factors which can increase the risk of developing a cardiac arrhythmia, such as:

• high blood pressure;
• coronary artery disease;
• congenital heart disease;
• drugs and supplements, such as an over-the-counter cough and cold medicines;
• an overactive or underactive thyroid gland;
• excessive used of caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants;
• diabetes;
• electrolyte imbalance;
• obstructive sleep apnea;
• too much alcohol;

Cardiac arrhythmias can be a culprit for other conditions, including heart failure and stroke.