Heart arrhythmia

A heart arrhythmia is a misfire in the sequence of electrical impulses controlling how the heart pumps blood. When these misfires occur, the heart may beat too fast, too slow or just irregularly. As such, there are several heart arrhythmia types, including:

• Bradyarrhythmias — Slow heart rhythms that may be caused by a heart conduction disorder
• Bradycardia — Slow heart rhythms below 60 beats per minute (BPM)
• Supraventricular arrhythmias — Arrhythmias that begin in the heart’s upper chambers
• Tachycardia — Fast heart rhythms above 100 BPM
• Ventricular arrhythmias — Arrhythmias that begin in the heart’s lower chambers

Heart arrhythmia causes

Arrhythmias can be caused by a variety of different factors, some more serious than others. These causes include:

We work to help you recover from a heart arrhythmia episode. Our treatment options vary and are based on your symptoms, lifestyle and overall health.

Cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (CRT-D) therapy

CRT-D therapy uses electric shocks to restore normal heart rhythm, while working to improve pumping function through recalibrating ventricle contractions. CRT-D therapy is used if you qualify for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and also have moderate-to-severe heart failure. CRT-D is generally recommended if you have poor heart-pumping function.

Electrophysiology (EP) study

An electrophysiology (EP) study is a procedure that examines the heart’s electrical activity in order to diagnose the source of abnormally slow or fast heart rhythms. They are also used to evaluate cardiac risk, to reveal suspected arrhythmias and provoke ones that occur infrequently. Electrophysiology studies can also assess symptoms, such as chest pain, dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath.

When performing an electrophysiology study, a catheter will be gently threaded through the artery and into your heart with the help of X-rays. Electrodes located at the end of the catheter send electrical signals to your heart to make it beat at different speeds. These electrodes also receive electrical signals from your heart, so that your heart rhythm can be recorded to assess possible abnormalities.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy

ICD therapy is a potentially lifesaving treatment if you have or are at high risk of developing ventricular arrhythmias. An ICD is a small battery-operated device that is implanted in the chest to continuously monitor the heart’s rate and rhythm. Implantable defibrillators combine the function of a pacemaker with the function of an external defibrillator.

If the heart slows or speeds up too much, the pacemaker element provides pacing to restore a normal heart rate. If the heart begins to beat in a disorganized fashion, the device provides a shock to restore normal rhythm. The procedure lasts anywhere between one and three hours and requires an average of one to three days for hospital observation.

Pacemakers

An implantable pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that uses electrical impulses to regulate or reproduce the heart's rhythm. This device is implanted in the chest, under the skin, and generally has two parts:

• Generator — Typically weighs less than an ounce and contains the battery and information to control the heartbeat
• Leads — Wires used to connect the heart to the generator and send the electrical impulses to the heart to tell it to beat

Pacemakers are externally programmable and allow our cardiology specialists to select the optimum pacing modes. If you require a pacemaker, you typically have a bradycardia, a tachycardia, severe heart failure, or a block in the heart’s electrical conduction system. Most people go home within one day of the procedure.