Often people have no symptoms of a heart arrhythmia, and their doctor will be the first to notice the irregular heartbeat during a routine examination.  On the other hand, sometimes there are noticeable symptoms, but these do not always indicate a serious problem.  Heart arrhythmias can be classified by whether they originate in the atria or ventricles, or on whether the heart rate is sped up or slowed down.  Although not every heart arrhythmia indicates a problem, there are some facts to keep in mind when thinking about the rhythm of your own heartbeat.

The heart is made up of four chambers whose contractions pump blood throughout the body.  These contractions are controlled by electrical signals from the sinus node, a natural pacemaker, which regulates the heart rate.  The atrioventricular node introduces a delay in the electrical signal to give the ventricular chambers time to fill with blood before constricting.  Under normal circumstances, this process is smooth and maintains a heart rate somewhere between 60 and 100 beats per second.  Any time this process becomes irregular, the heart will develop an arrhythmia.

There are many things that can cause a heart arrhythmia.  Smoking and drinking or the use of recreational drugs can put pressure on the heart that can lead to damage and subsequent arrhythmia.  Air pollution has also been linked to irregularities.  Stress can affect the heart’s functioning as well.  Heart disease and high blood pressure arising from various sources might negatively affect the timing of the heart’s beating, as can scarring and damage from various episodes such as heart attacks.  A heart attack in progress will cause an arrhythmia, and immediate medical attention should be sought.

Because there are so many potential causes, it’s important to get medical advice about any arrhythmia.  However, depending on the severity and other underlying issues, there are not always symptoms for a heart arrhythmia.  Although noticeable symptoms do not always indicate a serious problem, it’s still important to seek medical advice.  You may notice your heart feels as if it’s racing, or there may be a “fluttering” in your chest.  Chest pain or shortness of breath might be a sign of a heart problem.  Lightheadedness, dizziness, or even fainting can also result from irregularities in your heart’s functioning.  Anyone who loses consciousness from a heart problem should be given immediate medical attention.

High-performance athletes and certain other individuals can strengthen their hearts to perform at extremely efficient levels, leading to a heart rate that might fall below 60 beats per minute.  But most people should have a steady heartbeat somewhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute.  It’s important to consult your doctor about your heart health and determine whether any changes in diet or exercise might be warranted to stay healthy.  If you have any questions about your heart health or about your health overall, you can use IPALC’s Group and Physician Directory at www.ipalc.org/find to help find an appropriate doctor.  Or contact IPALC directly at info@ipalc.org, and one of our staff members will happily refer you to a nearby physician.