Arrhythmia

What type of arrhythmia do you have?#

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to any change from the normal sequence of electrical impulses that may cause ectopic heartbeats (premature atrial or atrioventricular or premature ventricular beats), bradycardia (sinus bradycardia, or sinoatrial or atrioventricular heart blocks), tachycardia (sinus, atrial, or ventricular tachycardia, (atrial fibrillation), or cardiac arrest (ventricular fibrillation or asystole).

⚠️Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency.

What signs and symptoms do you experience?#

Common signs and symptoms associated with arrhythmias are fatigue, dizziness, syncope, chest pain, and heart palpitations.

Under what circumstances do you experience onset of the arrhythmia?#

Stress and anxiety are common stimuli for onset of arrhythmias.

Do you have any underlying disease or condition associated with your arrhythmia?#

Numerous conditions and diseases associated with arrhythmia include different heart conditions mitral valve prolapse, mitral stenosis, congestive heart failure, low ejection fraction, ischemic heart disease, atrial and ventricular defects; cardiac surgery and catheterization; hypertension; pulmonary disease; anaphylaxis; rheumatic heart disease; thyroid disorder; sarcoidosis; non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); myeloma; anemia; drug-related effects; electrolyte imbalance; and advanced age.

How is your condition treated?#

Symptomatic arrhythmias are treated with antiarrhythmic medications, sometimes in combination with a pacemaker and/or an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
In refractory cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.

Related Pages#

Oral Health Care Considerations
- Arrhythmia
Medical Emergencies
- Syncope