Heart
Arrhythmias
Any disturbance in the heart's normal rhythm, making it beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
An arrhythmia represents any disturbance in the heart's normal electrical rhythm — causing the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. These conditions span from benign palpitations to potentially fatal emergencies.
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Arrhythmias encompass a range of heart rhythm disturbances that can affect how effectively the heart pumps blood.
Types of Arrhythmia
- Atrial Fibrillation — most common sustained arrhythmia; fivefold increased stroke risk
- Atrial Flutter — rapid, organised atrial rhythm (250–300 bpm); highly responsive to ablation
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) — sudden-onset palpitations originating above the ventricles
- Ventricular Tachycardia — life-threatening fast rhythm, often associated with structural heart disease
- Ventricular Fibrillation — chaotic ventricular activity causing cardiac arrest; requires immediate defibrillation
- Bradyarrhythmias — abnormally slow heart rates treated with pacemaker implantation
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) — early ventricular beats creating a 'skipped beat' sensation
Symptoms
- Palpitations: racing, fluttering, or irregular sensations
- Breathlessness and chest discomfort
- Dizziness and pre-syncope
- Syncope (fainting)
- Sudden collapse requires emergency evaluation
Treatment Options
- Antiarrhythmic medications
- Catheter ablation (radiofrequency or cryotherapy)
- Electrical cardioversion
- Implantable devices: pacemakers, ICDs, CRT devices
Concerned About Arrhythmias?
Dr. Peter Chang offers specialist assessment and personalised management at Paragon Medical Centre, Singapore.