Final answer:
Arrhythmia encompasses conditions where the heart beats irregularly, too fast, or too slow. Treatments include medications, pacemakers, and sometimes surgery with most being manageable or correctable. Diagnostics often involve an ECG or Holter monitor to analyze the heart's electrical activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arrhythmia, also known as cardiac arrhythmia or heart arrhythmia, involves conditions in which the heartbeat is irregular, too fast (known as tachycardia), or too slow (known as bradycardia). A normal adult heart rate ranges from 60-100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias can be asymptomatic or may cause symptoms such as palpitations, lightheadedness, passing out, or chest pain. In some cases, arrhythmias can lead to serious complications including stroke or heart failure, and can even be life-threatening.
There are four main types of arrhythmias: extra beats, supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias. Extra beats are premature contractions, supraventricular tachycardias arise from above the ventricles, ventricular arrhythmias originate in the ventricles, and bradyarrhythmias result in a slow heart rate. Diagnosis typically involves an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor to study the electrical conduction system of the heart.
Most arrhythmias can be treated with medications, medical procedures like pacemaker insertion, and in some cases, surgery. For fast heart rates, beta-blockers or antiarrhythmic agents such as procainamide may be used, while pacemakers are commonly implemented for slow heart rates. In cases where an arrhythmia could lead to stroke, blood thinners may be prescribed.
For chronic arrhythmias where the heart maintains a junctional rhythm, a cardiologist can implant an artificial pacemaker that delivers electrical impulses to the heart muscle, ensuring effective blood pumping. Some of these pacemakers, which are programmable, contain built-in defibrillators to address potential life-threatening situations. The use of controlled electric shocks in the form of cardioversion or defibrillation can also normalize abnormal heart rhythms.