Arrhythmia | Baylor Scott & White Health

Finding care for an arrhythmia starts with knowing which type you have.

Heart arrhythmias are problems with your heart’s electrical signals. These conditions cause abnormal heart rates or rhythms in which your heart beats too quickly (tachycardia), too slowly (bradycardia) or in an irregular pattern. If you have a heart arrhythmia, you may feel like your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or “skipping a beat.”

The heart muscle has two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. All four chambers play a vital role in efficiently pumping blood through the heart and lungs and back into the body. Typically, your heart sends electrical signals that tell each chamber to pump in a predictable, coordinated manner. Heart arrhythmias interfere with the usual rate or rhythm.

Some heart arrhythmias are harmless, while others cause more serious issues. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, understanding the type you have will help you better understand your treatment options.

medical provider using stethoscope to listen to patient's arrhythmia

Types of arrhythmia

There are many different heart arrhythmias. Some common types include:

Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

Atrial fibrillation (AFib): Abnormal electrical signals cause the atria to beat too quickly and in a different rhythm than the ventricles. This is the most common type of arrhythmia.
Atrial flutter: Your atria beat too quickly, but unlike AFib, they beat in a more regular rhythm with the ventricles.
Long QT syndrome: Electrical signals in the heart are disrupted, causing signals to take too long to pass from one ventricle to the other. This leads to fast, uncontrolled heartbeats.
Multifocal atrial tachycardia: This is a fast heart rate that happens when too many electrical signals travel from the atria to the ventricles.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): SVTs are a collection of arrhythmias caused by irregular electrical activity in the atria, leading to sudden rises in heart rate.
Ventricular tachycardia: Abnormal electrical signals in the ventricles cause a sudden, fast heart rate.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: This congenital heart disease happens when there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart, causing episodes of fast heart rate.

Arrhythmia symptoms

Symptoms of arrhythmia may include:

An abnormally fast or slow heart rate
Anxiety
Chest pain or discomfort
Difficulty exercising
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Extreme tiredness
Fainting
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Weakness

medical provider checking the blood pressure of a patient with arrhythmia

Arrhythmia causes

Many health conditions can cause an arrhythmia, such as:

Congenital heart disease or heart conditions present from birth
Congestive heart failure
Coronary heart disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Obstructive sleep apnea
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a nervous system condition
Structural problems in the heart, often due to damage from another heart issue, such as a heart attack
Thyroid conditions, such as Graves’ disease
Other health concerns, such as fever, infection, a blood clot or other sources of physical or mental stress

Arrhythmia risk factors

You may be more likely to have a heart arrhythmia if you have the following risk factors:

Anxiety or chronic stress
Being overweight or obese
Drinking too much caffeine
Electrolyte imbalances that occur when you have too little or too much of certain minerals in your body
Genetic factors
Misusing drugs and alcohol
Smoking
Taking some medications and dietary supplements
Poor sleep habits or patterns

Sometimes heart arrhythmia symptoms appear or get worse when triggered by something else, such as:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs
Dehydration
Emotional or physical stress
Having an infection, virus or another unrelated illness
Nicotine from smoking or vaping
Not getting enough sleep

Diagnosing arrhythmias

Typically, the first step in diagnosing an arrhythmia is an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP will ask about your medical history and symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may order testing or refer you to a cardiologist if they suspect an arrhythmia.

To diagnose an arrhythmia or determine its underlying cause, one or more of these tests may be ordered:

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

This test tracks the electrical signals in the heart to monitor its health and functionality.

Arrhythmia treatment

You have many options for heart arrhythmia treatments. AFib and other forms of the condition may be treated with one or a combination of the following methods:

Lifestyle changes

You can manage a heart arrhythmia with healthy lifestyle choices, such as:

Eating a heart-healthy diet
Limiting alcohol to one drink a day for men or two drinks per day for women
Maintaining a healthy weight
Managing other chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
Improving sleep quality or duration
Avoiding stressful situations

Find a location near you

We help you get care at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations for arrhythmia care, including specialized centers in North and Central Texas.

Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Associates - Southwest Fort Worth

5701 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 302, Fort Worth, TX, 76132

Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Associates - Southwest Fort Worth

5701 Bryant Irvin Rd Ste 302, Fort Worth, TX, 76132

Finding care for an arrhythmia starts with knowing which type you have.

Types of arrhythmia

Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

Arrhythmia symptoms

Arrhythmia causes

Arrhythmia risk factors

You may be more likely to have a heart arrhythmia if you have the following risk factors:

Sometimes heart arrhythmia symptoms appear or get worse when triggered by something else, such as:

Diagnosing arrhythmias

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

Arrhythmia treatment

Lifestyle changes

Find a location near you

Frequently asked questions

Does my risk of arrhythmia change throughout life?

Are there non-medication treatments for arrhythmias?

Are all arrhythmias fatal?

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