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Arrhythmias

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular. When an arrhythmia is present, the heart may seem to skip beats, or flutter. The term ‘bradycardia’ describes a heartbeat that is slow: less than 60 beats per minute. ‘Tachycardia’ usually refers to a resting heart rate that is fast: more than 100 beats per minute. ‘Fibrillation’ is an abnormal firing of signals within an area of the heart, causing a disorganized beat. Abnormal electrical signals can originate in different areas of the heart, such as in the atria or the ventricles.

A few common types of arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, bradycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia.

 

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Visit Houston Cardiovascular Institute Website for more information.