Electrical signals in the heart muscle regulate your heart’s rhythm, but if this internal electrical system malfunctions, your heart may beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. That’s called an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias may hinder your heart’s ability to pump blood to the body, which can affect the organs and tissues that depend on oxygen and nutrients in the blood.
Many abnormal heart rhythms aren’t serious, but some can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which is a life-threatening condition. Certain cardiac arrhythmias may also lead to stroke or heart failure. If you notice an irregular heart rate, it’s important to see a cardiologist to find out if you have an arrhythmia and how to treat it. Cardiologists have a variety of treatment options to choose from that can help return your heart to a normal rhythm.
Wondering what to do about an abnormal heart rhythm? Call 843-770-4550 to schedule an appointment with a board-certified cardiologist who can diagnose the problem, pinpoint its source and treat the arrhythmia.
A variety of factors can cause faulty electrical signals in the heart that may lead to an arrhythmia, including:
Not all types of arrhythmia cause symptoms, but if you do have them, you may experience:
After asking about your medical history and conducting a physical exam, your Beaufort Memorial cardiologist may recommend one or more tests to diagnose an arrhythmia. These may include an electrocardiogram, which provides information about how the heart’s electrical system is working, and an echocardiogram, which shows how the heart muscle functions. Your cardiologist may also want you to wear a heart rhythm recorder called a Holter monitor or undergo an electrophysiology study to observe your heart during an arrhythmia.
To treat an arrhythmia, your cardiologist may recommend: