arrhythmia
Heart timing disorder
Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat—the heart beating too fast, too slow, or with an uneven rhythm.
The condition ranges from harmless flutters to life-threatening episodes requiring immediate treatment.
Doctors may detect arrhythmia during routine exams or through electrocardiograms: The monitor showed signs of arrhythmia.
Excessively fast pulse
- bradycardiaAbnormally slow heart rate
- fibrillationRapid irregular muscle contractions
- atrial fibrillationDisorganized cardiac rhythm disorder
- heart blockDisrupted cardiac electrical conduction
Awareness of abnormal heartbeat
- flutterRapid light movement
- racing heartAbnormally rapid heartbeat
- skipped beatPerceived missed heartbeat
- dizzinessUnsteady, spinning sensation
fainting · syncope · shortness of breath · fatigue · lightheadedness · weakness · anxiety · sweating
Arterial blood throb
- palpitationIrregular heartbeat awareness
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- throbBeat with intensity
- lub-dubHeart's acoustic signature
electrical impulse · contraction · systole · diastole · heart rate · resting pulse
Removal by cutting, melting
- cardioversionArrhythmia correction procedure
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- defibrillatorHeart-shocking medical device
- antiarrhythmicCorrects abnormal heart rhythms
beta blocker · ICD · blood thinner · warfarin · digoxin
Roofed central hall
- ventricleHollow organ chamber
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- defibrillatorHeart-shocking medical device
- sinus nodeHeart's natural pacemaker
myocardium · coronary artery · echocardiogram · cardiac arrest · ischemia · angina · cardiomyopathy · heart valve
Lacking regularity or consistency
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- unevenNot smooth or balanced
intermittent · skipping · misfire · disrupted · disordered · unsteady · fluctuating · variable
tachycardia
Excessively fast pulse
- bradycardiaAbnormally slow heart rate
- fibrillationRapid irregular muscle contractions
- atrial fibrillationDisorganized cardiac rhythm disorder
palpitations
Awareness of abnormal heartbeat
- flutterRapid light movement
- racing heartAbnormally rapid heartbeat
- skipped beatPerceived missed heartbeat
dizziness · fainting · syncope · shortness of breath · fatigue · lightheadedness · weakness · anxiety · sweating · irregular pulse
pulse
Arterial blood throb
- palpitationIrregular heartbeat awareness
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- throbBeat with intensity
lub-dub · electrical impulse · contraction · systole · diastole · heart rate · resting pulse
ablation
Removal by cutting, melting
- cardioversionArrhythmia correction procedure
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- defibrillatorHeart-shocking medical device
antiarrhythmic · beta blocker · ICD · blood thinner · warfarin · digoxin
atrium
Roofed central hall
- ventricleHollow organ chamber
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- defibrillatorHeart-shocking medical device
sinus node · myocardium · coronary artery · echocardiogram · cardiac arrest · ischemia · angina · cardiomyopathy · heart valve · sinoatrial
erratic
Lacking regularity or consistency
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
uneven · intermittent · skipping · misfire · disrupted · disordered · unsteady · fluctuating · variable
- fetal heartvariability, bradycardia, tachycardia, acceleration, deceleration
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- diseasescancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, influenza, measles
- heartheartbeat, heart attack, heart muscle, heart rate, heart failure
- heart healthheart disease, heart-healthy diet, heart attack, cardiologist, heart failure
- symptomsfever, headache, pain, nausea, rash
arrhythmiaregularity
Consistent, predictable occurrence
rhythm · steadiness · periodicity · steady beat · cadence
- cardiac arrhythmiaDisordered heart rhythm