Irregular Heartbeat
Abnormal heart rhythms are irregular heartbeats, also called arrhythmias. Arrhythmias occur because the electrical signals that control your heartbeat don't work properly. They cause your heart to beat too fast, too slow or in an irregular way. Arrhythmias are more common as you get older and can be dangerous if you have irregular heartbeats regularly or for long periods of time.
Types of abnormal heart rhythms include:
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib) - the most common heart rhythm condition, affecting more than six million Americans. It can be difficult to diagnose because it is an irregular heartbeat that often comes and goes, called intermittent AFib.
- Atrial flutter - a single electrical impulse that occurs in the upper chamber of the heart, causing a fast heart rate.
- Bradycardia - a slow heart rate - less than 60 beats per minute.
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) - the heart seems to skip a beat, but it is often just a weak beat followed by a strong electrical impulse. This is a common condition that many people experience occasionally.
- Supraventricular tachycardia - a fast heartbeat occurring in the upper heart chambers.
- Ventricular fibrillation (VF) - an irregular beat that can cause the heart to stop beating and result in cardiac arrest.
- Ventricular tachycardia - a fast beat occurring in the lower heart chambers.
Causes of an abnormal heart rhythm vary but can include a health condition, such as heart failure or coronary artery disease, lifestyle or medications.
The risks for heart rhythm disorders include:
- Alcohol use
- Diabetes
- Drug misuse
- High blood pressure
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Poor diet
- Previous heart conditions or a family history of heart conditions
- Sleep apnea
- Smoking
- Stress
Symptoms, Diagnosis and Outlook
If you have an abnormal heart rhythm, you may experience some or all of these symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Decreased blood pressure
- Diarrhea
- Feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded
- Irregular pulse or heart palpitations – racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat, skipped beats or a feeling of “flopping” in your chest
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath at rest or with activity
- Sweating
- Weakness
Heart rhythm disorders can be challenging to manage and require accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. Our experts may use several tests to diagnose your irregular heartbeat, including:
- Cardiac catheterization
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Electrophysiology study (EPS)
- Holter, event, mobile or implantable cardiac monitor
- Imaging tests
- Nuclear thallium test
- Stress or exercise echocardiogram
Many arrhythmias may not impact your health and lifestyle, while others need immediate medical attention. The experts at Penn State Health will work with you to try nonsurgical methods, such as medication and lifestyle changes, to control your rhythm. If needed, we offer leading-edge treatments, including thermal and pulsed field ablations, implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, the Watchman procedure and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Our personalized treatment plans aim to improve your quality of life and, in some cases, improve your chance of survival.
Related Services & Treatments
Experts in Care
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Nationally Recognized Leaders in Arrhythmia Care
Our electrophysiologists are world leaders in research and treatment of the heart’s electrical system. They are members of national medical organizations and have helped create care guidelines that are used nationwide for patients with arrhythmias.
Our medical team is consistently recognized nationally through Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Top Doctors awards.
Advanced Care for AFib
Penn State Health provides the most advanced AFib care available in central Pennsylvania and serves as a regional referral center for heart rhythm disorders. Our team of experts creates a personalized treatment plan and identifies any potential risk factors you may have. Whether you have intermittent or chronic AFib, we will work to properly diagnose and treat your condition.
Penn State Health Heart and Vascular now offers a new, safer way to treat AFib, called Pulsed Field Ablation. We also perform the innovative Watchman procedure for those who can’t tolerate blood thinners. This procedure can help reduce your risk of stroke without the long-term risk of bleeding.
Pulsed Field Ablation for AFib
The FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation System from Boston Scientific is a faster and safer way to treat intermittent AFib. Pulsed Field Ablation therapy uses ultra-fast electrical impulses to target heart tissue and break up the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats.
Learn more about Pulsed Field Ablation at Penn State Health
Expertise in Device Extractions
Rarely, previously implanted cardiac devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators, can become infected or malfunction. Sometimes, this can be dangerous, and the device must be removed. We work with a multi-specialty team to perform these highly specialized procedures and have become a major referral institution in the area.
Comprehensive Care for Sleep Apnea
Many people with arrhythmias also have sleep apnea, a serious condition that causes disrupted breathing during the night. In some types of sleep apnea, the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the muscles that are responsible for breathing.
At Penn State Health, we offer an innovative, breakthrough nerve stimulator device that can be implanted in adults with moderate to severe central sleep apnea to help prevent life-threatening sleep disturbances.
Leading-Edge Clinical Trials
The heart and vascular experts at Penn State Health are committed to providing our patients with the latest treatment options, including access to leading-edge clinical trials in collaboration with Penn State College of Medicine. We offer groundbreaking technology and treatments for abnormal heart rhythm through these trials. Our exceptional clinical research team includes research nurses, clinical trial coordinators and data analysts, who work together to ensure the highest level of care. Learn more about the latest Penn State Health clinical trials at StudyFinder.
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