How to Identify Symptoms of Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a condition of the heart that is the result of a change in the regular beat, or contraction, of the heart muscle. While many forms of arrhythmia are common, and many people don't even realize they have one until a doctor mentions it, others do experience complications and increased risks when suffering from other medical conditions. Mild forms of arrhythmia require no treatment, but diagnosis is best left to a physician or heart specialist. The irregular heartbeat is generally caused a glitch in the electrical stimulus or connections that determine heart rate and contractions. The exact cause of the electrical glitch is not easy to identify and different types of arrhythmia will affect different areas of the heart. Understanding arrhythmia and learning to identify the symptoms of arrhythmia will help to reduce stress and encourage a visit to a physican. Doing so allows adequate treatment if necessary, in addition to reducing potential complications.

Instructions

• 1

  Sensations of fluttering in the chest are a major symptom of an arrhythmia. This fluttering is felt by many as a sensation of skipping a beat, a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the heartbeat, and a noticeably irregular heartbeat. In mild cases, this sensation is sporadic and does not include other symptoms or sensations.

• 2

  Many forms of arrhythmia, in addition to the above mentioned symptoms, may also cause a person to feel mild chest pains or even shortness of breath that may cause dizziness. Such symptoms should always be discussed with your doctor.

• 3

  Feelings of weakness or faintness are also associated with an arrhythmia and should be taken seriously. Dizziness that occurs in change of position, such as when making a transition from sitting to standing or from lying down to rising, may indicate a more serious interruption in electrical impulses reaching the heart muscle.

• 4

  Sensations of worry or anxiousness often accompany arrhythmia. Increased levels of stress or worry may cause symptoms to occur more frequently, and for longer duration.

• 5

  Lack of symptoms of any kind make suspicion of an arrhythmia extremely difficult to diagnose. Individuals who notice anything 'off' of their normal feelings should always schedule a visit with a physician just to be on the safe side.