Arrhythmia & Atrial Fibrillation
Treatment for irregular heartbeat conditions
Whether your heart is beating too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm, the award-winning cardiovascular specialists at Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute are ready to help.
Take the First Step
If you believe you are at risk for heart disease, it’s time to take the first step in improving your cardiac health. Visit your primary care provider to discuss your heart health to see if you need a referral to one of our heart specialists. If you do not have a primary care provider, follow the steps below to get started:
Step 1:
Visit your Primary
Care Provider
Step 2:
Discuss your
concerns
Step 3:
Your provider gives
a referral
Step 4:
Choose the right
specialist for you
Types of arrhythmias
There are two main categories of arrhythmias:
- Supraventricular Arrhythmias originate in the atria, or heart's upper chambers
- Ventricular Arrhythmias originate in the ventricles, or heart's lower chambers
One of the most common arrhythmias is atrial fibrillation (AFib). This occurs when the two small upper chambers of the heart "quiver" rather than beat normally, which causes blood to pool in the atria.
Other types of arrhythmias include:
- Tachycardia: Heart beating too fast (more than 100 beats per minute)
- Bradycardia: Heart beating too slow (less than 60 beats per minute)
- Bradyarrhythmia: Slow heart rhythm that may be caused by disease in the heart's electrical conduction system
Are You At Risk For Heart Disease?
Listen to your heart and see if you are at risk for heart disease. It only takes 5 minutes to answer a few questions and live a healthier life.
Although no one knows what causes the onset of an arrhythmia, it's often seen as a result of other heart conditions, including:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Coronary artery disease
- Electrolyte imbalances (including sodium or potassium imbalance)
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart surgery
- Heart inflammation
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Valve disorders
Having any of these conditions may increase your risk of developing an arrhythmia.
Depending on the type of arrhythmia, you may not notice any symptoms. If you do, the most direct sign is a feeling of skipped heartbeats, a fluttering sensation or a pounding in the chest. Other arrhythmia symptoms include:
- Chest discomfort
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weakness or fatigue
Arrhythmias cause your heart to pump blood less effectively. If your body's organs and tissues aren't getting the blood they need, they can become damaged, which affects your whole health.
With AFib, blood pooling in the heart may eventually clot. If these blood clots get into your bloodstream, they can cause blockages. People with AFib are especially at risk for stroke due to blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain.
If your primary care provider thinks you may have an arrhythmia, they'll refer you to a cardiologist for further testing. In addition to blood work, they may also recommend these tests:
- Echocardiogram (ECG)
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Stress test (exercise or pharmacological)
- Wearable Heart Monitor
- Implantable Loop Recorder
Treatments for Arrhythmia
Using a catheter, a thin tube inserted into your bloodstream, your physician can perform procedures such as ablations (to remove or destroy the source of an arrhythmia) or implant a device to reduce the risk of an AFib-related stroke.
A pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may be implanted in your chest to help regulate your heartbeat by sending electrical signals to your heart.
Your physician may recommend anti-arrhythmia medications to control your heart's rhythm and prevent future arrhythmias. They may also recommend anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines to prevent blood clots from forming.
Your physician may recommend you quit smoking, limit alcohol and caffeine use and make changes to your diet to address blood sugar and electrolyte levels.