Irregular Heartbeat?

Find out what could be the cause

An irregular heartbeat is when your heart beats too fast, too slow or in an irregular
pattern. Premature or extra beats are the most common type of arrhythmia. This
usually feels like a fluttering in the chest or a feeling of a skipped heartbeat. The
human heart has an electrical system that instructs it when to beat and push blood
around the body. If there is trouble with this system the person might experience
heart rhythm disorders. The most common type of heart arrhythmia is Atrial
fibrillation, which arises when pumping of the upper chambers of the heart is
irregular, and blood flow from the atria (upper chambers) to the lower chambers of
the heart is not proper.

Fast heart patterns are classified under Tachycardia and include supraventricular
tachycardia (SVT), inappropriate sinus tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial
fibrillation (AF), ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF).
Whereas, slow heart patterns such as AV heart block, bundle branch block and
tachybrady syndrome come under Bradycardia.

Heart rhythm disorders can cause many symptoms from barely perceptible to
cardiovascular collapse and even death. Random moments of arrhythmias are
usually harmless but when these last for a long time serious symptoms might
develop, such as:

fatigue
dizziness
lightheadedness
fainting
rapid heartbeat or pounding
anxiety
shortness of breath
sweating
chest pain
collapse and cardiac arrest (in extreme cases)

Heart rhythm disorders may occur due to:

Smoking- Cigarette smoking can be a cause of arrhythmias. It can
also cause coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
that may also likely lead to irregular heartbeat.
Alcohol consumption- This is another cause of arrhythmias which
can also increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Drug use- Almost all illicit drugs may cause an irregular heartbeat.
Stress- Psychological stress can make the heart work harder, raising
 the blood pressure, leading to increased cortisol levels which, in turn, can
trigger the sympathetic nervous system and cause an irregular heartbeat.
Age Older people, above the age of 60, may be afflicted with serious
arrhythmia because they are more prone to heart diseases and other health
problems which may cause an irregular heartbeat.

Certain conditions may damage the heart by harming the hearts electrical system,
leading to heart rhythm disorders. Some such conditions are:

heart failure & heart attack

congenital heart defects
high blood pressure
infections that damage the heart muscle or the sac around the heart
diabetes
acute sleep disorders
An overactive or underactive thyroid gland

Narayana Health is one of the best hospitals in India for heart rhythm disorders with
some of the most skilled doctors in the country. With 23 hospitals, 7 heart centres
and a network of primary health centres across India and a hospital in the Cayman
Islands, Narayana health has gathered international acclaim for providing high-
quality healthcare. For Arrhythmia treatment, they have a team of some of the most
dedicated and experienced physicians. This super-speciality hospital in India
provides advanced care in almost 30 specialities including cardiology & cardiac
surgery, cancer care, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopaedics, nephrology &
urology and gastroenterology.