Arrhythmias are problems with the heart’s rhythm. Sometimes the heart beats too fast. Sometimes too slow. Other times, it skips or feels like it’s fluttering. All of this points to something off with the heart’s electrical signals.
The heart isn’t just a pump—it’s wired with tiny circuits that send signals to keep it beating in order. When those signals fire in the wrong way, the rhythm can go haywire. This can feel like a pounding, a pause, or a flip inside the chest. That feeling has a name: palpitations. People often notice them before they know anything is wrong. They might feel their heart racing while sitting down, or skipping while lying in bed. These strange sensations don’t always mean danger, but they’re worth paying attention to.
There are a few common types of arrhythmias. Tachycardia means the heart is beating too fast—over 100 beats per minute when at rest. This could happen with stress, fever, or exercise, but sometimes it’s from faulty signals, especially in people with conditions like supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia. The latter can be life-threatening and needs quick action. On the flip side, bradycardia is when the heart beats too slowly, under 60 beats per minute. While this might be normal in athletes, in others it can cause dizziness or fainting spells if the body doesn’t get enough blood.
One of the most talked-about rhythm problems is atrial fibrillation, or AF. This one is common, especially as people get older. The top chambers of the heart shake instead of pumping smoothly. Blood can pool and clot there, which increases the risk of stroke. AF might feel like a flutter or irregular thump. Some people don’t feel it at all and find out about it by chance during a check-up.
Treatment depends on the kind of arrhythmia and how it affects daily life. Some people don’t need any treatment beyond keeping an eye on it. Others need medication to steady or slow the rhythm. Drugs like beta blockers or anti-arrhythmics help in some cases. If medication doesn’t help or causes side effects, other steps might be needed.
Cardioversion is one option. This involves a small, controlled electric shock that resets the heart’s rhythm—like rebooting a computer that’s frozen. There’s also the ablation procedure. In this, doctors use a thin tube, called a catheter, to reach the heart through a vein in the groin or neck. Once inside, they find the exact spot that’s sending the wrong signals and destroy it with heat or cold. It’s a targeted fix. Most people recover quickly and go home the same day.
For more serious rhythm problems, some people need devices. A pacemaker helps with slow rhythms by sending small signals to keep the heart moving. An ICD, or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, is designed to jump in if the heart goes into a dangerous rhythm. It can send a shock that resets things—this one saves lives.
Sometimes, simple changes help too. Cutting back on alcohol and caffeine, sleeping better, managing stress, and staying active can all help the heart stay on beat. The most important thing is to listen. If your heart is doing something strange—not just during a workout, but while you’re resting—pay attention. Whether it’s a flutter, pause, or thump, it could be your body’s way of asking you to check in. Most arrhythmias aren’t emergencies, but some are. Getting checked is the first step to knowing which kind you have and what to do next.