5 Warning Signs of an Arrhythmia You Should Know

As a crucial part of your body and your health, your heart pumps blood to every organ in your body and gives your brain the necessary nutrients to survive.

Your heart can be affected by a variety of conditions, including arrhythmias. These conditions vary from mild to severe and in some cases are fatal.

If you're concerned that the fluttering in your chest is something more, our team at Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute is here to help. Leading our team are two heart and vascular care experts, Dr. Hesham Fakhri and Dr. Abdulghani Saadi.

We provide state-of-the-art treatments and diagnostic tools to ensure your heart is in good health.

What is heart arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia occurs when your heart either beats too quickly or too slowly. It can also happen when your heart beats in an irregular pattern. There are several types of arrhythmias, which include:

Bradyarrhythmias

If your heart beats too slowly, you're likely suffering from bradyarrhythmia. This condition often originates in your heart's conduction system.

Ventricular arrhythmias

Ventricular arrhythmias start in your heart's two ventricles, the lower chambers in your heart. These arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

Supraventricular arrhythmias

If you have supraventricular arrhythmias, they happen in your heart's atria. The atria are the two chambers that sit above your ventricles. Common supraventricular arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Some types of arrhythmias don't cause any symptoms at all, but more severe forms of this condition may cause significant signs that you should be aware of.

Warning signs of an arrhythmia

If you feel a flutter in your chest or your heart is beating so fast that you feel as if you're going to pass out, you could be showing signs of arrhythmia. We want you to be aware of the common warning signs of arrhythmia, which include:

Shortness of breath

The jolt of your heart skipping a beat over and over may cause shortness of breath. If this symptom continues, seek help immediately.

Chest discomfort

Serious types of arrhythmias are a precursor to more severe heart problems. The pain may feel sharp, heavy, or dull. Get treatment immediately if you feel any pain or discomfort in your chest.

Dizziness

When your heart is beating too fast, your heart isn't filling and dispersing blood as it usually would. Your heart isn't pumping oxygenated blood throughout your body, including your brain, so you may feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Palpitations

When your heart skips a beat or feels like it's doing flips in your chest, you're experiencing palpitations. These are classic signs of heart arrhythmia.

Sweating

Sweating often accompanies other symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath. You may have a severe arrhythmia if you are sweating or have chest discomfort.

What should you do if you show symptoms?

If you have symptoms of heart arrhythmia, seek treatment as soon as possible. Sometimes, your symptoms aren't a sign of a severe heart problem, but it's best to err on the side of caution.

See our team if you're unsure of your symptoms, but go to the closest emergency room if you have chest pain with shortness of breath or feel as if you're going to pass out.

When you notice that your heart beat is too fast or too slow, our team offers a quick diagnosis to ease your mind and check the health of your heart.

We use such tools as an electrocardiogram, monitoring, and stress testing to discover your heart's problem. If you require more intrusive testing, we offer invasive cardiology techniques.

Even if you're unsure you have an arrhythmia, it's essential that you see our team when you feel a fluttering in your chest or other symptoms. It could mean saving you from a heart attack or other conditions later.

Don't let your heart health go by the wayside. Call one of our offices in Wesley Chapel, Sun City Center, or Tampa, Florida, today. You can also schedule an appointment using our convenient online tool.