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Arrhythmia
What is it?
Arrhythmia (pronounced A-'rith-mE-a) is an abnormal heartbeat that can cause the heart to pump less well. Arrhythmias can be from a birth defect or can happen after birth.
There are four chambers in the heart — the top two are the atria and the lower two are the ventricles. The heart uses a complex electrical system to make the muscle walls of the atria and ventricles pump blood throughout the body.
The heartbeat is what makes the muscle walls squeeze in and relax at the right times. The heartbeat starts in the right atrium when a group of cells sends an electrical signal. This is the heart's pacemaker. The signal travels on fibers to start the atria and ventricles and that completes one heartbeat.
Abnormalities in the route of electricity in the heart cause an arrhythmia. This may occur because abnormal routes are present or there may be a problem with the pacemaker.
How is it treated?
Arrhythmias may be treated with medicines, radiofrequency ablation, pacemaker implantation, and sometimes surgery.