Symptoms
Palpitations
Palpitations are feelings that your heart is beating too fast, too hard, or irregularly. They can feel like your heart is flipping, fluttering, or throbbing. Sometimes they feel like an extra beat or a missed beat. Palpitations are the main symptoms experienced by heart rhythm patients. They can be frightening, but if managed correctly, are usually harmless. However, if you have palpitations, it is important to speak with a heart rhythm specialist to determine the cause. Causes of palpitations can include anxiety, stress, overactive thyroid, anemia, and caffeine or tobacco use. However, palpitations can also be a symptom of a more serious medical condition, such as a heart arrhythmia, so it is important to get them evaluated by a doctor.
Syncope
Syncope, also known as fainting or passing out, is a temporary loss of consciousness and muscle strength. It is caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain. Syncope is a common problem, and it can happen to anyone. It is usually not a serious medical issue, but it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as a heart arrhythmia, low blood pressure, neurological problem, or dehydration. If you have syncope, it is important for it to be evaluated by a qualified medical professional to determine the cause and receive proper treatment. In some cases, syncope can be a sign of a more serious medical problem, so it is important for it to get it evaluated carefully. Each specialist will do the necessary tests to rule out the cause within his specialty (i.e. a cardiologist will rule out cardiac causes and a neurologist will investigate neurological causes…)
Breathlessness
Breathlessness, or shortness of breath, is a feeling of being unable to catch your breath or get enough air. It can be a normal response to physical activity or due to reduced fitness, but it can also be a sign of a medical condition. Shortness of breath is not a common symptom of arrhythmia but can sometimes be a sign of the underlying medical problem that can lead to an arrhythmia such as heart failure for example.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is when your heart beats faster than normal. The normal heart rate for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute, but with tachycardia, the heart rate is often above 100 beats per minute. Tachycardia can be caused by a normal response to a variety of factors, including physical activity, stress, anxiety, caffeine, and certain medications. It can also be an abnormally fast electrical impulses caused by an extra nerve (electrical connection) or an abnormal focus in the heart firing rapidly such as in SVT or AF. To be able to tell if the fast heart rate is normal or abnormal, further tests needs to be done by a heart rhythm specialist to understand how the electrical impulse is travelling in the heart.
Bradycardia
Bradycardia is a medical condition characterized by a slower than normal heart rate. In adults, bradycardia is defined as a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute (BPM) at rest. Bradycardia can be a normal occurrence in some people, such as athletes or during sleep (even as low as 40 beats per minute). However, in other cases, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as a problem with the heart’s electrical system, medication side effects, hypothyroidism, or other conditions. Symptoms of bradycardia can include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Treatment for bradycardia depends on the underlying cause and severity of symptoms, and may require pacemaker implantation or treating the underlying condition.
Other symptoms
Arrhythmias can occasionally be associated with other symptoms such as chest pain or fatigue