Arrhythmia

The Facts
Millions of Americans have arrhythmias, though some people may never know it. There are many types of arrhythmias; some occur in otherwise healthy hearts and are harmless. Other arrhythmias can lead to serious complications such as stroke, cardiac arrest and heart failure.

What Is Arrhythmia?
Arrhythmias are disorders of the regular beating of the heart that may cause the heart to beat too fast or too slow. The arrhythmia may start in the top chambers or bottom chambers of the heart. The most common arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, in which the top chambers beat rapidly and irregularly. Atrial fibrillation can cause a stroke if blood clots form in the top chambers of the heart because they are not squeezing properly. Long-term atrial fibrillation can also cause heart failure. The most serious arrhythmia, which originates from the bottom chambers, is ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation; it can lead to loss of consciousness or sudden cardiac death.

Who Is At Risk?
Some arrhythmias have no risk factors, but underlying heart disease is a main cause of the most serious arrhythmias. Some common risk factors for arrhythmias include:

  • Coronary artery disease (fatty deposits in the coronary arteries that slow or block blood flow to the heart)
  • High blood pressure (greater than 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure)
  • Diabetes
  • Congestive heart failure
  • High blood cholesterol levels
  • Inflamed or diseased heart muscle or heart valves

What Can I Do?
If you have an arrhythmia, a cardiac evaluation may be necessary. The arrhythmia may be treated with medications or with a procedure which tries to eliminate the arrhythmia (ablation). Occasionally, a pacemaker or defibrillator is required. For some arrhythmias, blood-thinning medications are necessary to reduce the risk of stroke. Ways to reduce your risk of arrhythmia include:

  • Maintain a heart healthy lifestyle by avoiding smoking or secondhand smoke, aim for a healthy weight (a Body Mass Index lower than 25), and maintain a balanced diet avoiding stimulants such as caffeine
  • Lower high blood pressure, with medication if necessary
  • Treat underlying heart conditions
  • Control your diabetes

Why Choose UVa for Arrhythmia Treatment?
Patients at UVa benefit from a cardiac team with cardiac electrophysiologists that is on the leading edge of diagnosing and treating arrhythmias, including advanced technologies to identify the source of arrhythmias. UVa provides comprehensive treatment for all arrhythmias, ranging from medications to ablations to implantable devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Patients also have access to UVa's Atrial Fibrillation Center, the only such center in the region.

UVa has been named one of America's top 50 hospitals for heart care and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. UVa also has the only accredited Chest Pain Center in the region to assess and treat heart attacks.

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