Premature heartbeats are extra beats that occur one at a time, sometimes in patterns that alternate with a regular heartbeat. Others may cause skipped beats or slowed heartbeats. A block of the heart's electrical pathways can cause the signals that trigger the heartbeats to slow down or stop. The condition is most common among older adults. Sick sinus syndrome can be caused by scarring near the sinus node that slows, disrupts or blocks heartbeat signals. If the node doesn't work properly, the heart rate may switch between too slow and too fast. The sinus node sets the pace of the heart. If you have a slow heart rate and your heart isn't pumping enough blood, you may have a type of bradycardia. If you're physically fit, your heart may be able to pump enough blood to the body with less than 60 beats a minute. But a low resting heart rate doesn't always mean there's a problem. In those with heart disease, ventricular tachycardia can be an emergency that needs immediate medical care.Ī heart rate below 60 beats a minute is considered bradycardia. Ventricular tachycardia may not cause serious problems in people with otherwise healthy hearts. So the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. The rapid heart rate doesn't let the ventricles properly fill with blood. This rapid, irregular heart rate starts with faulty electrical signals in the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles.

Most people with ventricular fibrillation have an underlying heart disease or had a serious injury. This serious problem can lead to death if a regular heart rhythm isn't restored within minutes. Rapid, chaotic electrical signals cause the lower heart chambers to quiver instead of squeezing in a coordinated way. Supraventricular tachycardia causes episodes of a pounding heartbeat that start and stop suddenly. This broad term includes irregular heartbeats that start above the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles. Atrial flutter is similar to AFib, but the heartbeats are more organized. But some episodes may not stop unless treated. AFib may be temporary and start and stop on its own. Chaotic heart signaling causes a rapid, uncoordinated heartbeat. The heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.

Bradycardia (brad-e-KAHR-dee-uh) is a slow heartbeat.

The heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute.

Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh) is a fast heartbeat.

In general, heart arrhythmias are grouped by the speed of the heart rate. A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart damage that can trigger some heart arrhythmias.

The goals of treatment are to control or get rid of fast, slow or otherwise irregular heartbeats. Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medicines, devices such as pacemakers, or a procedure or surgery. For example, the heart may beat faster with exercise or slow down during sleep. There are times when it is OK to have a fast or slow heartbeat.

Flutter in chest followed by cough