Types of Arrhythmias

Types of Arrhythmias

Irregular heartbeats can originate anywhere in the heart's conduction system. Depending on the place of origin, arrhythmias can be classified as "Atrial, Junctional or Ventricular". Some of these arrhythmias can cause significant reduction in cardiac output, the amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute, and can be life threatening.

Arrhythmias can be further classified based on their rhythm or speed.

Tachycardia is when the heart rate is above 100 beats per minute. Bradycardia is when the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute.

Sometimes there could be abnormality in the rhythm, although the heart rate is controlled and normal.

References:

1. Ventricular tachycardia - (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000187.htm)
2. A Study of Caffeine Consumption and Symptoms: Indigestion, Palpitations, Tremor, Headache and Insomnia - (http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/14/2/239)
3. Incidence of arrhythmias in normal pregnancy and relation to palpitations, dizziness, and syncope - (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve& db=PubMed&list_uids=9114764&dopt=AbstractPlus)