What Does
Cardiac Arrhythmia Mean?
Cardiac arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm that could have adverse effects on the body, including the potential to be life threatening. An arrhythmia could involve the heart beating too fast, too slow, or erratically.
When the heart beats in an abnormal manner, blood flow throughout the body is affected. Subsequently, this could adversely impact organs in the body, causing the organs to either not work properly, shut down, or be permanently damaged.
Safeopedia Explains Cardiac Arrhythmia
There are many types of arrhythmia that range in severity. Some, such as premature atrial contractions and early extra heartbeats, are harmless and do not require treatment. Others are extremely serious, such as ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF must be treated immediately with CPR and defibrillation because in this type of arrhythmia the heart's lower chambers quiver and can't contract or pump blood to the body.
Anyone, even those with a healthy heart, can get an arrhythmia. Some of the common causes of arrhythmia include heart disease, electrolyte imbalance, changes in the heart muscle or consequence of a heart attack or heart surgery.