Irregular Heartbeat
An arrhythmia is an uneven heartbeat. It means your heart is out of its usual rhythm.
It may feel like your heart skipped a beat, added a beat, or is "fluttering." It might feel like it’s beating too fast (which doctors call tachycardia) or too slow (called bradycardia). Or you might not notice anything.
Arrhythmias can be an emergency, or they could be harmless. If you feel something unusual happening with your heartbeat, get medical help right away so doctors can find out why it's happening and what you need to do about it.
Symptoms of Arrhythmias
An arrhythmia can be silent, meaning you don't notice any symptoms. Your doctor may spot an uneven heartbeat during a physical exam.
If you have symptoms, they may include:
- Palpitations (a feeling of skipped heartbeats, fluttering, or "flip-flops")
- Pounding in your chest
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Anxiety
- Blurry vision
- Sweating