Cardiac Arrhythmia

Cardiac arrhythmias are irregularities in the heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. A resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute in adults is called tachycardia, and a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia. Some types of arrhythmia have no symptoms, while others may include palpitations or a feeling of a pause between heartbeats, and in more serious cases lightheadedness, passing out, shortness of breath, chest pain, or decreased consciousness. Most cases are not serious, but some predispose a person to complications such as stroke or heart failure, and others may result in sudden death.