An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
While medications are used to control abnormal heart rhythms, ablation procedures can completely cure certain types of arrhythmia. Most patients with a heart rhythm problem can resume normal activity levels after being treated, whether through ablation or ongoing medications.
An arrhythmia is a heartbeat that is irregular. It indicates that your heart is not beating normally. Your heart may feel as if it skipped a beat, added a beat, or is "fluttering." It may feel as if it is beating too quickly (a condition known as tachycardia) or too slowly (hypotachycardia) (called bradycardia). You might not notice anything at all.
Arrhythmia, if left untreated, can result in life-threatening complications such as stroke, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest.