Symptoms

Heart rhythm disorders cause many different symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Individuals may have an arrhythmia without symptoms. The abnormal rhythm may be detected when feeling the pulse, or when your doctor listens to the patient’s heart or takes your blood pressure. It also may be diagnosed with a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Irregular heartbeats, lightheadedness, fainting, chest pain and/or shortness of breath are signs that an arrhythmia may be serious.

Episodes of Dizziness or Lightheadedness

Dizziness is a common symptom that has many causes, including temporary conditions that are not serious. It is often described as feeling "far-away" or off balance. Individuals may feel as if they will faint or "black out."

Palpitations

Palpitations are a common complaint that many people describe as a skipping, pounding, fluttering, flip-flopping, racing, or sudden stopping of the heartbeat. You may feel your heart speed up when you climb a flight of stairs or drink too much coffee. The rapid beating may last for seconds, minutes or even hours.

A rapid heartbeat with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness or fainting (syncope) may be due to a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia called ventricular tachycardia.

Blackouts or Fainting (Syncope)

If the heart rate is too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia) the blood supply to the brain may be reduced. If either arrhythmia lasts longer than six seconds, it can cause loss of consciousness, or fainting. The medical term for fainting is syncope.See your doctor is you have unexplained episode of fainting.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, may be a sign of heart failure or of a slow or rapid heart rate that impairs the heart's ability to fill, causing blood to back up into the lungs. The most common arrhythmia associated with shortness of breath is atrial fibrillation. It also may be a symptom of more serious ventricular arrhythmias.

Skipped Beats or Premature Heartbeats

Premature heartbeats occur when the heart's regular rhythm is interrupted by early or premature beats. It may feel as if the heart has skipped a beat. Usually it is not serious. If the beat arises from locations in the atria (upper chambers) it is called premature atrial beat. Premature ventricular beats arise from the ventricles (lower chambers). Sometimes they are called premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs. A person experiencing these abnormal heart rhythms may also feel faint, lightheaded, or may lose consciousness.

Chest Pain

Chest pain is sometimes caused by rapid heart rhythms (tachycardias) that increase the heart’s need for oxygen.  When the heart is unable to obtain enough oxygen, the person will experience pain. In addition to chest pain, a person with a rapid heart rhythm may experience pressure or aching in the chest and shortness of breath.  These are serious warning signs that should send you to a doctor.

Chest pain also may be caused by coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition in which the blood supply to the heart is reduced because of clogged blood vessels. The medical term for this type of pain is called angina pectoris. Angina may be the warning sign of a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Chest pain due to cardiac causes may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath, abnormal heart rhythms or weakness.

See your doctor if you have any unexplained episodes of chest pain.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common complaint with many causes, most of which are unrelated to the heart. It is normal to feel tired following hard work or exercise, sustained stress, anxiety or grief. Most illnesses can cause fatigue. Some medications and other medical treatments also may be a cause. People may feel tired when the heart rate is very slow (bradycardia) or rapid (tachycardia).