| Arrhythmia | |||||
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An arrhythmia is a condition of the heart rate (heart rhythm), where the heart beat can be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or even irregular (skips a beat or has an extra beat).
Most people have felt their heart race or skip a beat on the rare ocassion. This heart racing or skipping a beat can be brought on by intense emotions or even exercise. If ocassional, these irregular heart beat, are not normally a cause for any concern, it is only when an arrhythmia happens more often or causes other symptoms when it needs to be checked by a medical practitioner (doctor).
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- An ocassional flutter of the heart is usually not serious, as most people will experience it
- Regular fluctuations of heart beat is something that needs to be investigated thoroughly
- Arrhythmias can occur due to disrupted heart rhythm caused by a number of factors
- Any of the four chambers (the two atria and two ventricles) of the heart can be affected by the irregular heart beat
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Most arrhythmias, while not particularly comfortable, are generally not detrimental to your heart. There are though, arrhythmias that are dangerous and can have serious implication - these needs to be thoroughly checked out by a medical professional.
references
- Bunker SJ, et al. "Stress" and coronary heart disease: psychosocial risk factors. MJA 2003 178 (6): 272-276, accessed 21 August 2007
- Hankey GJ, on behalf of the National Blood Pressure Advisory Committee of the National Heart Foundation. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention. MJA 2001; 174: 234-348, accessed 21 August 2007
- Kastor JA. You and Your Arrhythmia: A Guide to Heart Rhythm Problems for Patients & Their Families. 1st edition 2006. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
- Krum H, Jelinek MV, Stewart S, Sindone A, Atherton JJ, Hawkes AL. Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of people with chronic heart failure in Australia 2006 - Position Statement. MJA 2006; 185 (10): 549-556, accessed 21 August 2007
- Osiecki, Henry. The Physician's Handbook of Clinical Nutrition. 6th edition, 2001, BioConcepts Publishing
- Osiecki, Henry, The Nutrient Bible 2002, BioConcepts Publishing
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