Heart rates vary for a number of reasons. While it can prove alarming to feel your heart race or even beat too slowly, it's usually treatable. Causes range from mild to severe. What's important to remember is that many factors are involved. Only doctors can diagnose for sure if an abnormal heart rate is unhealthy.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a fast heart rate caused by misfiring electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart. It can result from a chronic condition or from outside stresses such as too much alcohol, caffeine, anxiety or fatigue. Heart rates can reach 250 beats per minute. Symptoms include lightheadedness, dizziness and chest palpitations. It's not usually life-threatening, except in certain conditions such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Treatment includes pressure exercises, medication and ablation. Reducing outside stresses may resolve the problem.
Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the condition that results when the heart's upper chambers, or atria, get uncoordinated electrical signals and stop pumping properly. They only quiver, causing strong heart palpitations and chest pain. Some blood is pumped, but some blood pools and clots in the atria. Loosened blood clots can cause stroke. Treatments include medication, ablation and pacemakers. If untreated, additional heart problems may result.
Bradycardia
A slow heart rate of 60 beats per minute or less is called bradycardia. It can be caused by problems with the heart's sinus node or problems with the electrical pathways in the heart. The condition results in a lack of blood flow to the brain, so symptoms include dizziness and fainting. Treatment options are limited. Doctors may implant a pacemaker to increase the heart rate. It's risky because it can lead to heart failure and high blood pressure.
When to Seek Help
You may not have an irregular heart beat just because your heart is beating faster or slower. It's normal for the heart to speed up during exercise and to slow down when you're resting. It's not normal, however, when you have additional symptoms such as dizziness or nausea. In those cases, you should seek attention from your doctor as soon as possible. If you are concerned about heart attack, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
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