What is an irregular heart beat?
An irregular heart beat can have many causes. Sinus arrhythmia is a normal finding in younger people and in athletes, and consists of a gradual slowing and acceleration of the heart rate (by 10 to 20 beats per minute) over a five to ten second period. Some people feel skipped beats as an irregularity in the heart rate. This sensation is usually caused by extra beats (known as extrasystoles) coming from the atria or ventricles. Occasional extra beats are seen in many normal people and generally do not indicate disease. More frequent extra beats may indicate intrinsic heart disease, which can result in more serious arrhythmias. Intermittent tachycardia (fast heart rate) may also cause an irregular heart beat. Doctors divide tachycardias into supraventricular (originating in the top part of the heart) and ventricular (originating in the bottom part of the heart) causes. One common supraventricular cause is atrial fibrillation, which occurs when the atria (top part of the heart) beat rapid
