People don’t often notice their heartbeat when their heart rate is within the normal range, and people with irregular heart rates may have no symptoms. People tend to learn whether their pulse is irregular through tests or physical examinations.

Irregular pulse symptoms include:

Fast heart rate

A resting heart rate over 100 bpm is classed as tachycardia. Tachycardia isn’t always a cause for concern, as our heart rates can increase when we are stressed or exercising. However, tachycardia can be a warning sign for other severe conditions relating to the heart which will need immediate medical attention.

If tachycardia symptoms are left untreated, this can lead to you developing serious health problems. These problems include heart attack, sudden cardiac death, or stroke.

In general, tachycardia symptoms include:

• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Heart palpitations – your heart may feel like it’s racing
• Chest pain
• Anxiety

Slow heart rate

A slow heart rate under 60 bpm is classed as bradycardia. Bradycardia isn’t always an indicator of a heart problem, as low heart rates can be typical for fit athletes. Bradycardia is a problem if you are not athletic and have a low heart rate at rest. It can mean that your heart is pumping too slowly to meet your body’s needs.

• Symptoms of bradycardia include:
• Confusion or memory problems
• Fainting or near-fainting
• Shortness of breath
• Easily tired during physical activity
• Chest pain
• Fatigue

Tachycardia

Some irregular heartbeat conditions that cause tachycardia include:

Atrial fibrillation (also known as AF or Afib) is the most common type of tachycardia. This condition causes the heart to beat irregularly and rapidly. Afib can go undetected for longer periods if you don’t show any symptoms. It is essential to screen for Afib if you do have symptoms to avoid the risk of further issues, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Often, if you have Afib, you may also have an atrial flutter. An atrial flutter is a type of tachycardia that also causes a rapid heartbeat but in a more consistent way, compared to Afib. Atrial flutters tend to go away on their own but may need treatment if symptoms persist.

Ventricular fibrillation is a type of tachycardia that causes the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart) to quiver and not fill up correctly, leading to not enough blood being pumped around the body. Episodes that last only a few seconds probably won’t lead to harm. Longer episodes of ventricular fibrillation can, however, be life-threatening. This is because it causes a sharp drop in blood pressure and is usually triggered by a heart attack.

Bradycardia

There are a few irregular heartbeat conditions that cause bradycardia.

Sick sinus node syndrome is a type of bradycardia caused by problems with the sinus node in the heart. Issues with the sinus node increase with age and become more common. It can also be caused by coronary heart disease. In some people, sinus node problems can cause fluctuating slow and fast heart rates (also known as bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome).

Heart block is a type of bradycardia that causes signalling problems in the heart, leading your heart to slow or stop altogether. A heart block is typically caused by coronary heart disease and ageing.

Once we have concluded what your condition may be, we will tailor a treatment plan to meet your needs.

Medication may be prescribed to slow a quick heart or speed up a slow heart. Our specialists will evaluate the medication you are currently taking to ensure they are giving you the right prescription.

We might recommend a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) if you have a fast heartbeat to help control and correct the heart’s rhythm.