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What are the types of arrhythmias?
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Tachycardia: A fast heart rhythm with a rate of more than 100 beats per
minute.
•
Bradycardia: A slow heart rhythm with a rate below 60 beats per minute.
•
Supraventricular arrhythmias: Arrhythmias that begin in the atria (the heart’s
upper chambers).
•
Ventricular arrhythmias: Arrhythmias that begin in the ventricles (the heart’s
lower chambers.
•
Bradyarrhythmias: Slow heart rhythms that may be caused by disease in the
heart’s conduction system, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular
(AV) node or HIS-Purkinje network .
Arrhythmias can be caused by:
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Abnormal extra electrical circuits in the heart
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Increased electrical activity of a single focus of heart muscle
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Scar tissue in the heart from a prior heart attack
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Abnormal electrical firing of the pulmonary veins
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High blood pressure
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Changes in the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
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Valve disorders
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Electrolyte imbalances in the blood, such as sodium or potassium
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Injury from a prior heart attack with scar formation
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