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Many people, both with and without heart disease, can develop rhythm disturbances
of the heart. These arrhythmias, as they are called, can result in irregular heartbeats, or may cause the heart
to beat too slowly or too fast. Rhythm disturbances can be felt as palpitations, or can occur without your awareness.
The most common causes of heart rhythm irregularities are premature or extra beats.
Your normal heartbeat arises from an electrical stimulus that travels through the heart from the upper chambers (atria)
through the lower chambers (ventricles), causing the heart to contract. An early beat can arise in either the atrium
(premature atrial contraction or PAC),
or the ventricle (premature ventricular contraction or PVC). These beats can
sometimes happen silently, and you may not notice them. Sometimes, however, you may feel them as "skips" or "flip-flops"
in your chest. This sensation is more often felt when you are at rest or in bed.
These premature beats can be irritating, but in most cases, are not serious and do not usually
require treatment. If you feel these irregularities, you should discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
Choose a topic at left and click for more information on Heart Rhythm Disturbances.
Copyright ©2005 Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute. All rights reserved.
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