8 Signs of an Irregular Heartbeat

Do you feel dizzy or tightness in your chest frequently? You may have heart arrhythmia, or in other words, an irregular heartbeat. There’s nothing to panic about if you’ve felt the following eight symptoms only on an occasional basis.
The fast fluttering of the heart is experienced by many and may develop with age.  However, if the following symptoms persist, you may have a dangerous arrhythmia that signals heart disease, and requires treatment and medical supervision.
Here are the 8 signs of an arrhythmia…

1. Heart Palpitations

One obvious sign of an arrhythmia is heart palpitations, which cause a single premature heartbeat or “skipped beat”. Infrequent heart palpitations are not concerning, however, if they gradually increase, it may be time to consult a medical professional.

2. Fluttering Sensations

Premature beats that occur often or in rapid succession may cause a greater awareness of heart palpitations or a “fluttering” sensation in the chest or neck.

3. Dizziness or Lightheadedness

An arrhythmia causes a lack of oxygen in the brain. This lack of vital oxygen will often cause the patient to experience dizziness or lightheadedness to the point of losing balance or even passing out.

4. Fainting

A sudden fainting, or near-fainting spell, may occur along with heart palpitations. It may also be accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness, and in extreme cases, a dangerous arrhythmia may cause collapse and sudden cardiac arrest.

5. Fatigue

An arrhythmia causes an inadequate blood supply to the rest of the body, which results in weakness and a feeling that your body is drained of energy for no apparent reason. You may require more sleep or have trouble getting out of bed.

6. Shortness of Breath

Extreme shortness of breath or wheezing may occur with an arrhythmia due to the fact that your heart is releasing less blood output to the rest of the body.

7. Chest Pain

Rapid heartbeat or a pounding heart is often associated with a particular arrhythmia called Ventricular Fibrillation (or VF), a deadly condition that causes rapid, erratic heartbeat rapid, and literal quivering in the chambers in the heart. This cuts off blood supply to your vital organs, causing chest tightness, discomfort, pain, and collapse within a few seconds.

8. Fast or Slow Heart Beat

An arrhythmia can show itself in an extreme heart beat. On one hand, your pulse may race (a condition referred to as tachycardia). However, on the other side of the spectrum, your heart beat may slow down (a condition called bradycardia).