How does arrhythmia affect the body?

Donna Hill Howes, RN

Family Practitioner

Some arrhythmias can be serious and lead to sudden cardiac arrest or stroke. If blood cannot be pumped efficiently from the heart, it may pool and clot, later clogging an artery and cutting off blood flow to the heart, brain, or other organs. If an arrhythmia causes your heart to pump inefficiently for an extended period, permanent damage can occur resulting in heart failure.
Some arrhythmias are fatal and require medical attention immediately.

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Arrhythmia

A type of heart disease, arrhythmia causes our hearts to beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm. Even though there are more than a dozen forms of arrhythmia, only a handful of reasons typically cause them. A common cause is coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease that affects adults. An injury from a heart attack and changes in your heart muscle can also cause an arrhythmia.

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How does arrhythmia affect the body?

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