When are heart arrhythmias dangerous?

Heart arrhythmias are dangerous when people pass out or trigger cardiac arrest.

Heart arrhythmias are dangerous when they prevent the heart from pumping blood to your body. Some arrhythmias are more dangerous than others. Dangerous arrhythmias can cause chest pain, dizziness, stroke and death.

Arrhythmias, such as abnormal fast rhythms coming from the bottom chambers ( ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation), can be life threatening and can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Any suspected arrhythmia requires prompt medical evaluation, as it is hard to distinguish benign versus lethal abnormal rhythms from subjective symptoms alone.

Arrhythmias can produce a broad range of symptoms, from barely perceptible to very serious. A heart arrhythmia has become dangerous if symptoms develop, such as fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or near-fainting spells, rapid heartbeat or pounding, shortness of breath or chest pain. In extreme cases, a severe arrhythmia can cause collapse or sudden cardiac death.

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