Men and women: Heartbeat becomes irregular
When your doctor says you have an issue with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat (your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern), he or she could refer to arrhythmia, tachycardia, or bradycardia.
- Arrhythmia—the heartbeat is irregular
- Tachycardia—the heartbeat is faster than normal
- Bradycardia—the heartbeat is slower than normal
Note that the most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib), which causes an irregular and rapid heartbeat of the atrial chambers of the heart.
While arrhythmias can happen to anyone at some point, such as when you drink too much caffeine, they aren’t normal if you experience long periods of unusual beating. The risk increases with age—Dr. Druz notes that shifts in estrogen levels can lead to an arrhythmia.
So, if the irregularity continues or occurs too often, call your doctor immediately in order to get checked, especially if you experience shortness of breath, faintness, chest pain, or lightheadedness.
