arrhythmia

arrhythmia /ar·rhyth·mia/ (ah-rith´me-ah) variation from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat, encompassing abnormalities of rate, regularity, site of impulse origin, and sequence of activation.arrhyth´mic

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nonphasic arrhythmia  a form of sinus arrhythmia in which the irregularity is not linked to the phases of respiration.

sinus arrhythmia  the physiologic cyclic variation in heart rate related to vagal impulses to the sinoatrial node; it is common, particularly in children, and is not abnormal.

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ar·rhyth·mi·a (-rm-)

n.

An irregularity in the force or rhythm of the heartbeat.

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Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia

An abnormal rhythm or irregularity of the heartbeat. The heartbeat may either be too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradicardia). Arrhythmias may cause symptoms such as palpitation or light-headedness, but many have more serious consequences, including sudden death.

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arrhythmia

[ərith′mē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, a + rhythmos, without rhythm

any deviation from the normal pattern of the heartbeat. Also spelled arhythmia. Compare dysrhythmia. arrhythmic, arrhythmical, adj.

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arrhythmia (rith´mē),

n a variation from the normal rhythm of the heart.

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arrhythmia

variation from the normal rhythm, especially of the heartbeat. See also bradycardia, tachycardia.

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atrial arrhythmia

see atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation.

bradycardic arrhythmia

see bradyarrhythmia.

benign arrhythmia

one which is clinically insignificant.

cardiac arrhythmia

irregularity of the normal heart rhythm, either in frequency or amplitude, or almost always both.

exercise-induced arrhythmia

a cause of poor racing performance or sudden death while racing; detectable only by telemetered electrocardiography.

sinus arrhythmia

the physiological cyclic variation in heart rate related to vagal impulses to the sinoatrial node.

supraventricular a's

see sinoatrial arrest, atrial tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation.

ventricular a's

see premature heartbeats, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation.

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arrhythmia

Cardiac pacing Any rhythm in the heart that falls outside the norm with respect to rate, regularity, and propagation sequence of depolarization wave. See Atrial arrhythmia, Cardiac arrhythmia, Proarrhythmia, Reentrant arrhythmia, Ventricular arrhythmia Cardiology Any variation in the normal rate or periodicity of heart beats.