Disorders in the heart's electrical system can lead to arrhythmias, or an abnormal heart rhythm. There are many types of arrhythmias and they're classified by where they occur in the heart and their pattern of abnormality. This segment will explain the arrhythmia known as Atrial Fibrillation.
The body generates electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat. In some people, those electrical impulses don't happen in a normal pattern, which can cause the heart to beat too slowly, too fast or irregularly. A very fast heartbeat can lead to ventricular tachycardia, a potentially life-threatening condition. In patients who are at risk for ventricular tachycardia, doctors often recommend an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or ICD.
Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat out of rhythm. To get the heart beating normally again, sometimes the heart is 'shocked' into normal rhythm. The idea of shocking the heart may be intimidating, but it's actually a quick and painless procedure.
