The heart is one of the most vital organs in the body. That's the overarching consensus among physicians and a conclusion reached in numerous studies and medical journals related to physiology.

The heart is the organ that powers the circulatory system. The circulatory system sends nutrients, hormones, and oxygen to organs, muscles, and tissues through blood vessels each time the heart beats.

For reference, the heart rate of the average adult, when at rest, is between 60 to 100 beats per minute (1).

Along with sending nutrients, hormones, and oxygen to various organs throughout the body, the circulatory system removes carbon dioxide and other unwanted materials from the body by transporting them to the kidneys and liver.

All in all, the circulatory system is crucial to sustaining human life.

When someone develops a heart problem, it can adversely affect how the circulatory system functions. An abnormal heart rate pattern is an example of such a heart problem.

What Is an Abnormal Heart Rate Pattern?

Also known as an arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat, an abnormal heart rate pattern occurs when the electrical signals that tell the heart when to beat stop working correctly. It can result in the heart either beating too fast or too slow. An abnormal heart rate pattern can also cause palpitations.

According to a study published by the Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, between 1.5% and 5% of people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with an abnormal heart rate pattern (2).

Along with interfering with how the circulatory system works, an abnormal heart rate pattern can increase an individual's chances of suffering cardiac arrest and potentially dying.

While we are on the topic, it is worth noting that abnormal heart rates can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.

According to U.S. cardiologists and studies published by the Mayo Clinic, abnormal heart rate patterns generally fall into 1 of 3 categories: tachycardia, bradycardia, or premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) (2).

If someone has a heart rate that is consistently greater than 100 beats per minute, it is considered tachycardia. On the other hand, if their heart rate is consistently less than 60 beats per minute, it is considered bradycardia.

If someone frequently has an extra heartbeat that temporarily changes the regular rhythm of their heart, it is known as a premature ventricular contraction.

When someone develops PVC, they are at heightened risk of developing supraventricular arrhythmias or ventricular arrhythmias.

Supraventricular Arrhythmias

Supraventricular arrhythmias refer to heart rhythm disorders that start in the atria or upper chambers of the heart.

There are three subtypes when it comes to supraventricular arrhythmias, and they include the following:

Atrial Fibrillation

Recognized as the most common type of supraventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation is a condition that causes the heart to beat more than 400 beats per minute.

Studies show it occurs when the upper and lower chambers of the heart fail to work together. Atrial fibrillation can reduce how much blood is circulated to the lungs and throughout the body. As of the writing of this article, some 2.5 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (3).

Atrial Flutter

Mostly common among individuals aged 50 and older, atrial flutter is a condition that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat extremely fast, typically 250 to 350 times per minute.

If left untreated, atrial flutter can increase the risk of a stroke, which can result in permanent disability or death. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 200,000 new cases of atrial flutter are diagnosed in the U.S. annually (4).

Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)

This type of arrhythmia or abnormal heart rate occurs when there is a problem with the electrical signals that begin in the upper chambers and travel to the lower chambers of the heart.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia usually occurs when someone is engaging in vigorous physical activity. It occurs predominantly in younger people and is not considered particularly dangerous.

Ventricular Arrhythmias

Ventricular arrhythmias are rhythm disorders that originate in the heart's lower chambers. There are two types of ventricular arrhythmias; both are dangerous and require prompt medical attention.

They include the following:

Ventricular Tachycardia

This type of abnormal heart rate pattern occurs when the heart's lower chamber beats too fast to correctly pump blood, which results in the body not receiving enough oxygenated blood. In most cases, ventricular tachycardia only lasts a few seconds.

If it lasts longer than that, it could progress to a more severe heart condition known as ventricular fibrillation.

Ventricular Fibrillation

This type of arrhythmia or abnormal heart rate pattern occurs when the electrical signaling system of the heart gets disrupted and causes the lower chambers to twitch, quiver, or otherwise beat rapidly.

If not immediately treated, ventricular fibrillation can prevent the heart from pumping blood, which could increase the risk of cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, or stroke.

Who Is Most at Risk of Developing an Abnormal Heart Rate Pattern?

Some people are genetically predisposed to developing arrhythmias or abnormal heart rate patterns. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, if an individual's first-degree family member struggles with an arrhythmia, their chances of inheriting the disease themselves will increase by 50% (5).

Poor lifestyle habits can also put some people at risk of developing arrhythmias or abnormal heart rate patterns.

Some of the more notable of these include the following:

• Abusing stimulants

• Being overweight or obese

• Consuming too many caffeinated beverages

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Smoking

• Uncontrolled high blood sugar

Health Problems That Can Trigger an Abnormal Heart Rate Pattern

In addition to poor lifestyle habits and genetics, underlying health problems can lead to the development of an abnormal heart rate pattern.

Some of these health problems, according to the National Institutes of Health, include the following:

• Congenital heart defect

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)

• Damaged heart muscles following a heart attack

• Diabetes

• Electrolyte imbalances

• Heart valve disorders

• High blood pressure

• Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism

• Kidney disease

• Sleep apnea

• Viral infections

Identifying Abnormal Heart Rate Patterns

Some people do not experience symptoms when they have an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rate pattern, but for others, the symptoms are glaringly obvious.

Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rate pattern include the following:

• Anxiety

• Chest pain

• Confusion

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Fainting

• Fatigue and weakness

• Palpitations

• Shortness of breath

• Profuse sweating

Diagnosing and Responding to an Abnormal Heart Rate Pattern

Anyone who suspects that they may have an abnormal heart rate should schedule an appointment with a physician as soon as possible. A physician can conduct a physical exam and order diagnostic tests to confirm if a patient has such a heart problem.

And if they do have one, they can determine its severity.

Some of the tests that can help physicians check for an irregular heart rhythm and associated heart diseases include the following:

• A heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test

• Ambulatory monitors

• An echocardiogram

• An electrocardiogram

• An electrophysiology study (EPS)

• Blood tests

• Cardiac catheterization

• Computed tomography (CT)

• Stress tests

If a physician concludes that a patient has an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rate pattern, they will recommend lifestyle changes or medical treatments to help improve how their heart functions.

Lifestyle changes could include limiting their consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages and losing weight if they're overweight or obese. Physicians might also recommend that patients better manage their blood glucose and blood pressure levels.

For patients who smoke, most physicians will recommend that they quit smoking and may even suggest smoking cessation therapies.

As far as medical treatments are concerned, physicians will sometimes prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs, anticoagulants, beta-blockers, or calcium antagonists to help normalize and improve the overall function of a patient's heart.

Along with or as an alternative to medication, some physicians will prescribe the following therapies:

• Cardioversion

• Catheter ablation

• Pulmonary vein isolation

Heart Surgery To Resolve an Abnormal Heart Rate Pattern

In extreme cases, some physicians will recommend heart surgery to correct an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rate pattern.

The two most common ones include coronary artery bypass surgery, which involves creating a new path for blood to flow around the blocked or partially blocked artery in a patient's heart, and the Maze procedure, which entails blocking the faulty electrical impulses that can cause atrial fibrillation.

All in all, from genetics to poor lifestyle choices, many things can cause people to develop an abnormal heart rate pattern. While all abnormal heart rate patterns require medical intervention, some don't.

That said, if you're experiencing any of the symptoms, you're encouraged to speak with a physician sooner rather than later.

Sources:

1. Laskowski, Edward R. MD. (2022, Oct. 8). What's a normal resting heart rate? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/heart-rate/faq-20057979

2. Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 3). Arrhythmia. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16749-arrhythmia

3. Fogel, Richard I, Padanilam, Benzy J., & Prystowsky, Eric N. Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. JAMA. 2015; 314(3): 278-88. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.7505

4. Chyou, P.H. Eaker, E., et al. Incidence and predictors of atrial flutter in the general population. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2000; 36(7): 2242-6. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(00)00982-7

5. Behr, Elijah R. MBBS, MD, Gray, Belinda, BSc(Med), MBBS. New Insights Into the Genetic Basis of Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes. American Heart Association Journals. 2016; 9(6). https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.116.001571