ECG Heartbeat Categorization

Arrhythmia is a medical condition in which improper beating of the heart with an irregular or abnormal
rhythm occurs . When the heart beats faster than normal, it is called tachycardia. When the heart beats
too slowly, it is called bradycardia. The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which
causes an irregular and fast heartbeat. Many factors can affect your heart's rhythm, such as having had
a heart attack, smoking, congenital heart defects, and stress. Some substances or medicines may also
cause arrhythmias. Any interruption to the electrical impulses that cause the heart to contract can result
in arrhythmia.
Although it often feels like a skipped heartbeat, a premature heartbeat is actually an extra beat. Even
though you may feel an occasional premature beat, it seldom means you have a more serious problem.
Still, a premature beat can trigger a longer lasting arrhythmia — especially in people with heart disease.
Premature heartbeats are commonly caused by stress, strenuous exercise or stimulants, such as caffeine
or nicotine. For a person with a healthy heart, they should have a heart rate of between 60-100 beats per
minute when resting. The more fit a person is, the lower their resting heart rate.A healthy person will
hardly ever suffer from long-term arrhythmia unless they have an external trigger, such as drug abuse or
an electric shock. If there is an underlying problem, however, the electrical impulses may not be able to
travel through the heart correctly, increasing the likelihood of arrhythmia.