| arrhythmia | <cardiology, physiology> Any variation from the normal rhythm of the heart beat, including sinus arrhythmia, premature beat, heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, pulsus alternans and paroxysmal tachycardia. Origin: Gr. Rhythmos = rhythm (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| arrhythmia, sinus | Irregularity of the heart rate related to functioning of the sinoatrial node. (12 Dec 1998) |
| arrhythmias | Abnormal heart rhythms. The heartbeats may be too slow, too rapid, irregular, or too early. Rapid arrhythmias (greater than 100 beats per minute) are called tachycardias. Slow arrhythmias (slower than 60 beats per minute) are called bradycardias. Irregular heart rhythms are called fibrillations (as in atrial fibrillation). When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal, it is called a premature contraction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| arrhythmias, atrial | Abnormal heart rhythm due to electrical disturbances in the atria (the upper chambers of the heart) or the AV node relay station , leading to fast heart beats. Examples of atrial arrhythmias includes atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT). (12 Dec 1998) |
| arrhythmias, rapid | Abnormally rapid heart rhythms, medically termed tachycardia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| arrhythmias, slow | Abnormally slow heart rhythms, medically termed bradycardia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| arrhythmias, ventricular | Abnormal rapid heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that originate in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles). Ventricular arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Both are life threatening arrhythmias most commonly associated with heart attacks or scarring of the heart muscle from previous heart attack. (12 Dec 1998) |
| anti-arrhythmia agents | Agents used for the treatment or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias. They may affect the polarization-repolarization phase of the action potential, its excitability or refractoriness, or impulse conduction or membrane responsiveness within cardiac fibres. Anti-arrhythmia agents are often classed into four main groups according to their mechanism of action: sodium channel blockade, beta-adrenergic blockade, repolarization prolongation, or calcium channel blockade. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| cardiac arrhythmia | A disturbance the electrical activity of the heart that manifests as an abnormality in heart rate or heart rhythm. Patients with a cardiac arrhythmia may experience a wide variety of symptoms ranging from palpitations to fainting. (27 Sep 1997) |
| ventricular arrhythmia | <cardiology> A cardiac arrhythmia which originates from within the ventricles. Isolated ventricular contractions are referred to as premature ventricular contractions. Frequent premature ventricular contractions can be potentially unstable and can degrade to a more serious rhythm or cardiac arrest. (12 Jan 1998) |
| respiratory arrhythmia | Phasic sinus arrhythmia or any other rhythm fluctuation induced by respiratory fluctuation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| perpetual arrhythmia | An obsolete term for atrial fibrillation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| phasic sinus arrhythmia | Sinus arrhythmia in which the irregularity is related to the phases of respiration, the rate being faster in inspiration and slower in expiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sinus arrhythmia | <cardiology, physiology> An increase in heart rate during inspiration. A normal physiologic response, more pronounced in children. (27 Sep 1997) |
| nonphasic sinus arrhythmia | Sinus arrhythmia in which variations in rhythm are not related to the phases of respiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| supraventricular arrhythmia | <cardiology> A cardiac arrhythmia which has its origin within the sinus node or atrium (above the ventricles). (27 Sep 1997) |
| juvenile arrhythmia | <cardiology, physiology> An increase in heart rate during inspiration. A normal physiologic response, more pronounced in children. (27 Sep 1997) |