Arrhythmias - Introduction

"Palpitations" is a general term describing a strange throbbing or fluttering sensation within the chest. This sensation is often related to an irregular heart rhythm.

In order to understand irregular heart rhythms (i.e., arrhythmias), it is first necessary to understand the normal rhythm of the heart and the electrophysiological basis for this rhythm (i.e., membrane potentials and action potentials). Because arrhythmias are caused by electrical disturbances within the heart, arrhythmias are diagnosed by measuring the electrical activity using an electrocardiogram.

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RK Revised 04/06/07