Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (say: “uh-rith-mo-
jen-ic right ven-trick-yoo-lar dis-play-shuh”), also called
ARVD, is a rare heart problem. The heart has 4 sections (called
chambers). The right ventricle (say: “ven-trick-uhl”) is one of
these chambers. If you have ARVD, a genetic defect causes the
normal heart muscle in your right ventricle to be replaced with
fat and scar tissue. This can make your heart beat too fast. If
you have ARVD, you may notice that your heart often beats very
fast. You may feel like your heart is "skipping a beat" or that
you can't catch your breath. ARVD sometimes causes chest pain
that may seem like a heart attack. Other symptoms of ARVD
include dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath with activity
and swelling of the legs, ankles and feet. You should see your
doctor right away if you have any of these problems. Your doctor
can test you for ARVD and other heart problems. ARVD often runs
in families. It is most common in people younger than 35 years
of age, but it can h