|Don’t skip a beat: The dangers of cardiac arrhythmia| |Written
by Nancy Dickenson| |Wednesday, 21 November 2012| Fast, slow or
in-between, an irregular heartbeat gets your attention. Most of
the time, it is nothing to worry about, but if it begins to
happen frequently, it just might be a more serious cardiac
arrhythmia, a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heart. Many
of us have occasional, harmless fluttering or racing heartbeats,
but sometimes the irregular beats can signal something serious,
even life threatening. In arrhythmia, the heart may not be able
to pump enough blood to the body, which can damage the brain,
heart and other organs. If you experience regular arrhythmias,
check with your doctor. The most common type of arrhythmia is
atrial fibrillation (AF), a fast and chaotic beating in the
atrial chambers of the heart. According to a study published in
the journal Circulation in 2011, approximately 3 million
American adults suffer atrial fibrillation, a number expected to
double over the next 2