An impulse (action potential) that originates from the SA node at a relative rate of 60 100 – bpm is known as normal sinus rhythm. If SA nodal impulses occur at a rate < 60 bpm, the heart rhythm is known as sinus bradycardia. If SA nodal impulses occur at > 100 bpm, the consequent rapid heart rate is sinus tachycardia. Note though that your heart rate varies with age, fitness and activity. When it all goes wrong When the rhythm of the heart goes awry it is called an These arrhythmia or dysrhythmia. may be silent, with no symptoms or on occasion the patient will notice something is not right. I will talk about some of these symptoms as we go on. There are four main types of abnormal rhythm: Extra or premature beats Supra-ventricular tachycardias [fast] Ventricular arrhythmias Brady [slow] arrhythmias Nick, Hanna and I are going to take you through these to describe them. We don’t have time to present all the abnormal rhythms, some of which are extremely rare; it would take too long and miss the point. We want to leave you understanding more, but not everything, about what can happen and what the consequences might be. Otherwise there would be little work for my cardiology colleagues to do! Extra Beats
An impulse (action potential) that originates from the SA node at a relative rate of 60 – 100 bpm is known as normal sinus rhythm. If SA nodal impulses occur at a rate < 60 bpm, the heart rhythm is known as sinus bradycardia. If SA nodal impulses occur at > 100 bpm, the consequent rapid heart rate is sinus tachycardia. Note though that your heart rate varies with age, fitness and activity. When it all goes wrong When the rhythm of the heart goes awry it is called an arrhythmia or dysrhythmia. These may be silent, with no symptoms or on occasion the patient will notice something is not right. I will talk about some of these symptoms as we go on. There are four main types of abnormal rhythm: Extra or premature beats Supra-ventricular tachycardias [fast] Ventricular arrhythmias Brady [slow] arrhythmias Nick, Hanna and I are going to take you through these to describe them. We don’t have time to present all the abnormal rhythms, some of which are extremely rare; it would take too long and miss the point. We want to leave you understanding more, but not everything, about what can happen and what the consequences might be. Otherwise there would be little work for my cardiology colleagues to do! Extra Beats