Clinical features
Valvular heart disease, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and cardiomyopathy can all lead to arrhythmias and therefore the patient may have symptoms of these diseases.
Fast heartbeats (tachycardias)
Cause a low heart output because the heart cannot pump efficiently. This causes a reduced blood supply to the brain leading to dizziness and faintness. Other symptoms of tachycardia are: -
- Palpitations,
- Chest pain,
- Breathlessness and,
- Increased urine output.
Slow heartbeats (bradycardias)
Cause variable symptoms dependent on how slow the heart rate is. These include:
- Dizziness,
- Fatigue,
- Lethargy,
- Collapse due to faint (syncope),
- Sudden death.
