arrhythmia

[uh-rith-mee-uh, ey-rith-]

noun

Pathology.

1. any disturbance in the rhythm of the heartbeat.

arrhythmia

/ əˈrɪðmɪə /

noun

1. any variation from the normal rhythm in the heartbeat

arrhythmia

1. An abnormal rhythm of the heart, often detectable on an electrocardiogram. Electrical impulses in the heart normally originate in the sinoatrial node of the right atrium during diastole and are transmitted through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles, causing the muscle contraction that usually occurs during systole. However, abnormalities of electrical conduction during diastole or systole can result in various alterations of the heartbeat, such as changes in heart rate, skipped or irregular beats, and fibrillation of the heart muscle, which can be life threatening. These electrical disturbances can be caused by metabolic abnormalities, inadequate blood supply (as in coronary artery disease), drug effects, chronic disease, and other factors. Arrhythmias are sometimes treated with the implantation of a pacemaker.

Other Word Forms

• arrhythmic adjective
• arrhythmical adjective
• arrhythmically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrhythmia¹

1885–90; < New Latin < Greek arrhythmía. See a- ⁶, rhythm, -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrhythmia¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek arrhuthmia, from _a- ¹ + rhuthmos _rhythm

Example Sentences

Lang beguiled with common chords that no longer sounded common, with standard rhythms that intertwined, went on and off the beat, creating arrhythmia delight.

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In a new study from Northwestern Medicine, researchers have created a more refined genetic risk score that helps determine whether a person is likely to develop arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats irregularly.

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The anticoagulant drugs and cardiac ablation procedures for treating atrial fibrillation aren’t without complication, so large studies are trying to determine if the additional arrhythmias found by devices like Zio are truly stroke threats.

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Most arrhythmias occur within 48 hours after MI and coincide with massive immune cell infiltration into the heart tissue.

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In addition to the migraines, Chesson developed heart arrhythmias and severe sensitivity to lights, sound and everyday chemicals that have kept her largely housebound.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal