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

They also highlighted the fact that ibogaine can cause heart problems such as cardiac arrhythmia and needs to be administered under strict medical supervision.

From Los Angeles Times

A post-mortem examination also found he had a very large heart "that would have meant he was susceptible to heart arrhythmias".

From BBC

Sixty years later, doctors told him that he'd lived with a cardiac arrhythmia for most of his life.

From BBC

This leads the heart to slow down and can lead to a fatal arrhythmia, Misek said.

From Salon

The TV host died on 28 March 2023 from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia at home in Kent at the age of 67.

From BBC