ARRHYTHMIA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does arrhythmia mean? 

• ARRHYTHMIA (noun)
  The noun ARRHYTHMIA has 1 sense:

1. an abnormal rate of muscle contractions in the heart

  Familiarity information: ARRHYTHMIA used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARRHYTHMIA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abnormal rate of muscle contractions in the heart

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

arrhythmia; cardiac arrhythmia

Hypernyms ("arrhythmia" is a kind of...):

cardiopathy; heart disease (a disease of the heart)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arrhythmia"):

flutter (abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart block)

cantering rhythm; gallop rhythm (cardiac rhythm characterized by the presence of an extra sound; can indicate a heart abnormality)

atrial fibrillation (fibrillation of the muscles of the atria of the heart)

bradycardia (abnormally slow heartbeat)

Adams-Stokes syndrome; atrioventricular block; heart block; Stokes-Adams syndrome (recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness caused by impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat)

premature ventricular contraction; PVC (irregularity of cardiac rhythm; recurrent occurrences can be a precursor of ventricular fibrillation)

tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats per minute))

ventricular fibrillation (fibrillation of heart muscles resulting in interference with rhythmic contractions of the ventricles and possibly leading to cardiac arrest)

Derivation:

arrhythmic (lacking a steady rhythm)

 Context examples 

In addition, this agent appears to cause cardiac arrhythmias and is toxic to the liver and kidneys at higher doses.

(Budotitane, NCI Thesaurus)

A procedure intended to eliminate or modify a focus or re-entry circuit that causes an arrhythmia in the heart.

(Cardiac Ablation, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

Problems can cause abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias.

(Cardiac Arrest, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

This drug is used to treat and suppress ventricular arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.

(Bretylium Tosylate, NCI Thesaurus)

A percutaneous coronary intervention is necessary for a myocardial infarction that presents with ST segment elevation and the subject does not have recurrent or persistent symptoms, symptoms of heart failure or ventricular arrhythmia.

(Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction-Stable-Over 12 Hours From Symptom Onset, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

A percutaneous coronary intervention is necessary for a myocardial infarction that presents with ST segment elevation and the subject has recurrent or persistent symptoms, symptoms of heart failure or ventricular arrhythmia.

(Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction-Unstable-Over 12 Hours From Symptom Onset, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat.

(Atrial Fibrillation, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

If your arrhythmia is serious, you may need a cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

(Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators, NIH)

It may lead to arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension.

(Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, NCI Thesaurus)

An episode of cardiac arrest or arrhythmia where the etiology was unknown.

(Cardiac Arrest/Arrhythmia Etiology Unknown, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)