Fact Sheets

Tachycardia
Tachycardia occurs when the heart beats faster than 100 beats per minute. It can occur as a normal response to exercise, fever, stress, or other stimuli. Tachycardia that occurs abruptly and without a clear cause, or when the heart rate increases out of proportion for a given activity is considered abnormal.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
A battery-operated device that is surgically implanted in the chest to detect and correct life-threatening heart arrhythmias.
Premature Ventricular Contraction
An occasional extra heartbeat that temporarily changes the heart's regular rhythm. The extra heartbeat originates in one of the heart's lower chambers.
Atrial Flutter
A type of abnormal heart rhythm in which the heart beats too quickly.
Bundle Branch Block
Condition in which electrical signals in the heart are blocked, causing the heart to beat out of sync.
Cardiac Pacemaker
A cardiac pacemaker is an implantable device that sends electrical pulses to the heart to correct a slow heart rate.
Atrioventricular Block
A malfunction in the heart's electrical system that causes the heart to beat slower than it should.
Anesthesia for Atrial Fibrillation
Patients with A-fib benefit from specialized anesthesiology. Learn more about this treatment.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping, and is a leading cause of death in the United States. Learn about symptoms and treatment.
Heart Disease in Women
Women face unique risks, warning signs and symptoms of heart disease. Here's what women—and men who care about them—need to know about this condition.