Arrhythmia and heart block are conditions that affect the heart’s electrical system, causing irregularities in heart rhythm and rate. While they differ in nature, they are often grouped together because they both involve disruptions in the normal electrical signaling pathways that coordinate the heart's pumping action. Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats, which may be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or erratic. Heart block, on the other hand, refers to a delay or complete block in the electrical impulses as they travel from the heart’s upper chambers (atria) to its lower chambers (ventricles), resulting in a slowed or irregular heart rhythm.These conditions can range from mild and asymptomatic to severe, potentially leading to complications such as dizziness, fainting, stroke, or heart failure if untreated. Common causes include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, congenital heart defects, and sometimes age-related degeneration of the heart’s electrical pathways. Arrhythmias and heart block are often diagnosed and treated similarly, involving monitoring and managing electrical heart function, hence why they’re often discussed together.
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