What is an arrhythmia? The regular contraction of the human heart, which drives blood to run and nourish the whole body, is the heartbeat. The heart beats faster when we exercise or get excited, and slows down when we rest or sleep, which are normal physiological phenomena and cannot be felt by ourselves. If we feel panic, “rapid heartbeat” or “increased heartbeat” or “intermittent heartbeat”, or “jumping around”, or feel the “heartbeat”. If we feel panic, “fast heartbeat” or “increased heartbeat”, “intermittent heartbeat” or “irregular heartbeat”, or “stopping”, it means that the rhythm and speed of the heartbeat may be disturbed, which is called arrhythmia or palpitations. What are the dangers of arrhythmias? In most cases, an occasional single occurrence of an arrhythmia is not harmful and should not cause alarm. If an arrhythmia occurs repeatedly, it may cause discomfort and affect normal life and work, or it may lead to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, which is a heart disease that is difficult to reverse and can even be life-threatening. What are the manifestations of arrhythmia? In addition to abnormal heartbeat, arrhythmia may be accompanied by insomnia, irritability, depression, fatigue, chest tightness, shortness of breath, pain in the heart and chest, or even sudden blackness or syncope, or sudden death. In the elderly, it is often accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, forgetfulness, light-headedness, weakness of the waist and knees, and even physical incompetence. How are arrhythmias diagnosed? Cardiac arrhythmias can be diagnosed based on electrocardiogram and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram (Holter). Some patients have symptoms of an abnormal heartbeat but have a normal test. In younger people, it is usually related to mood or lack of sleep, and in older people it is more often associated with weakness or severe heart disease. What should I do if I have an arrhythmia? Avoiding poor lifestyles such as overeating, fatty and greasy food, less movement and more quietness, lack of sleep, mental stress, tension and anxiety can help improve arrhythmias. Older people should pay more attention to the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris and atherosclerosis. Chinese herbal medicine is popular for the treatment of recurrent arrhythmias and their accompanying symptoms, and it is safe and has no side effects.