> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sonohealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Common Heart Rhythm Disorders Explained

> A plain-language guide to common arrhythmias — AFib, atrial flutter, SVT, PVCs, bradycardia, and tachycardia — what they feel like, and which a home EKG can help document.

"Arrhythmia" simply means an abnormal heart rhythm, and there are many kinds — some harmless, some that need attention. This guide explains the common ones in plain language so you understand what your heart (or a home EKG) might be telling you.

<Warning>
  This is general information, not a diagnosis. Any abnormal recording or worrying symptom should be reviewed by a doctor, and chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath means calling 911.
</Warning>

## What is an arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia is any rhythm that's too fast, too slow, or irregular. A single-lead home EKG records your heart's rate and rhythm and can flag some of these patterns, but a clinician interprets and diagnoses them. Start with our [home EKG overview](/ekg/overview).

## Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is a **chaotic, irregular** rhythm from the upper chambers. It often feels like an irregular flutter, fatigue, or breathlessness, and it raises stroke risk — which is why it's the arrhythmia most worth catching. See [atrial fibrillation](/ekg/atrial-fibrillation) and [AFib and stroke risk](/ekg/afib-and-stroke-risk).

## Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is a cousin of AFib but usually **more organized and regular**. Symptoms overlap, and like AFib it can raise stroke risk, so it also needs a doctor's evaluation.

## SVT (supraventricular tachycardia)

SVT is a sudden burst of fast heartbeat — often 150–250 beats per minute — that can start and stop abruptly. It typically feels like a racing or pounding heart and is usually not dangerous, but episodes should be evaluated. Recording one on a personal EKG helps your doctor see it.

## PVCs (premature ventricular contractions)

PVCs are **extra, early beats** that can feel like a skip or thud followed by a stronger beat. Occasional PVCs are extremely common and usually benign, but frequent ones, or PVCs with other symptoms, are worth checking. See [heart palpitations](/ekg/heart-palpitations).

## Bradycardia and tachycardia

**Bradycardia** is a slow heart rate (often under 60 bpm) and **tachycardia** is a fast one (over 100 bpm at rest). Either can be normal in context — athletes often run slow, exertion runs fast — or can signal a problem, depending on symptoms. Our [normal heart rate and rhythm](/ekg/normal-heart-rate-rhythm) page explains the ranges.

## How a home EKG helps

Because many arrhythmias come and go, the hard part is capturing one. A personal device like the SonoHealth **EKGraph** lets you record a trace during symptoms and share it with your doctor, turning a fleeting "off" feeling into useful data.

***

**Related:** [Atrial Fibrillation Explained](/ekg/atrial-fibrillation) · [Heart Palpitations](/ekg/heart-palpitations) · [Normal Heart Rate and Rhythm](/ekg/normal-heart-rate-rhythm) · [When to See a Doctor About Your Heart](/ekg/when-to-see-a-doctor-heart)