When an arrhythmia is serious, urgent treatment may be required to restore a normal rhythm. This may include:

• Electrical "shock" therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion)
• Implanting a temporary pacemaker to interrupt the arrhythmia
• Medications given through a vein (intravenous)

Supraventricular arrhythmias may be treated with:

• Medications that slow the pulse (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers)
• Medications that cause the heart rhythm to return to normal (anti-arrhythmic drugs)

Many supraventricular arrhythmias can be treated and cured with radiofrequency ablation. This avoids the need for lifelong drug therapy.

Increasingly, most ventricular tachycardias are treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). As soon as arrhythmia begins, the ICD sends a shock to stop it, or a burst of pacing activity to override it.

Bradycardias that cause symptoms can be treated by implanting a permanent pacemaker.

The outcome depends on several factors:

• The kind of arrhythmia -- whether it is supraventricular tachycardia, or a more dangerous arrhythmia such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation
• The overall pumping ability of the heart (ejection fraction)
• Whether you have heart disease (coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease) and how well it can be treated

Some types of arrhythmias may be life-threatening if not promptly and properly treated.

With bradycardias treated with a permanent pacemaker, the outlook is usually good.

• Angina
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Sudden death

Call your health care provider if:

• You develop any of the symptoms of a possible arrhythmia
• You have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment