Having an abnormal heart rhythm can mean several things. An abnormal heart rhythm, known as arrhythmia in the medical field, is usually a sign of an underlying problem with the heart. There are two different forms of an arrhythmia which are a fast heart rhythm and a slow heart rhythm. Depending on the cause of the arrhythmia, it can be a sign of a large problem or can be something very minor.

Those who get an arrhythmia from caffeine, for example, usually have a very minor problem that can be solved by avoiding products that contain caffeine. However, many problems marked by an arrhythmia aren't that easy to solve.

Those with a more serious type of arrhythmia such as ventricular fibrillation must seek medical help immediately because this type of arrhythmia is extremely dangerous and often requires CPR and defibrillation. Another serious type of arrhythmia is a heart block. A heart block is a delay or block of electrical impulses in the heart causing the heart to beat more slowly and irregularly.

This is the type of heart arrhythmia that is treated with a pacemaker. Because of the seriousness involved, it is important for those with any type of arrhythmia to seek medical attention and heed the doctor's words.