Glossary

Term used to describe heart rate anomalies. There are many different types of anomalies (frequency, regularity, abnormal contractions etc.) and with diverse clinical expressions. They may lead to an acceleration in the heart rate (tachycardia) or a slowing of the heart rate (bradycardia). They all interfere with the efficiency of the heart pump.

These disorders of the heart rate generally arise among patients with a pre-existing heart disease: ischemic heart disease in the case of atherosclerosis, hypertensive heart disease in the case of essential hypertension, valvular heart disease etc.