An arrhythmia is defined as

An arrhythmia is defined as

• A. An abnormal heart rhythm caused by malfunctioning electrical impulses leading to a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular.
• B. An infection of the heart lining.
• C. A disease of the heart muscle.
• D. A blockage of a coronary artery.

Answer: (A)

An arrhythmia is a disruption in the heart’s normal rhythm caused by malfunctioning electrical impulses that coordinate the heartbeat. The heart relies on electrical signals to set the tempo and ensure the atria and ventricles contract in the right sequence. When these impulses fire too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or in an irregular pattern (such as atrial fibrillation), the rhythm becomes abnormal. The other descriptions refer to infections of the heart lining, disease of the heart muscle, or blockage of a coronary artery—conditions that affect infection, pumping function, or blood supply rather than the electrical timing of the heartbeat.

An arrhythmia is a disruption in the heart’s normal rhythm caused by malfunctioning electrical impulses that coordinate the heartbeat. The heart relies on electrical signals to set the tempo and ensure the atria and ventricles contract in the right sequence. When these impulses fire too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or in an irregular pattern (such as atrial fibrillation), the rhythm becomes abnormal. The other descriptions refer to infections of the heart lining, disease of the heart muscle, or blockage of a coronary artery—conditions that affect infection, pumping function, or blood supply rather than the electrical timing of the heartbeat.