What term describes an irregular heartbeat?

The term that describes an irregular heartbeat is arrhythmia. Arrhythmia encompasses a variety of heart rhythm disorders, which can include heartbeats that are too fast, too slow, or irregularly timed. It represents a broad spectrum of conditions affecting the heart’s electrical system, which controls the rhythm of heartbeats.

Bradycardia refers specifically to a slow heart rate, while tachycardia refers to a fast heart rate. Both of these conditions can fall under the umbrella of arrhythmia but do not capture the full scope of irregular heartbeats. Hypotension relates to abnormally low blood pressure and is not directly related to the rhythm of the heartbeat. Understanding these terms helps clarify that arrhythmia is the most encompassing term for any irregularity in the heart's rhythm.