Understanding Arrhythmias: Causes and Symptoms Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats caused by improper electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat. These can result in the heart beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. The most common causes of arrhythmias include heart disease, high blood pressure, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, excessive caffeine intake, stress, and certain medications. Symptoms of arrhythmias can …