See also: Pisgah National Forest; Asheville; Biltmore Forest School; Biltmore Industries George Washington Vanderbilt, inheritor of part of the huge Vanderbilt fortune accrued by his grandfather, steamship and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, first visited Asheville in 1889 for health reasons.
An arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah) is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. A heartbeat that is too fast is called tachycardia (TAK-ih-KAR-de-ah). A heartbeat that is too slow is called bradycardia (bray-de-KAR-de-ah). Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.
An arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) refers to what is usually an irregular heartbeat. The heart rate can be fast, slow, or irregular, taking into consideration age and activity. For example, a newborn's heart beats much faster than a 5-year-old child's heart. A fast heart rate is called tachycardia. A slow heart rate is called bradycardia. Some irregular heartbeats are normal: Sinus arrhythmia is the normal variation in heart rate that accompanies breathing in and out.