At his recent checkup, Shane was sent for further testing because of suspected cardiac dysrhythmia. What does this mean?

When a patient is suspected of having cardiac dysrhythmia, it specifically refers to the possibility of an abnormal rhythm in the heartbeats. Cardiac dysrhythmias can manifest in various forms, such as irregular, too fast, or too slow heartbeats, and they may indicate underlying issues with the heart's electrical conduction system. This can lead to ineffective pumping of blood, which is why further testing is often necessary to determine the exact nature and cause of the irregularities.

Other options, while they may relate to heart issues, do not accurately describe what cardiac dysrhythmia entails. For instance, a potential blockage in arteries pertains more to conditions like atherosclerosis, while oxygen deficiency speaks to issues regarding blood flow rather than the rhythm of the heart itself. Damage to cardiac tissue may indicate conditions like myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathy, but again, this is not directly linked to the concept of rhythm abnormalities.