What is the primary use of antiarrhythmic medication?

The primary use of antiarrhythmic medication is to correct irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias. These medications help to manage various types of abnormal heart rates, such as tachycardia (an abnormally fast heart rate) and bradycardia (an abnormally slow heart rate). They work by altering the electrical conduction in the heart, thereby restoring a normal rhythm or preventing the development of more serious arrhythmias. This corrective action is crucial because irregular heart rhythms can lead to more severe complications, including stroke or heart failure.

Other options relate to different medical issues: pain relief is often associated with analgesics, blood pressure management involves antihypertensives, and severe allergies are treated with antihistamines or corticosteroids. Each of these options addresses conditions that do not pertain directly to the function of antiarrhythmic medications, reinforcing that the correct focus of antiarrhythmics is on the regulation of heart rhythms.