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Tachycardia

Definition of Tachycardia

The heart normally beats at a rate of about 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. A rate faster than 100 beats a minute in an adult is called tachycardia. Most people experience transient rapid heartbeats, called sinus tachycardia, as a normal response to excitement,anxiety,stress, or exercise. If tachycardia occurs at rest or without a logical cause, however, it is considered abnormal.

Description of Tachycardia

The two main types of tachycardia  are abnormal supraventricular tachycardias (which originate in the upper chambers of the heart, the atria) and ventricular tachycardias (which originate in the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles).


Causes and Risk Factors of Tachycardia

Sinus tachycardias are most likely to occur in those who are easily excitable, suffer anxiety, or drink a lot of caffeine-containing beverages. They may also been seen in people with thyroid disease, with fevers, or with certain drugs (especially asthma and allergy medications).
The occurrence of tachycardias under any of these circumstances does not necessarily imply underlying heart disease.
More severe types of tachycardia tend to occur in those who have underlying heart disease. They may be caused by an electrical disturbance within the heart without an anatomic deformity, or by congenital defects, coronary artery disease, chronic disease of the heart valves, or chronic lung disease.
Tachycardias may also occur in the course of a heart attack (or myocardial infarction).

Symptoms of Tachycardia

The main symptom is awareness of a rapid heartbeat, commonly called "palpitations." Depending on the cause and extent of the tachycardia, other symptoms may include shortness of breath, dizziness, actual syncope (fainting), chest pain, and severe anxiety.

Diagnosis of Tachycardia

Your physician will take a complete medical history and perform a physical examination. Blood tests may be done. He or she may perform an electrocardiogram (EKG) or use a heart monitor to assess your heart's electrical activity.

Treatment of Tachycardia

Medical treatment depends on the cause and type of the  tachycardia.
 . Sinus tachycardias usually do not require treatment other than therapy for the underlying cause, if any. A supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia may respond to certain simple maneuvers that your physician will explain to you. This may involve holding one's breath for a minute, bathing the face in cold water, or massaging the carotid artery in the neck. In other cases, medication may be prescribed to slow the heartbeat on a continual basis.
If tachycardia is severe, or arises from the ventricle, immediate injectable medication or electric shock (electroconversion) may be required to stimulate the heart to return to a normal rate. In rare, severe and resistant cases of ventricular tachycardias, a defibrillation device (AICD, similar to a pacemaker) may be implanted surgically to help maintain a normal heart rhythm.
In elderly people or those with underlying heart disease, it is important to treat tachycardias within a few hours, if at all possible, because a prolonged rapid rate may result in decreased heart function and complications. tend to occur in those who have underlying heart disease. They may be caused by an electrical disturbance within the heart without an anatomic deformity, or by congenital defects, coronary artery disease, chronic disease of the heart valves, or chronic lung disease.
Tachycardias may also occur in the course of a heart attack (or myocardial infarction).

Symptoms of Tachycardia

The main symptom is awareness of a rapid heartbeat, commonly called "palpitations." Depending on the cause and extent of the tachycardia, other symptoms may include shortness of breath, dizziness, actual syncope (fainting), chest pain, and severe anxiety.

Diagnosis of Tachycardia

Your physician will take a complete medical history and perform a physical examination. Blood tests may be done. He or she may perform an electrocardiogram (EKG) or use a heart monitor to assess your heart's electrical activity.

Treatment of Tachycardia

Medical treatment depends on the cause and type of the tachycardia. Sinus tachycardias usually do not require treatment other than therapy for the underlying cause, if any. A supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia may respond to certain simple maneuvers that your physician will explain to you. This may involve holding one's breath for a minute, bathing the face in cold water, or massaging the carotid artery in the neck. In other cases, medication may be prescribed to slow the heartbeat on a continual basis.


If tachycardia is severe, or arises from the ventricle, immediate injectable medication or electric shock (electroconversion) may be required to stimulate the heart to return to a normal rate. In rare, severe and resistant cases of ventricular tachycardias, a defibrillation device (AICD, similar to a pacemaker) may be implanted surgically to help maintain a normal heart rhythm.
In elderly people or those with underlying heart disease, it is important to treat tachycardias within a few hours, if at all possible, because a prolonged rapid rate may result in decreased heart function and complications.
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