Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia is an abnormal heart rhythm that happens when you have abnormal electrical signals in your heart’s lower chambers (ventricles). These keep normal heartbeat signals from getting through and make your heart beat so fast that it can’t pump enough blood to your body. Treatments include ablation and an implanted defibrillator. Overview An EKG showing ventricular tachycardia, a heart rate that’s too fast. What is ventricular tachycardia? Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rate higher than 120 beats per minute that starts in your heart’s two lower chambers (ventricles), rather than from the normal electrical pathway. A During an episode of ventricular tachycardia, your heart is beating so fast that: • Your • Your heart can’t pump enough oxygen to every part of your body. • You start to have symptoms. Is ventricular tachycardia serious? Yes, it is serious and requires urgent treatment. If ventricular tachycardia lasts more than 30 seconds (called sustained ventricular tachycardia), it can lead to Ventricular tachycardia vs. ventricular fibrillation Both are When your heart muscles are fibrillating (twitching), they aren’t pumping blood to your body at all. This causes sudden cardiac death. Can ventricular tachycardia go away? Yes, it can go away in some cases. It can last just a few seconds before your heart rhythm goes back to normal. Ventricular tachycardia risk factors You’re more likely to have this condition if you: • Have a history of heart disease. •...

Tachycardia heartbeat In tachycardia, an irregular electrical signal (impulse) starting in the upper or lower chambers of the heart causes the heart to beat faster. Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh) is the medical term for a heart rate over 100 beats a minute. Many types of irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) can cause tachycardia. A fast heart rate isn't always a concern. For instance, the heart rate typically rises during exercise or as a response to stress. Tachycardia may not cause any symptoms or complications. But if left untreated, some forms of tachycardia can lead to serious health problems, including heart failure, stroke or sudden cardiac death. Treatment for tachycardia may include specific maneuvers, medication, cardioversion or surgery to control a rapid heartbeat. Types There are many different types of tachycardia. Sinus tachycardia refers to a typical increase in the heart rate often caused by exercise or stress. Other types of tachycardia are grouped according to the part of the heart responsible for the fast heart rate and the cause. Common types of tachycardia caused by irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) include: • Atrial fibrillation (A-fib). This is the most common type of tachycardia. Chaotic, irregular electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) cause a fast heartbeat. A-fib may be temporary, but some episodes won't end unless treated. • Atrial flutter. Atrial flutter is similar to A-fib, but heartbeats are more organized. Epis...

ECG strip showing a normal heartbeat ECG strip showing tachycardia Tachycardia in adults refers to a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. How that’s defined may depend on your age and physical condition. Types of tachycardias Atrial or Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Atrial or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a fast heart rate that starts in the upper chambers of the heart. Some forms of this tachycardia are paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). With atrial or supraventricular tachycardia, electrical signals in the heart’s upper chambers occur abnormally. There may also be structural abnormalities of the heart.This interferes with electrical impulses coming from the sinus node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. The disruption results in a faster than normal heart rate. This rapid heartbeat keeps the heart’s chambers from filling completely between contractions, which may compromise blood flow to the rest of the body. Risk factors for Atrial or SVT In general, those most likely to have atrial or supraventricular tachycardia are: • Children (SVT is the most common type of arrhythmia in kids) • Women, to a greater degree than men • Young people with anxiety • People who are middle-aged and older You are at increased risk for atrial tachycardia or SVT if you: • Drink alcohol heavily • Smoke heavily or use illegal drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine • Have coronary artery disease, have had heart surgery or othe...

Tachycardia • • • • • • What is Tachycardia? Tachycardia is a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. The heart normally beats at a rate of 60 to 100 times per minute, and the pulse (felt at the wrist, neck or elsewhere) matches the contractions of the heart's ventricles, the heart's two powerful lower chambers. Tachycardia can be part of the body's normal response to anxiety, fever, rapid blood loss or strenuous exercise. It also can be caused by medical problems, such as an abnormally high level of In other cases, tachycardia can be a side effect of some foods and drinks, including coffee, tea, alcohol and chocolate; tobacco; or medication. Symptoms Tachycardia can be part of the body's normal response to anxiety, fever, rapid blood loss or strenuous exercise. It also can be caused by medical problems, such as an abnormally high level of thyroid hormones, called hyperthyroidism. In some people, tachycardia is the result of a cardiac arrhythmia (a heart-generated abnormality of heart rate or rhythm). Tachycardia can also be caused by lung problems, such as pneumonia or a blood clot in one of the lung's arteries. In other cases, tachycardia can be a side effect of some foods and drinks, including coffee, tea, alcohol and chocolate; tobacco; or medication. Diagnosis Your doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms. He or she will review your personal medical history and potential causes of tachycardia, including lung disease, thyroid disorders, and medications. Your...

Sometimes, a problem with your SVT is a group of heart conditions that all have a few things in common. The term has Latin roots. Supraventricular means “above the ventricles,” which are the lower two sections of your heart. Tachycardia means “fast heart rate.” Other conditions can cause your heart to beat too fast. Your doctor will need all the details of your symptoms. They’ll also do a physical exam and record your heartbeats to be sure of the diagnosis. Most of the time, it doesn't cause any serious health problems even though a racing heartbeat can be a scary feeling. Still, you should see your doctor about it. When your heart beats too quickly, it can't pump out enough Sometimes you might have a drop in Your doctor can try to bring your heart back into a regular rhythm with medicines and other treatments. How Your Heart Beats Your heart is a muscular organ that pumps about 100,000 times a day to send oxygen-rich blood out to your body. It has four pumping chambers to do the job. The left and right atria are at the top, and the left and right ventricles are on the bottom. Your heart also has something of a natural The electrical signal from the SA node makes the muscles of the atria contract to pull blood into the ventricles. Then the signal moves down and causes the muscles of the ventricles to squeeze. That causes blood to go out to the body. The heart beats like this in a familiar lub-dub pattern some 50 to 99 times a minute if you’re at rest. The heart normally in...

Ask the doctor Q. In the June 2021 Heart Letter , you explained the symptoms and diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia. Is that different from ventricular tachycardia? How are these problems treated? A. Tachycardia refers to a rapid heart rate — anything higher than 100 beats per minute (bpm). But supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) tends to be less severe and occur in younger people. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is more likely in older people with heart disease and can be far more serious. All abnormal heart rhythms are caused by electrical misfires that originate somewhere in the heart. Supra means "above," so in SVT, the errant electrical signals start somewhere above the heart's ventricles (the heart's lower chambers). During a bout of SVT, the heart rate may rise to 250 bpm or higher. But it often returns to a normal rate within a few minutes. If SVT lasts longer, it may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. When that happens, a person can try coughing, gagging, or holding their breath while bearing down as if for a bowel movement, which may help slow down the heart. But if SVT persists, the person may need to go to the emergency room for an injectable medication to slow down the heart. People with frequent episodes of SVT may take daily medications that slow the heart, such as beta blockers or calcium-channel blockers. Another treatment option is catheter ablation. A doctor guides several catheters through a vein up to the heart, where a pulse of radiofrequency ener...

Diagnosis To diagnose supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), your health care provider will examine you and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. Blood tests are usually done to check for conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid disease. Tests Tests that may be done to evaluate the heart and diagnose supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) include: • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An ECG records the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG measures the timing and duration of each electrical phase in the heartbeat. It can show how fast or slow the heart is beating. • Holter monitor. This portable ECG device can be worn for a day or more to record the heart's activity during daily activities. • Event recorder. This wearable ECG device is used to detect infrequent arrhythmias. You press a button when symptoms occur. An event recorder is typically worn for up to 30 days or until you have an arrhythmia or symptoms. • Echocardiogram. Sound waves are used to create images of the heart in motion. An echocardiogram can provide details about the heart and heart valves. • Implantable loop recorder. This device detects irregular heart rhythms and is implanted under the skin in the chest area. Other tests that may be done include: • Exercise stress test. Supraventricular tachycardia may be triggered or worsened by stress or exercise. During a stress test, you typically exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle while your heart activity is monitored. If ...