Tachycardia - when the heart beats too fast

Where ventricular tachycardia is manifested (ECG)

Cardiac tachycardia manifests itself in the chest area, but often spreads to the neck, arms or head. You may feel:

• A fast and/or irregular heartbeat (nonsustained ventricular tachycardia)
• Chest pressure or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Weakness or feelings of fainting
• Anxiety

In some people, tachycardia may be completely asymptomatic and only become apparent during a regular ECG. This does not mean that it is not dangerous. However, if you have a feeling of palpitations, or feel dizzy or pressure in your chest:

• Call us
• Email us
• Make an appointment quickly and easily online

Paroxysmal or sinus tachycardia: symptoms, types

There are several forms of tachycardia that differ in origin and severity:

1. Sinus tachycardia

The most common and usually less dangerous form, where there is a natural acceleration of the heartbeat. It arises in the sinus node, the site that normally controls the heart rhythm.

Causes are physical exertion, fever, stress, anxiety, dehydration, anemia, thyroid.

Symptoms:

• Rapid heart rate (often over 100/min at rest)
• Palpitations
• Feeling of internal restlessness (atrial tachycardia at rest) or nervousness
• Mild shortness of breath on exertion
• Sometimes just increased awareness of heart activity (called palpitations)

2. Paroxysmal tachycardia from stress - paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)

It is characterized by its sudden onset and equally sudden resolution of a rapid heart rate attack (tachycardia attacks). It originates outside the sinus node, usually in the atrial region. In some patients it may also be associated with the occurrence of ventricular extrasystoles, i.e. premature contractions of the heart emanating from the ventricles. If you are troubled by supraventricular tachycardia, treatment often involves a change in lifestyle.

Causes include stress, excessive consumption of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, heart defects, etc.

Symptoms:

• Sudden palpitations that come and go from minute to minute (non-sustained ventricular tachycardia)
• Feeling of ‘skipping’ of the heartbeat
• Shortness of breath or tightness in the chest
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Nausea or weakness
• Sometimes feeling anxious or panicky

3. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia, causes (pulseless ventricular tachycardia, PVT)

An extremely dangerous form where the heart shows electrical activity (beats rapidly) but does not pump blood efficiently (the patient has no palpable pulse). It often progresses to ventricular fibrillation and ends in sudden cardiac arrest.

Causes include serious heart disease, e.g., coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, electrolyte disturbances, electric shock.

Symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness
• Respiratory arrest
• Absence of pulse (even though the heart is "working" on ECG)
• Fatal condition requiring immediate resuscitation and defibrillation
• Without intervention within minutes, brain damage and death are imminent

What generally triggers tachycardia?

• Stress, anxiety, panic, high blood pressure
• Physical exertion (even reasonable in a weakened heart)
• Fever and infection
• Heart disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Dehydration
• Excessive caffeine consumption
• Tachycardia after alcohol, nicotine
• Certain drugs or medications (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines)

Treatment of tachycardia

If you think you are suffering from ventricular tachycardia, treatment depends on the type and cause of the tachycardia. It may include:

• Lifestyle changes - limiting stress, caffeine, alcohol, getting a good night's sleep
• Medication - beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics
• Pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)
• Ablation - removing the abnormal spot in the heart that is causing the arrhythmia
• Acute intervention - in the case of pulseless tachycardia, life is at stake and resuscitation is required

Ignoring tachycardia can lead to:

• Heart failure - not only in old age, the heart gradually becomes exhausted
• Stroke - an irregular heart rhythm risks blood clots
• Cardiac arrest - especially in the pulseless form
• Organ damage due to lack of blood supply

Do not underestimate the symptoms and do not read discussions on the Internet. Even if they seem mild to you, they can be a signal of a serious tachycardia disease in children or adults.