Definition
Tachycardia is a fast or irregular heart rhythm, usually more than 100 beats per minute and as many as 400 beats per minute. At these elevated rates, the heart is not able to efficiently pump oxygen-rich blood to your body.Tachycardia can occur in either the upper heart chambers (atrial tachycardia) or lower heart chambers (ventricular tachycardia).
Causes
Causes of tachycardia include:
- Heart-related conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Poor blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), heart valve disease, heart failure, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), tumors, or infections
- Other medical conditions such as thyroid disease, certain lung diseases, electrolyte imbalance, and alcohol or drug abuse
- Emotional stress or drinking large amounts of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages
Symptoms
Symptoms of tachycardia include:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Sudden weakness
- Fluttering in the chest
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
Risk Factors
Certain conditions can increase your risk of developing tachycardia:
- Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis)
- Heart failure (poor pumping heart)
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Congenital heart defects (condition you are born with)
- Inflammatory or degenerative heart conditions
- Chronic lung disease
Treatments
There are several treatment options available for people who experience tachycardia. Tachycardia can be ventricular (in the lower chambers of the heart) or atrial (in the upper chambers of the heart). Your heart doctor will determine the treatment that's best for your condition.
Ventricular Tachycardia Treatments
- Medications
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
Ventricular Fibrillation Treatments
- External defibrillation
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Medications
Atrial Flutter Treatments
- Medications
Atrial Fibrillation Treatments
- Medications
- Cardiac catheter ablation
- Cardioversion
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Surgery
Your doctor may also discuss lifestyle changes with you.
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