- Main types of tachycardia
- Possible symptoms
- How the treatment is done
- Most common causes of tachycardia
Tachycardia is an increase in heart rate above 100 beats per minute and usually arises due to situations such as fright or intense physical exercise, and is therefore considered, in most cases, a normal response of the body.
However, tachycardia can also be related to heart disease, lung disease or even thyroid disorders, such as arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism or hyperthyroidism, for example.
Generally, tachycardia causes symptoms such as the feeling of the heart beating very fast and shortness of breath, for example and, in most cases, it passes spontaneously, however, when it occurs frequently or is associated with other symptoms, such as fever or fainting, it is necessary to go to the doctor to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
Main types of tachycardia
Tachycardia can be classified as:
- Sinus tachycardia: it is the one that originates in the sinus node, which are specific cells of the heart; Ventricular tachycardia: is the one that originates in the ventricle, which is the lower part of the heart; Atrial tachycardia: it originates in the atrium, which is located at the top of the heart.
Although there are several types of tachycardia, they all cause similar symptoms, so it is necessary to do an electrocardiogram, blood tests, echocardiogram or coronary angiography to accurately diagnose the problem.
Possible symptoms
In addition to the feeling of having your heart beating very fast, tachycardia can also lead to other symptoms such as:
- Dizziness and vertigo; Feeling faint; Heart palpitations; Shortness of breath and tiredness.
Usually, when tachycardia is caused by a disease, the specific symptoms of the disease are also present.
People who have tachycardia or symptoms of frequent palpitations should see a cardiologist to try to identify a cause, starting treatment, if necessary.
Check out a list of 12 symptoms that may indicate heart problems.
How the treatment is done
The treatment and duration of the tachycardia depend on its cause, and when it arises due to normal situations, such as stress or fear for example, one should take a deep breath or put cold water on the face, to calm down. See other tips for controlling tachycardia.
When tachycardia is caused by cardiac problems, it may be necessary to take medications, such as digitalis or beta-blockers of calcium channels indicated by the doctor, and in more severe cases, it may be necessary to perform surgery, such as bypass or reconstruction or replacement of valves. heart attacks.
Most common causes of tachycardia
Tachycardia can be a normal response of the body to situations such as:
- Intense pain; Stress or anxiety; Panic attacks or phobias; Intense physical exercise; Strong emotions, such as fright, feeling of happiness or intense fear; Side effect of food or drinks, such as tea, coffee, alcohol or chocolate; Consumption of energy drinks; Use of tobacco.
However, when it is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, bleeding, excessive tiredness, swelling of the legs, it can be one of the symptoms of diseases such as hyperthyroidism, pneumonia, arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, heart failure or pulmonary thromboembolism. Read more about what you can change and what to do to normalize your heart rate.
