What is tachycardia: symptoms and treatment of rapid heartbeat

A healthy person does not feel the work of his heart in any way. And if heart rhythm disturbances occur, he may feel palpitations, interruptions or “loss of pulse.” The normal heart rate of an adult is from 60 to 90 beats per minute.

Tachycardia is an increase in heart rate to values ​​exceeding 90 beats per minute. Often in such situations, patients complain of increased beating, “fluttering” or “jumping out” of the heart, they say that “the heart is pounding.” Of course, such a condition is a deviation from the norm.

How does tachycardia manifest?

It is important to distinguish between tachycardia:

• as a normal physiological phenomenon during physical activity, anxiety, anxiety or fear. Most often, the cause is the body’s normal reaction to external stimuli: time zone change, use of tonics or medications, stress;
• as a pathological phenomenon - increased heart rate at rest or increased heart rate that is not adequate to the load. The cause may be cardiovascular disease or dysfunction of other organs.

There are many types of tachycardia. Only professionals and highly qualified specialists can determine whether you have symptoms or a predisposition to the disease, and what type of tachycardia is bothering you. By making an appointment with a doctor at the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, you will undergo a full examination using new high-tech equipment, receive advice and recommendations on preventing the occurrence of symptoms.

Prices

Forms of tachycardia

Our heart consists of several sections. As it contracts, it pumps blood throughout the body. When a person is excited, the heart beats faster. The pulse generator, the so-called, controls the work of the heart. sinus node. In normal mode, an impulse originates in the sinus node, which subsequently spreads to other chambers of the heart. When the nervous system affects the sinus node (for example, in diseases of the thyroid gland), it can generate a rapid heartbeat. In some diseases, the role of the pacemaker moves to the cells of the conduction system of the heart, which are located in the atria, atrioventricular node or ventricles. Tachycardia can be classified based on where the electrical impulse originated.

Experts identify several forms:

• Sinus – fast heartbeat with normal pulse, i.e. The heart rate exceeds the norm of 90 beats per minute, but the pulse is rhythmic with equal intervals between pulse fluctuations. This condition is normal and can occur under the influence of physical or emotional stress. Often this is a functional impairment. But sinus tachycardia may indicate heart failure, anemia, or intoxication.
• The atrial form of tachycardia, which can be asymptomatic, is characterized by a strong heartbeat. Occurs in any small area of ​​the atrium. It is episodic and manifests itself as a sudden onset of palpitations. It can be unstable, but repeated, or continuous and stable;
• Atrioventricular - known as nodal tachycardia, because. the ectopic focus (voluntary contraction) is located in the atrioventricular node. It occurs quite often, especially in people under 45 years of age, mostly in women. This is due to greater susceptibility to emotional influences or congenital characteristics of the conduction system of the heart.
• Ventricular – rapid heartbeat from 100 to 220 beats per minute, characterized by an increase in the number of contractions in the ventricles. This occurs due to the disturbed structure of the myocardium, resulting in difficult transmission of electrical impulses to other parts of the heart. The work of the organ at such a pace can lead to ventricular fibrillation - complete disorganization of cardiac functions and cessation of blood circulation. It is important that ventricular tachycardia is always of organic origin, it is not functional;

Identification of one of the forms of tachycardia may indicate dysfunction of the endocrine, autonomic nervous and other systems of the body. For an accurate determination, you should contact a specialist. Doctors at the Cardiology Center of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency will conduct a full examination of your heart in order to determine the form of tachycardia with 100% accuracy and give recommendations or prescribe treatment.

Forecast

Cardiac arrhythmias are dangerous because they can lead to sudden cardiac arrest due to complete blockade of conduction. In severe arrhythmia, there is a high risk of ventricular fibrillation, which can be fatal. Atrial fibrillation leads to the formation of blood clots in the atria and their transfer to other organs with the development of stroke and gangrene of the extremities. The probability of an unfavorable outcome in patients with arrhythmias depends on the form of rhythm disturbance and is more than 20% per year. You should not rely on folk remedies - arrhythmia is very dangerous and requires correction by a professional cardiologist.

Causes

The causes of tachycardia can be divided into two blocks:

1. Intracardiac - the cause should be sought in the heart. These may be congenital or acquired heart diseases. Among them:
   • cardiac ischemia;

   arterial hypertension;

2. myocardial infarction;
3. heart failure;
4. heart defects;
5. cardiosclerosis;
6. cardiomyopathy;
7. myocarditis;
8. idiopathic - primary.
9. Extracardiac - the cause of an increased heart rate can be various factors not related to the heart: disease of other organs or systems of the body, or exposure to external factors. In this case it could be:
   • physiological reasons - physical activity, severe anxiety, emotional stress;

   neurogenic - disruption of the cerebral cortex and subcortical nodes, disorders of the autonomic nervous system (neuroses, psychoses);

10. diseases of the endocrine system;
11. acute blood loss;
12. severe pain attack;
13. taking medications that affect the functioning of the sinus node;
14. fever due to infectious diseases;
15. consumption of tonics - coffee, energy drinks;
16. bad habits – smoking, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Determining the causes of tachycardia is extremely important for prescribing the correct treatment. It is not enough to simply eliminate the pathology; it is important to understand what causes it.

What is the danger

In addition to unpleasant and uncomfortable sensations, tachycardia can lead to conditions that are more dangerous to health and life. As a result of inadequate work, the heart muscle wears out faster, which entails a number of complications. These include:

• Acute and chronic left ventricular failure (cardiogenic edema and cardiac asthma).
• Arrhythmias of various origins.
• Cardiac conduction disorders.
• Arrhythmic shock.
• Transient cerebrovascular accidents and strokes.
• Increased thrombus formation, which, in turn, can provoke myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism.

Symptoms

Symptoms may vary depending on the form of tachycardia and how severe it is (what causes it, how long it lasts). Often, tachycardia can be asymptomatic or accompanied by ordinary malaise.

Among the most common:

• cardiopalmus;
• dizziness;
• weakness;
• shortness of breath;
• insomnia;
• feeling of lack of air;
• fatigue;
• decreased appetite;
• decreased performance;
• worsening mood.

Without proper treatment, complications may occur, so you should consult a doctor if these symptoms are detected.

Diagnosis of tachycardia

At the Cardiology Center of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, the diagnosis of tachycardia and its forms is carried out by qualified specialists. During the initial visit, the doctor collects the necessary data about the patient: complaints, lifestyle, bad habits. Next, an examination is carried out: the patient’s skin color (with oxygen deprivation it looks pale), the heart rate and respiration rate are calculated. At this stage, heart murmurs may be detected, which will suggest certain causes.

Afterwards, the doctor gives a referral for the collection of laboratory tests and instrumental examination methods, such as ECG, ultrasound of the heart, monitoring, etc.

The FSCC FMBA has several heart examination programs. You can find out more about each by following the link.

What to do if a child has an attack of tachycardia before the doctors arrive?

Until the ambulance arrives, there are several ways to alleviate the child’s condition:

The most important thing is to calm the child down, open a window or vent so that fresh air can enter the room. The following measures can then be taken:

• Wipe the child's face with cold water, and then place a cloth soaked in cold water on his face.
• Have your child close his eyes and then gently apply pressure to his eyeballs for a few seconds. This will provoke a reflex in which the heart rate decreases.
• Perform a Valsalva maneuver - the child should close his mouth and nose tightly and strain as if he wants to exhale.
• Massage the carotid sinus, that is, the place where the carotid artery divides into two branches - external and internal. This place is located approximately where the thyroid cartilage is on both sides of the neck. It’s easy to feel the thyroid cartilage; in men it’s called the “Adam’s apple.” After this, move your fingers slightly downward, and immediately under the Adam’s apple you will feel the carotid sinus with a characteristic pulsation. Apply pressure and massage for a few minutes. Source: L.A. Balykova, I.S. Nazarova, A.N. Silence Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in children // Practical Medicine, September 2011, No. (53), pp. 30-37

Prevention

If you have diseases of the cardiovascular system or have symptoms of tachycardia, preventive measures should be taken.

Even if you are completely healthy, you need to follow some rules that will help keep your heartbeat normal.

For a healthy person it is enough:

• adhere to a healthy lifestyle: move actively and regularly, follow a routine and keep your body in good shape;
• monitor proper nutrition and weight;
• refrain from bad habits.

Depending on your health condition, traditional medical care or surgery may be used.

Only professional diagnostics can determine preventive measures to prevent tachycardia. Therefore, it is necessary to contact the specialists of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, because Prevention includes the use of medications, such as sedatives.

Do not self-medicate, contact specialists of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency for professional help.

Treatment of tachycardia

Depending on the form of tachycardia, various treatment methods are used. Somewhere it is necessary to eliminate external factors, such as refusal of certain physical activities. Somewhere they resort to prescribing medications, as in cases of stress (sedatives), and in serious situations - surgical intervention.

In the therapeutic departments of the Cardiology Center, you will be examined and drug therapy will be selected. If you have a form of tachycardia that can be eliminated, then you may undergo catheter ablation (exposure to the source of the arrhythmia with radiofrequency or cold).

Sources

1. Utsumueva M.D., Mironov N.Yu., Shlevkov N.B., Kiktev V.G., Gupalo E.M., Kashtanova S.Yu., Mironova N.A., Golitsyn S.P. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and concomitant cardiac conduction disorders. Clinical case and discussion of the problem. Cardiovascular therapy and prevention. 2020;19(3):2368.
2. Salami Kh.F., Shlevkov N.B., Sokolov S.F. Possibilities and limitations of standard electrocardiography for the differential diagnosis of tachycardias with widened QRS complexes. Almanac of Clinical Medicine. 2019;47(4):350-360.