What is The Treatment for Tachycardia?
There are a few different treatments for tachycardia, depending on the cause. For example, if an arrhythmia causes tachycardia, medications may be prescribed to correct the abnormal heart rhythm. Other treatments for arrhythmic tachycardia include electrical cardioversion or ablation.
If the tachycardia is caused by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), beta-blockers may be prescribed to help slow the heart rate. If the tachycardia is due to a heart attack, treatment will relieve symptoms and repair damage to the heart muscle. Treatment for other tachycardia causes may include lifestyle changes, such as exercise and dietary changes, or surgery.
Additional Info: Tachycardia
1) A heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute, usually caused by abnormal cardiac function.
2) An idioventricular rhythm with a rate of about 200/minute. It is most often seen in patients who are severely ill. Other names include accelerated idioventricular rhythm, fast idio-ventricular rhythm, or rapid ventricular response. (Adams et al., Critical Care Nursing, 5th ed, p1165-8)
3) Rapid heartbeat due to fever or an emotional upset.
4) Any tachyarrhythmia with a rate greater than 100 bpm that does not have evidence of atrial activity on the electrocardiogram. This includes supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
5) The most common type of arrhythmia is a problem with the heart’s electrical system. Supraventricular tachycardia is an abnormal rhythm that starts in the heart’s upper chambers (the atria), and ventricular tachycardia is an irregular rhythm that begins in the heart’s lower chambers (the ventricles). (Mayo Clinic, Tachycardia – Causes)
6) A condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism can cause several symptoms, including a rapid heartbeat. (NIDDK, Hyperthyroidism)
7) A medical emergency occurs when the heart muscle is suddenly damaged and can’t pump enough blood to the body. A heart attack may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. (Mayo Clinic, Heart attack – Symptoms and causes)
8) A condition in which the heart beats too fast, usually due to a heart’s electrical system problem. Tachycardia can cause some symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
9) The most common type of arrhythmia is a problem with the heart’s electrical system. Supraventricular tachycardia is an abnormal rhythm that starts in the heart’s upper chambers (the atria), and ventricular tachycardia is an irregular rhythm that begins in the heart’s lower chambers (the ventricles). (Mayo Clinic, Tachycardia – Causes)
10) A condition in which the heart beats too fast, usually due to a heart’s electrical system problem. Tachycardia can cause several symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
11) Treatment for tachycardia may include medications to correct the abnormal heart rhythm, electrical cardioversion or ablation, beta-blockers to help slow the heart rate, or surgery. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
12) A heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute, usually caused by abnormal cardiac function.
13) An idioventricular rhythm with a rate of about 200/minute. It is most often seen in patients who are severely ill. Other names include accelerated idioventricular rhythm, fast idio-ventricular rhythm, or rapid ventricular response. (Adams et al., Critical Care Nursing, 5th ed, p1165-8)
14) Rapid heartbeat due to fever or an emotional upset.
15) Any tachyarrhythmia with a rate greater than 100 bpm that does not have evidence of atrial activity on the electrocardiogram. This includes ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
16) A condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism can cause many symptoms, including a rapid heartbeat. (NIDDK, Hyperthyroidism)
17) A medical emergency occurs when the heart muscle is suddenly damaged and can’t pump enough blood to the body. A heart attack may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. (Mayo Clinic, Heart attack – Symptoms and causes)
18) A condition in which the heart beats too fast, usually due to a heart’s electrical system problem. Tachycardia can cause several symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
19) Treatment for tachycardia may include medications to correct the abnormal heart rhythm, electrical cardioversion or ablation, beta-blockers to help slow the heart rate, or surgery. (NHLBI, Your Heart)
20) The most common type of arrhythmia is a problem with the heart’s electrical system. Supraventricular tachycardia is an abnormal rhythm that starts in the heart’s upper chambers (the atria), and ventricular tachycardia is an irregular rhythm that begins in the heart’s lower chambers.
is tachycardia dangerous:
tachycardia is defined as the heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute
. Sometimes tachycardia can be complex because people with tachycardia risk have an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest. This will depend on what type of tachycardia you have and how fast your heart is beating, which your doctor should be able to check for you along with other tests.
Types of tachycardia include:
atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. These conditions may cause palpitations, where you feel like your heart is pounding in your chest.
However, most people with tachycardia will live everyday life without experiencing any problems. For example, suppose your doctor has diagnosed you with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and it is not causing you any problems. In that case, there is no reason to treat it, and so medication would not be recommended. In this case, drugs may even make the condition worse.
Tachycardia – how common is it:
in general, around 10% of adults aged 40-50 years old will have some form of tachycardia. However, generally, only 2-3% of young people between 16-40 years old will have these heart conditions, which means they are more likely to experience problems.
Tachycardia NHS:
if you are suffering from tachycardia, the NHS will offer you various treatments that may help. This usually includes changes to medication, an implantable cardiac device/pacemaker, or radiofrequency ablation, a type of treatment that uses heat to destroy the small areas of heart tissue causing your irregular heartbeat while leaving other parts of your heart unchanged.
However, if you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, then it is likely that you will be offered blood thinners which can make sure that any clots are prevented from forming in some situations. However, for some people, atrial fibrillation does not always need to be treated right away as they can live without experiencing any problems for some time.
Risk of stroke:
people with atrial fibrillation/tachycardia are more likely to experience a stroke, particularly if they have other risk factors which can put them in danger. These additional risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity, and smoking or drinking large amounts of alcohol.
It would help if you, therefore, informed your GP so that they can identify any further problems, including irregular heartbeat, by asking whether you experience anything like chest pain during the day even when not doing physical activity.
Also, it is crucial to be aware that any surgery or dental treatment could lead to an infection causing an irregular heartbeat because all infections increase the likelihood of this condition occurring.
However, there are also various ways to reduce their chances of having an irregular heartbeat, including reducing their alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
sinus tachycardia treatment:
the best thing to do if you suspect sinus tachycardia is to see your doctor, who will help. This will usually involve identifying the exact type of heart condition you may have, which allows them to decide on the most suitable treatment for your individual needs.
If you are diagnosed with SVT, various treatments are available, which means that it is doubtful that you will need an implantable cardiac device or pacemaker unless advised by your doctor. However, suppose you are diagnosed with VT. In that case, an implantable cardiac device/pacemaker would likely be recommended because it can help control the irregular heartbeat and prevent vibrations.