For many arrhythmias, catheter ablation is first-line therapy, correcting the problem and allowing people to avoid daily medications and their potential side effects.
Another opinion is always worthwhile if there is concern about the initial evaluation, or if procedures are recommended that you have questions about or are uncomfortable with. In addition, the conditions that cause the life-threatening types of tachycardias are often treatable. Ask an Expert: Is Tachycardia dangerous? Find out: What is tachycardia? What kind of tachycardia does your daughter have? What are the options for treatment? What is tachycardia? In addition to a medical history and physical exam, a thorough assessment of tachycardia should include: An assessment of overall heart health.
A person who has a healthy heart and cardiovascular system is less likely to have a dangerous tachycardia. The seriousness depends largely on whether other cardiac dysfunction is present and on the degree of the ventricular tachycardia. These disorders can include:. The cause of your ventricular tachycardia will inform your treatment options. Possible approaches include:.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. About Arrhythmia. Why Arrhythmia Matters. Understand Your Risk for Arrhythmia. Symptoms, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Arrhythmia. Prevention and Treatment. Arrhythmia Tools and Resources.
Recovery from a heart condition becomes so much more manageable when you have the right kind of emotional support. A profile for atrial or SVT In general, those most likely to have atrial or supraventricular tachycardia are: Children SVT is the most common type of arrhythmia in kids Women, to a greater degree than men Anxious young people People who are physically fatigued People who drink large amounts of coffee or caffeinated substances People who drink alcohol heavily People who smoke heavily Atrial or SVT is less commonly associated with heart attack or serious mitral valve disease.
Ventricular fibrillation may occur during or after a heart attack. Most people who have ventricular fibrillation have an underlying heart disease or have experienced serious trauma, such as being struck by lightning.
Mayo Clinic electrophysiologist Fred Kusumoto, M. When your heart is beating too fast, it may not pump enough blood to the rest of your body. This can starve your organs and tissues of oxygen and can cause the following tachycardia-related signs and symptoms:. Some people with tachycardia have no symptoms, and the condition is only discovered during a physical examination or with a heart-monitoring test called an electrocardiogram. A number of conditions can cause a rapid heart rate and tachycardia symptoms.
It's important to get a prompt, accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. See your doctor if you or your child has any tachycardia symptoms. If you faint, have difficulty breathing or have chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, get emergency care, or call or your local emergency number.
Seek emergency care for anyone experiencing these symptoms. Tachycardia is caused by something that disrupts the normal electrical impulses that control the rate of your heart's pumping action.
Many things can cause or contribute to a fast heart rate. These include:. In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular AV node and into the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood.
To understand the causes of heart rate or rhythm problems such as tachycardia, it helps to understand how the heart's electrical system works. Your heart is made up of four chambers — two upper chambers atria and two lower chambers ventricles. Your heartbeat is normally controlled by a natural pacemaker called the sinus node, which is located in the right atrium.
The sinus node produces electrical impulses that normally start each heartbeat. From the sinus node, electrical impulses travel across the atria, causing the atrial muscles to contract and pump blood into the lower chambers of the heart ventricles.
The electrical impulses then arrive at a cluster of cells called the atrioventricular AV node — usually the only pathway for signals to travel from the atria to the ventricles. The AV node slows down the electrical signal before sending it to the ventricles. This slight delay allows the ventricles to fill with blood. When electrical impulses reach the muscles of the ventricles, they contract, causing them to pump blood either to the lungs or to the rest of the body.
When anything disrupts this complex system, it can cause the heart to beat too fast tachycardia , too slow bradycardia or with an irregular rhythm. Growing older or having a family history of tachycardia or other heart rhythm disorder makes you more likely to develop tachycardia. Any condition that puts a strain on the heart or damages heart tissue can increase your risk of tachycardia. Such conditions include:. Lifestyle changes or medical treatment for related health conditions may decrease your risk of tachycardia.
Complications of tachycardia depend on the type of tachycardia, how fast the heart is beating, how long the rapid heart rate lasts and if you have any other heart conditions.
The most effective way to prevent tachycardia is to maintain a healthy heart and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. If you already have heart disease, monitor it and follow your treatment plan to help prevent tachycardia. If you already have heart disease, you can take steps to help prevent tachycardia or another arrhythmia:.
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