Overview
An abnormal increase in heart rate is referred to as tachycardia within the medical community. According to Mayo Clinic, tachycardia occurs when the heart rate increases above a normal resting rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute in an adult. The electric signals within the heart are inappropriately fired at a high speed. Tachycardia can occur without any side effects or it can become a deadly arrhythmia causing stroke or heart attack.
Symptoms
According to Mayo Clinic, an abnormal increase in heart rate will limit the amount of oxygen your body receives. This lack of oxygen can cause dizziness, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, fainting and uncomfortable sensations or pain in the chest. Heart Library, a website sponsored by St. Jude Medical, states a fast heart rate can sometimes be normal and necessary. However, a normal increase in heart rate should not cause adverse affects.
Causes
Mayo Clinic states an abnormal increase in heart rate can result because of causes that disrupt the electrical functioning of the heart. Causes include damage to heart tissue, congenital abnormalities to the heart, high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption, medication side effects, drug abuse, electrolyte imbalances and thyroid dysfunction.
Complications
Complications of an abnormal increase in heart rate will depend on the patient, according to Mayo Clinic. The type of tachycardia, how fast the heart rate, how long the increased rate lasts and any existing heart condition can alter the outcome. Possible complications of an increased heart rate include blood clots leading to heart attack or stroke, heart failure, passing out and sudden death.
Diagnosis
According to Mayo Clinic, in order to diagnosis tachycardia a health care professional must perform a complete physical exam. Other required tests may involve an electrocardiogram or ECG, a test that records the heart rhythm; wearing a holter monitor which will record the heart rhythm over a 24-hour period; event recorder which only records the heart activity when activated by the patient; electrophysiological testing, an invasive procedure that helps the health care provider find the exact location of the conduction problem and tilt table test which includes medically inducing a fast heart rate so the health care provider can monitor the heart activity.
Treatment
Heart Library states when a diagnosis of tachycardia occurs the health care provider may prescribe the patient medication, perform a medical procedure called ablation to eradicate the area of the heart causing the increased heart rate or implant a cardioverter defribrillator or ICD into the chest wall that will automatically convert the heart back to a regular rhythm if needed. According to Mayo Clinic, some fast heart rates will slow without intervention but others may require treatment. Common treatments to correct increased heart rate include vagal maneuvers or coughing or bearing down as in having a bowel movement, medications, cardioversion or shock to the heart and open heart surgery.
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