When your heart beats faster than normal, known as tachycardia, it becomes an important cardiac arrhythmia that affects your daily life and overall health. Tachycardia is defined when the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, and while this condition can sometimes be a natural response of your heart, it can also be a sign of an underlying serious health problem.
If you experience symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, and shortness of breath, understanding the causes of this condition and receiving appropriate treatment is of vital importance. When your heart beats too fast, it may not be able to pump enough blood effectively to your body, preventing adequate oxygen from reaching organs and tissues.
What is Tachycardia?
Your heart beats with a regular rhythm to meet all the oxygen and nutrient needs of your body. A normal adult’s resting heart rate is typically between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Any heart rate above this range is medically defined as tachycardia.
Tachycardia can originate from the upper chambers of your heart (supraventricular arrhythmias) or the lower chambers (ventricular arrhythmias). Each type of tachycardia carries different risks and treatment methods. One of the most common types of tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, usually occurs due to physiological causes such as exercise or stress and often does not require treatment, while some types like ventricular tachycardia can be life-threatening.
What are the Types of Tachycardia?
Tachycardia is divided into two main groups based on where it originates in your heart: supraventricular arrhythmias that begin in the upper chambers and ventricular arrhythmias that begin in the lower chambers. This classification makes it easier for your doctor to make the correct diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment for you. Supraventricular arrhythmias are generally more benign and can be treated with medications or other methods, while ventricular arrhythmias are usually more dangerous and may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Sinus Tachycardia
Sinus tachycardia is when the sinus node, the heart’s natural rhythm source, works faster than normal. This condition is mostly due to temporary causes such as physical activity, stress, fever, anemia, dehydration (fluid loss), or caffeine and alcohol consumption.
It is generally harmless and resolves itself when the cause is eliminated. However, a rarely seen condition called “inappropriate sinus tachycardia” can cause a constantly rapid heartbeat without any reason. The rate returns to normal during sleep. This condition can seriously affect quality of life and requires expert intervention.
Supraventricular Tachycardias (SVT)
Supraventricular tachycardias are rapid heart rhythms originating from the upper chambers of your heart (atria). They usually do not pose a life threat but can cause frequent and bothersome symptoms. These types typically start and stop suddenly.
- AVNRT (Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia): These are rapid heartbeats that suddenly start and stop due to a short circuit at the junction between your heart’s upper and lower chambers (AV node). It is usually seen in young people with structurally healthy hearts. It can cause symptoms such as palpitations, chest discomfort, and dizziness. It can be terminated during an attack by applying vagal maneuvers (such as straining).
- AVRT (Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia): This type occurs due to an extra electrical pathway (accessory pathway) between the atria and ventricles, creating a circuit that allows electrical impulses to circulate rapidly. The most well-known form is associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Like AVNRT, it typically starts and stops suddenly and can cause palpitations, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath. It is more commonly seen in younger individuals and can also be terminated with vagal maneuvers.
- Atrial Tachycardia: This occurs when an abnormal focus in the atria generates rapid electrical impulses at a rate faster than the normal sinus node. Unlike AVNRT and AVRT, atrial tachycardia may start and stop more gradually. It can be caused by heart disease, electrolyte imbalances, or certain medications. Symptoms include palpitations, fatigue, and sometimes chest discomfort. Treatment typically involves medications to control heart rate or rhythm.
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Atrial Fibrillation is one of the most common serious arrhythmias. The upper chambers of your heart (atria) quiver irregularly and very rapidly. This condition causes blood to pool in these chambers and form clots, significantly increasing the risk of stroke. For this reason, when AFib is diagnosed, blood-thinning medications usually need to be used.
Atrial Flutter
Atrial Flutter occurs when the upper chambers of your heart (atria) beat more regularly than atrial fibrillation but still very rapidly. It can usually cause symptoms such as feeling the pulse in the neck vessels. It has the potential to convert to atrial fibrillation and similarly carries the risk of clot formation and stroke. It is characterized by a typical “sawtooth” appearance on ECG. Like atrial fibrillation, it can increase stroke risk and requires similar treatment approaches.
Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)
Ventricular Tachycardia consists of rapid and irregular beats originating from the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles). This can prevent the heart from effectively pumping enough blood to the body. It is usually seen in people who have previously had a heart attack, heart failure, or heart muscle disease and poses a life threat.
Ventricular Fibrillation (VFib)
Ventricular Fibrillation is the most dangerous cardiac arrhythmia and requires emergency intervention. The lower chambers of your heart (ventricles) quiver chaotically and ineffectively, completely stopping the blood pumping function. This means cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. VFib usually occurs after a heart attack or in people with serious heart disease.
VFib results in loss of consciousness and absence of pulse. Since it poses a life threat, the only effective treatment method is emergency defibrillation applied to restore the heart’s rhythm to normal. An ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) can detect this type of attack in advance and save lives by delivering a shock.
What Causes Tachycardia?
Tachycardia can occur due to a problem in your heart’s electrical system, as a symptom of another disease, or as a result of some external factors. Damage after a heart attack, heart failure, or heart muscle diseases are among the most important causes of tachycardia. Additionally, anemia, overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), high fever, infections, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, smoking, and some medications can also cause your heart to beat faster.
Let’s examine the main causes of tachycardia in more detail:
- Heart Diseases: Coronary artery disease, scar tissue formed after a heart attack, heart valve diseases, heart failure, or heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathy) can predispose to tachycardia.
- Congenital Heart Defects: Congenital abnormalities in your heart’s electrical system, especially extra electrical pathways (such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome), can cause tachycardia. Inherited electrical disorders such as Brugada syndrome, Long QT syndrome, and Short QT syndrome can also predispose to dangerous ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: Disruption of the balance of vital minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in your body can affect your heart’s electrical activity.
- Thyroid Problems: An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can increase your heart rate by accelerating metabolism.
- Lifestyle Factors: Excessive caffeine, alcohol, tobacco use, or illegal drugs (such as cocaine, amphetamine) can trigger tachycardia attacks.
- Other Medical Conditions: Conditions such as high fever, anemia, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea can cause your heart rate to increase.
- Medication Side Effects: Side effects of some cold medications, asthma medications, or antidepressants can also lead to tachycardia.
What are the Symptoms of Tachycardia?
The symptoms of tachycardia vary depending on how fast the heart rate is, its duration, and the underlying cause. While some people feel mild palpitations, others may experience more severe and bothersome symptoms. The most common symptoms include palpitations or fluttering sensation in the heart, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, and chest pain. These symptoms can be a sign that your heart is struggling to pump enough blood to the body.
Let’s examine the most common symptoms of tachycardia in detail:
- Palpitation Sensation: Feeling your heart beating rapidly, fluttering, or skipping beats in your chest.
- Dizziness or Lightheadedness: Mild dizziness or lightheadedness experienced due to reduced blood flow to the brain.
- Fainting (Syncope): Loss of consciousness that occurs when the brain experiences momentary oxygen deficiency as a result of your heart’s ability to pump blood to the body being severely reduced.
- Shortness of Breath: Fluid accumulation in the lungs or inability to meet the body’s oxygen needs because the rapidly beating heart cannot pump blood effectively enough.
- Chest Pain or Discomfort: The heart muscle not receiving enough oxygen (ischemia) due to rapid heartbeat.
- Weakness or Fatigue: A general feeling of weakness that occurs due to your body not receiving enough blood and oxygen.
- Anxiety and Panic Sensation: Feelings of anxiety, fear, or panic that accompany palpitations or other symptoms.
How is Tachycardia Diagnosed?
To diagnose tachycardia, your doctor first listens to your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. During your physical examination, they listen to your heart and lung sounds and check your pulse. For definitive diagnosis, tests are performed that examine your heart’s electrical activity and rhythm. These tests help us determine the type, source, and severity of tachycardia and form the basis for creating a personalized treatment plan for you.
The main methods used in tachycardia diagnosis are:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): A simple and quick test that records your heart’s electrical activity.
- Holter Monitor: A portable ECG device that continuously records your heart’s rhythm for 24 to 48 hours. It is used when attacks are infrequent.
- Event Recorder: A device that you can use for a longer period (usually 30 days) to record your heart’s rhythm by pressing its button when your symptoms begin.
- Exercise ECG (Stress Test): A test where your ECG, blood pressure, and heart rate are monitored while you exercise on a treadmill or bicycle.
- Echocardiogram: A cardiac ultrasound that images your heart’s structure, valves, and pumping function.
- Electrophysiologic Study (EPstudy): Your heart’s electrical system is examined in detail by entering your heart through catheters, and the area causing tachycardia is precisely identified.
How is Tachycardia Treated?
Tachycardia treatment is determined based on the type, cause, and severity of tachycardia. Our goal is to normalize your heart rate, eliminate symptoms, and reduce future attacks. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medication therapy, certain maneuvers, and interventional methods.
The main methods used in tachycardia treatment are:
- Lifestyle Changes: Simple but effective changes such as avoiding triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes, managing stress, and regular exercise can help with mild types of tachycardia.
- Vagal Maneuvers: For some SVT types, these are special movements that help slow the heart rate by stimulating the vagal nerve (such as straining, splashing cold water on the face).
- Medication Therapy: Medications such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or antiarrhythmic drugs are used to control your heart rate and maintain a normal rhythm.
- Cardioversion: In cases of severe and uncontrolled tachycardia, this is a procedure applied to immediately restore your heart’s rhythm to normal with an electric shock.
- Catheter Ablation: This involves entering the heart through a catheter and destroying the abnormal electrical pathways or cells causing tachycardia by burning (radiofrequency) or freezing (cryotherapy). This is a permanent and effective treatment method for tachycardia.
- Pacemaker or ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator): Especially for life-threatening ventricular tachycardia types, these are devices that monitor your heart rate and deliver shocks when necessary to restore the rhythm to normal.
What are the Risks and Complications of Tachycardia?
When your heart beats too fast for a long time, it can weaken your heart muscle and cause heart failure. Types such as atrial fibrillation, in particular, increase clot formation in the heart and the risk of stroke when the clot travels to the brain. The most dangerous complication is the development of ventricular fibrillation, which can result in sudden cardiac death. These risks emphasize that tachycardia should be taken seriously and the importance of early intervention.
It is important for you to know the potential risks of tachycardia so that you take this condition seriously and take the necessary steps:
- Heart Failure: The heart beating too fast for a long time can reduce pumping power and lead to heart failure.
- Stroke: Especially in atrial fibrillation, the heart’s irregular beats can cause blood to pool in the atria and form clots. These clots can travel to the brain and cause stroke.
- Sudden Cardiac Death: Life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation can cause sudden death by stopping your heart’s ability to pump blood.
- Frequent and Severe Symptoms: Uncontrolled tachycardia can lead to symptoms such as frequent fainting, shortness of breath, and chest pain that seriously reduce your quality of life.
Nutrition and Exercise
Tachycardia management involves adopting a healthy lifestyle. By paying attention to your nutrition and exercising regularly, you can protect your heart’s health. Avoiding excessive caffeine, alcohol, and energy drinks helps keep your heart rate under control. A healthy diet maintains the electrolyte balance your body needs and ensures your heart works more efficiently. Exercise, with your doctor’s approval, strengthens the heart muscle and supports your overall health.
What you need to pay attention to in nutrition and exercise to cope with tachycardia:
Nutrition:
- Caffeine and Alcohol: Caffeine found in coffee, tea, cola drinks, and energy drinks, as well as alcohol, can trigger tachycardia attacks. You should consume these substances in limited amounts.
- Fluid Consumption: Drinking enough water prevents dehydration and helps stabilize your blood pressure.
- Electrolytes: Foods rich in potassium (banana, avocado), sodium, and magnesium (green leafy vegetables, almonds) help regulate heart rhythm.
Exercise:
- Doctor’s Approval: You should definitely consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
- Moderate Exercise: Regular and moderate exercises such as brisk walking, light jogging, and swimming support heart health.
- Avoiding Excessive Exercise: It is important to avoid high-intensity sports that will overly tire your heart, as this situation can trigger some types of tachycardia.
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you frequently experience symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, fainting attacks, chest pain, or shortness of breath, you should consult a cardiology specialist without delay. Especially if rapid heartbeat occurs together with fainting, severe chest pain, or shortness of breath, this situation requires emergency medical intervention and you need to go to an emergency room.
Reference: Tachycardia
