Tachycardia
Condition
heartbeat > 100bpm
What is a Tachycardia?
The heartbeat is not a rigid number. When our body requires more blood supply, the heart rate increases as seen with physical exercise. Also, the release of certain substances like adrenaline when we are anxious, also causes our heart rate to rise.
Therefore, a tachycardia is not necessarily a problem, unless it is being noticed without reason or the underlying rhythm, in which the tachycardia occurs, is changing. We can compare it to dancing: you may dance the waltz slowly or very fast, but if you change to Rock'n Roll, it is a completely different picture.
In the heart we usually see the sinus rhythm, a regular heartbeat generated in an area called the sinus node like a conductor in an orchestra or a metronome giving the regular rhythm and rate. When other areas are taking over, the rhythm changes and so does the ECG recording.
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What causes Tachycardia?
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The cause of tachycardia can be:
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Physical exercise and a high adrenaline state
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Dehydration, fever and acute pain
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Thyroid gland problems
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Arrhythmias like:
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atrial fibrillation
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atrial flutter
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AVNRT
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exercise-induced WPW-Syndrome
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What are the symptoms of Tachycardia?
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Fast heartbeat, regular or irregularly
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Pain in the chest
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Shortness of breath
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Dizziness
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What imaging/ tests are done to diagnose Tachycardia?
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As with all arrhythmias and heartbeat problems:
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ECG-resting
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24h-7day Holter ECG
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Bicycle Stress Test
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Transthoracic Echocardiography
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Implantable, continuous subcutaneous ECG monitor (for rare episodes never picked up on holter ECG)
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Minimally invasive EP-studies (electrophysiologic studies in the EP-lab)
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What interventions/ treatments can be performed for Tachycardia?
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Medications
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Minimally invasive ablation therapy
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What interventions/ treatments does CardioCare offer for Tachycardia?
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Medications
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Minimally invasive ablation therapy
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