Normal resting heart rate can vary quite a bit amongst people, but it’s defined as between 60 and 100 beats per minute. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Greater than 100 beats, while at rest, is the threshold for defining tachycardia. Tachycardia doesn’t always cause symptoms, but when it does the main one is feeling a racing heart or palpitations in your chest. [5] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Other symptoms are possible and can include: shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting and chest pain.
Try to limit the stress in your life by making positive changes — get out of an abusive relationship, change your job, spend less time with negative people. Control anxious thoughts about your work, finances and relationships. Excessive stress and anxiety causes the release of hormones that prepare your body for “fight or flight”, which leads to increased heart and breathing rates. Don’t forget to get enough quality sleep — at least eight hours per night, although some people need up to 11 hours for best health. A chronic lack of sleep can lead to anxiety and heart palpitations.
The Valsalva maneuver involves holding your breath and bearing down as if you’re having a bowel movement for about 10–15 seconds. It’s a simple procedure, but it can change the rhythm of electrical impulses in your heart and help your heart rate return to normal. All people have a diving reflex, which gets activated when plunged into cold water — the body automatically slows its heart rate down to reduce blood flow in an attempt to preserve itself. To trigger this reflex, put very cold water or an ice pack against your face for at least 30 seconds. You can also try coughing forcefully. [9] X Research source
Caffeine is found in coffee, black and green teas, most soda pop (particularly colas), energy drinks and chocolate. Caffeine doesn’t give you energy — it stimulates brain activity and increases heart rate and blood pressure. Consuming nicotine from cigarette smoking can increase your resting heart rate up to 15 beats/min and increase blood pressure up to 10 mm Hg. [11] X Research source Binge drinking alcohol (like on the weekends, for example) often increases heart rate, whereas chronic alcoholism tends to cause fluctuations (from too high to too low). [12] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Tachycardia is more common in anxious young people, especially among females who drink lots of coffee/alcohol and smoke heavily. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source
Atrial or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) begins in the upper chambers of the heart. It is the most common type of tachycardia found in children and may be caused by anxiety, fatigue, smoking, drinking alcohol, or caffeine. [14] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Sinus tachycardia may be caused by a fever, anxiety, medication or recreational drugs, fright, strenuous exercise, or severe emotional distress. [15] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Ventricular tachycardia begins in the lower chambers of the heart and can be life-threatening. Seek immediate treatment if you have another cardiac condition and experience rapid heart beat. Ventricular tachycardia may be caused by lack of oxygen in the heart, medication, sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease), or distortion of the structure of the heart due to disease. [16] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source
Due to complex chemical interactions in the human body, it’s virtually impossible to predict how more than two medications (taken concurrently) may interact with each other. Read the list of side effects of your drugs carefully. If you suspect a medication is triggering bouts of tachycardia, don’t stop taking the drug “cold turkey” without the supervision of your doctor — it may cause worse symptoms. It’s better to wean yourself off a medication and then switch to another with similar actions.
Normal blood cholesterol levels are less than 200 mg/dL, whereas healthy blood pressure is less than 135/80 mmHg. [20] X Research source Reduce saturated and trans fats in your diet and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts. If lifestyle and dietary changes don’t lower cholesterol levels significantly, then medication may be needed. Cholesterol-lowering medications include statins, niacin-based drugs, bile-acid resins, fibric acid derivatives and cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Common medications for high blood pressure include thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and renin inhibitors.
During an emergency situation, a doctor or nurse at the hospital may inject a quick-acting anti-arrhythmic drug (lidocaine, procainamide, sotalol, amiodarone) into a vein to treat an acute case of tachycardia. Patients who are at risk for tachycardia may also be given a slow-acting oral anti-arrhythmic medication (flecainide or propafenone) to take at home at the onset of tachycardia.
Catheter ablation is very effective, especially for ventricular tachycardia. It can also be used to treat atrial fibrillations and flutters. Catheter procedures carry a risk of damaging veins and dislodging emboli that can cause a heart attack or stroke. It may also damage the walls of the heart and affect the electrical system of the heart. [23] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Tests that your doctor can use to detect a ventricular tachycardia include: a continuous ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG), a regular ECG, and an intracardiac electrophysiology study.
A pacemaker is a small device placed under the skin that sends electrical impulses to the heart when it senses abnormal heartbeats. It helps the heart resume normal contractions, rhythms and rates. A pacemaker is used to treat bradycardia (abnormally slow heart beat). When it is used for tachycardia, it is typically combined with a heart rate control medication, and/or RFA of the tachycardic focus. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a cellphone-sized device implanted in the chest like a pacemaker, but it’s connected to the heart with wires. [25] X Research source An ICD delivers precisely calibrated electrical shocks when it senses an abnormal heart rate. Ask your doctor which of these devices is most appropriate for your tachycardia.
