Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) causes sudden fast heartbeats and can be triggered by caffeine, alcohol, and stress. Simple exercises, therapy, and neck massage may help stop an episode, but medication or surgery may be necessary in some cases.
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) is a condition that causes the heart to suddenly beat too fast, resulting in a “racing” of very fast heartbeats. The condition can be due to a couple of conditions: pre-existing surgery for heart defects, tissue in the heart causing it to short circuit, pregnancy, and thyroid disease. Or, it may not have a known cause. When the cause is clear, it can be difficult to avoid paroxysmal atrial tachycardia without medication or surgery, but when the cause can’t be identified, there are a few ways to reduce or stop episodes of rapid heartbeat. Also, in most cases, a few things can help stop a series of fast heartbeats from occurring.
There are definitely some things to refrain from when wanting to avoid paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Caffeine, for example, tends to aggravate the condition and cause more arrhythmic episodes. Caffeine intake should be limited or eliminated completely from the diet. Don’t just skip the coffee, but also tea, sodas, and chocolate. In particular, you should read the labels on sodas to make sure they don’t contain caffeine.
Alcohol is a trigger, particularly when consumed in excess. If you want to avoid paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, you need to eliminate most alcohol from your diet as well. People who drink a lot are more prone to the condition, so it can help reduce. Yet even the person who drinks only occasionally may experience an increase in PAT episodes after drinking.
High stress is a known factor in frequent episodes of PAT. You may not be able to eliminate all the stress from your life, but it helps to eliminate what you can. Talking to a good therapist, learning meditation, and doing simple daily exercises like walking can help you avoid paroxysmal atrial tachycardia episodes that occur frequently.
Some people experience episodes of PAT that can last for several hours at a time. This can be daunting and scary. There are some things that can be done to help stop a racing heart. First, try not to panic, as the stress of the event will only prolong it. Try to get into a deep breathing mode if possible and remind yourself that the episode will pass.
You can try going to the bathroom and having a bowel movement. This often interrupts an episode of PAT. Many people use neck massage (ask your doctor to teach you about it), especially of the carotid artery to help slow fast heartbeats. Others report that dousing their face in ice cold water helps stop an episode. It should be noted that any method tried should be done under the advice and guidance of a physician and that the condition should first be properly diagnosed by a cardiologist or electrophysiologist.
In some cases, the only way to avoid paroxysmal atrial tachycardia is through medication or through a surgery called cardiac ablation. When an episode cannot be stopped with the above methods, it’s a good idea to see a doctor, especially if the rapid beats have lasted for several hours. An injection of the drug adenosine can usually help slow the rapid pulse.
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