Palpitations and tachycardia: what’s the link?

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Tachycardia causes palpitations due to abnormal heart rhythms, often originating from heart disease or electrolyte imbalances. Different types of tachycardia can cause varying levels of severity, and treatment usually involves antiarrhythmic drugs or electrical devices. Other factors such as low blood sugar or anxiety can also cause palpitations.

Tachycardia is a major cause of palpitations. When the heart beats at an abnormally fast rate, tachycardia occurs. This can cause abnormal bodily sensations called palpitations. Both palpitations and tachycardia usually originate from cardiac arrhythmia. When palpitations are linked to tachycardia, treatment protocols for tachycardia usually relieve the palpitations.

The typical chain of events for tachycardia-related heart palpitations begins with the arrhythmia, which is perhaps best described as an electrical failure in the heart. When this effect occurs, the heart rate may slow down or speed up. The latter case constitutes tachycardia. The rapid heartbeat then causes a pounding or throbbing sensation in the body, particularly at the pulse points. These physical sensations characterize palpitations.

Several underlying conditions can cause palpitations and rapid heartbeat. Heart disease and heart failure are the main culprits for many cases of tachycardia. Risk factors for developing these particular conditions could include high cholesterol levels and genetic susceptibility. Also, a heart deformity such as a defective heart valve could create abnormal heart rhythms. Likewise, low potassium levels and other electrolyte influences can damage the heart.

Different types of tachycardia can cause palpitations. A typically less serious cause of palpitations and tachycardia is problems with the atrium of the heart. In particular, supraventricular tachycardia affects the young and healthy. This tachycardia can occur frequently and for extended periods of time.

A more severe form of tachycardia directly affects the ventricular chamber of the heart. Ventricular tachycardia generally affects older populations with pre-existing heart problems. This condition can cause severe loss of awareness that borders on or includes unconsciousness. Some symptoms can increase the severity of palpitations and tachycardia of this type. Accompanying dizziness or fainting can act as the primary warning signs.

In order to determine the likelihood of palpitations and tachycardia, individuals should become familiar with their normal heart rates. Experts estimate the average adult heart rate to be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If an individual’s heart rate exceeds normal pulse levels, particularly if the number is significantly above 100 beats per minute, palpitations are likely. If palpitations occur frequently, there may be an underlying arrhythmia problem such as tachycardia.

Although connections are commonplace, palpitations and tachycardia are not always connected. For one, other types of arrhythmias can also cause palpitations. Sometimes, the source of the palpitations isn’t even heart-related, such as when low blood sugar, thyroid gland problems, or anxiety are to blame.

Treatment of palpitations usually requires treatment of the tachycardia arrhythmia. Therefore, drugs called antiarrhythmics are often prescribed. In some cases, pacemakers or other devices that deliver electrical shocks to the heart may also be needed.




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