Junctional tachycardia is a fast heart rhythm originating around the atrioventricular junction. It can be identified through an electrocardiogram and may require medical intervention, such as drugs or a pacemaker. Patients should take precautions and maintain physical fitness.
Junctional tachycardia is an unusually fast heart rhythm that originates around the atrioventricular (AV) junction, a structure between the atria and ventricles of the heart that houses the AV node, an important part of the heart’s natural pacemaker system. This particular heart rhythm is part of a larger family of rapid heart rhythms known as supraventricular tachycardias, so called because they originate above the ventricles of the heart. A variety of issues can lead to junctional tachycardia in a patient.
A doctor can identify tachycardia simply by feeling for a patient’s pulse or by listening to the heart and noting that the heartbeat is faster than it should be. To determine the type of tachycardia involved, an electrocardiogram must be conducted, where the electrical impulses from the heart are measured. These pulses form distinctive patterns on the ECG reading, and the shape of the pattern can be used to identify the source of an abnormal heart rhythm.
Some patients naturally have mild junctional tachycardia and may not require any medical intervention, although the abnormal heart rhythm will be noted in the patient’s medical record, so it will not be cause for alarm in the future. In other patients, the heart rhythm is a cause for concern, indicating a problem with the way the heart regulates itself. Drugs may be used to control the heart rhythm, or the patient may need a mechanical pacemaker, an implanted device that takes over the heart, or part of the heart, to regulate the heartbeat.
AV reentry and junctional ectopic tachycardia are two examples of documented junctional tachycardia in humans. Patients with these conditions will likely be advised to see a cardiologist for an evaluation. Your cardiologist can conduct some tests to determine the origins of your rapid heart rate and work out a treatment plan to address the problem. In general, the goal is to use minimally invasive treatments for the management of abnormal heart rhythms to reduce patient risk.
Patients with junctional tachycardia may need to observe certain precautions when it comes to engaging in activities. A doctor can advise a patient on safe exercise and working conditions to help the patient avoid straining the heart, if there are concerns about it. Stress can also be a risk factor for the patient, as can activities such as smoking. Keeping physically fit will help reduce the loads on the heart and keep the patient’s heart as healthy as possible.
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