Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat, with two main categories: ventricular and supraventricular. It can have many causes and may lead to serious conditions, but treatment usually involves addressing the underlying cause or medication. In severe cases, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator may be used.
An unusually fast heartbeat is called tachycardia. Medical professionals who diagnose a patient with this condition may say that the patient is “tachy.” The normal heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, the patient is said to be suffering from tachycardia.
Tachycardia is not always life-threatening, but it can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions. The two main categories are ventricular and supraventricular tachycardias, which refer to the area of the heart where the problem occurs.
If the rapid heartbeat occurs in the ventricles, it is called ventricular tachycardia or V-Tach. This can lead to ventricular fibrillation, a condition in which the ventricles beat so rapidly that they don’t pump blood effectively. A patient in ventricular fibrillation may be shocked with a defibrillator in an attempt to restore normal heart rhythm.
If the tachycardia begins in the upper part of the heart, above the ventricles, the condition is called supraventricular tachycardia. Also called SVT, this is the most common variety and is generally not considered dangerous as long as it lasts only a few seconds. If it lasts for a long time or occurs frequently, it may indicate a serious problem and the sufferer should seek medical attention.
Tachycardia can have many causes, including medications, low blood pressure, a rapid change in position from lying down to standing, or damage or disease to the heart or lungs. Treatment often begins by looking for the underlying cause of the fast heartbeat and treating that problem. This, in turn, usually brings the heart back to its natural rhythm.
If other treatments don’t work, a doctor can give the patient medication to correct the fast heartbeat. In severe cases, a device called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is used. This helps a patient with frequent tachycardia by monitoring the heart rate and applying a small electric shock when needed to keep the patient’s heart beating normally.
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