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Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a type of heart rhythm disorder that causes an abnormally fast heartbeat of more than 100 beats per minute at rest. It is caused by changes in the heart’s electrical impulses. Although some types of tachycardia can be mild, other types can be life-threatening.

UPMC electrophysiology experts treat arrhythmias like tachycardia and other heart rhythm disorders associated with a high risk of sudden death.

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What Is Tachycardia?

A normal heart rate in adults is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Tachycardia is a fast or racing heartbeat where the heart beats more than 100 times a minute at rest. It occurs when the heart’s electrical signals happen too fast.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of tachycardia caused by an irregular heart rhythm.

How common is tachycardia?

Tachycardia is a common, treatable condition. It can happen during normal exercise, or as a result of a heart rhythm disorder, such as AFib or atrial flutter.

What are the three types of tachycardia?

When the heart’s electrical signals happen too fast, it can cause one of three types of tachycardia.

Sinus tachycardia

Sinus tachycardia is a normal response to exercise or other common conditions. The heart rate is faster, but the heart still beats how it should. It occurs when the body needs extra oxygen, often in response to:

  • Exercise.
  • Excessive thyroid hormone secretions.
  • Excitement or fear.
  • Fever.
  • Pain.
  • Stimulants (such as caffeine, alcohol, cold medicines, methamphetamine, cocaine).

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)

In PSVT a rapid heart rate keeps the heart’s upper chambers from filling up with blood. This limits blood flow to the rest of the body. PSVT is rarely life-threatening.

Ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach)

V-Tach starts in the heart’s lower chambers, causing the heart to beat so fast the chambers can’t fill with blood. It can be life-threatening and requires the care of a heart expert.

What causes tachycardia?

Tachycardia occurs normally in response to exercise or other common conditions. It can also occur as a result of a problem with the heart’s electrical system or other cardiovascular disorders, such as:

What are tachycardia risk factors and complications?

Tachycardia risk factors

People may be at higher risk of tachycardia due to:

  • Aging.
  • Family history of heart rhythm disorders.
  • Other cardiac conditions, such as high blood pressure.

Complications of tachycardia

Although some types of tachycardia are mild and do not cause noticeable symptoms, other types can be deadly.

Is tachycardia life-threatening?

Ventricular tachycardia can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

How can I prevent tachycardia?

You may not be able to control some of your risk factors for tachycardia, such as aging and family history. However, eating a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, avoiding recreational drugs, and controlling chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may help to lower your risk.

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 What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Tachycardia?

If you have tachycardia, your heart can beat very fast — more than 100 times a minute at rest.

Tachycardia symptoms may include:

  • Dizziness.
  • Fainting.
  • Fluttering in your chest.
  • Light-headedness.

When should I see a doctor about my tachycardia symptoms?

If you have sudden or severe tachycardia symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. If you experience any unusual symptoms, you should call your doctor right away.

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How Do You Diagnose Tachycardia?

Our experts use leading-edge technology and techniques to diagnose hundreds of cases of cardiac arrhythmias each year, including tachycardia.

What to expect during your visit

During your physical exam, your doctor will:

  • Ask about your symptoms and when they started.
  • Discuss your medical history.
  • Listen to your heart with a stethoscope.

Following your exam, your doctor may order additional tests and procedures to confirm a diagnosis of tachycardia.

Tests to diagnose tachycardia

We offer a full range of tests for tachycardia, including:

  • Echocardiogram – This noninvasive test uses sound waves to create images of your heart.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) – This noninvasive test measures the electrical activity in your heart.
  • Electrophysiology (EP) study – This test uses a special catheter that is threaded through your blood vessels and into your heart to map electrical impulses.
  • Event recorder – This portable device is similar to a Holter monitor. However, it only records when you are having symptoms.
  • Holter monitor – This wearable ECG device records your heart’s activity throughout the day.

Other tests for tachycardia may include:

  • An exercise stress test – This test measures how your heart responds to work (exercise).
  • A tilt table test – In this test you lie on a table that is then tilted at various angles. Your blood pressure and heart rate are measured to see what may be causing fainting or dizziness.
  • Blood tests to screen for infection, problems with your thyroid gland, or electrolyte imbalances.

Tachycardia prognosis

Tachycardia is a common, treatable condition. With proper treatment, most people with tachycardia are able to control symptoms and live a normal, active life.

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How Do You Treat Tachycardia?

Rapid heart rates can originate from either the atria or the ventricles of the heart. The treatment for your tachycardia may vary depending on where the abnormal heart rhythm starts and the severity of your condition. Rhythms from the ventricle are more often considered life-threatening.

How do you fix tachycardia?

At UPMC, the goals of tachycardia treatment are to:

  • Control heart rate.
  • Minimize stroke risk.
  • Restore normal heart rhythm.

Your doctor may prescribe medications and order certain procedures to meet these treatment goals.

Lifestyle changes

Your doctor may recommend adopting heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including changes to your diet and activity level.

Medicine to treat tachycardia

Medications can be used to control your heart rhythm and prevent blood clots that can lead to a stroke.

Medicines used to slow the heart rate include:

  • Atenolol.
  • Digitalis or Digoxin.
  • Diltiazem (Cardizem®).
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor® or Toprol-XL®).
  • Verapamil.

Medicines used to maintain a regular heart rhythm include:

  • Amiodarone (Pacerone® or Cordarone®).
  • Propafenone (Rhythmol®).
  • Sotalol (Betapace AF®).

Blood-thinning medicines used to prevent clot formation and help reduce the risk of stroke include:

  • Aspirin
  • Warfarin (Coumadin®)

Nonsurgical procedures to treat tachycardia

  • Cardioversion –This procedure uses special paddles or patches attached to your chest to deliver a shock that can restore your normal heart rhythm.
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – SBRT is an experimental treatment for ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach)that has not responded to treatment. SBRT involves the delivery of a focused, single dose of radiation to a small area of the heart causing the heart rhythm problem. Doctors use scans to find the area of the heart causing the arrhythmia and where to target treatment. Currently, SBRT is only an option for people with V-Tach who have tried other treatments without success.

Minimally invasive procedures to treat tachycardia

  • Catheter ablation – During catheter ablation, a special catheter is threaded through your blood vessels to your heart, where it uses heat or cold to create a small scar to block the electrical pathway that is causing your heart to beat abnormally.
  • Left atrial appendage occlusion procedure/Watchman procedure – The left atrial appendage occlusion/Watchman procedure reduces stroke risk in people with A-Fib by inserting a small device that prevents blood clots from leaving an area in the heart where they commonly form.

Hybrid procedures to treat tachycardia

  • Hybrid ablation – This procedure uses surgical and catheter-based techniques to treat A-Fib by "disconnecting" the source of your abnormal heart rhythm. Hybrid ablation is performed by an electrophysiologist and a cardiac surgeon.

Surgery to treat tachycardia

  • Cardiac rhythm management devices – A pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is surgically placed under your skin to help control your heart rhythm.
  • MAZE procedures – Typically used to treat A-Fib, MAZE procedures are minimally invasive and use tiny incisions in your heart to create scars that block the electrical pathway that is causing your heart to beat abnormally.
  • Surgical left atrial appendage ligation (LAL) – LAL reduces stroke risk in A-Fib patients by sealing off an area in the heart where blood clots commonly form.

How effective is treatment?

At UPMC, our cardiologists are experts at managing and treating arrhythmia, including tachycardia. Your doctors will recommend the treatment that is most likely to be effective for your heart rhythm disorder while considering your lifestyle, preferences, and overall health.

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Why Choose UPMC for Tachycardia Care?

UPMC has one of the premier electrophysiology programs in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the United States. Our program offers:

  • A full range of diagnostic tests and treatment options for tachycardia.
  • Convenient subspecialty centers for evaluating and managing tachycardia and other heart rhythm disorders.
  • Pioneering research, including studies on novel ablation procedures for restoring normal heart rhythm.

Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-10-01.