What Are The Types Of Tachycardia?

Tachycardia is a term that can refer to heart rates that are too fast. They may be steady, though they can also be irregular heartbeats. In both cases, however, it seems to be generally accepted that the heart rate of someone with tachycardia must be at least one hundred beats per minute. There appears to be quite a few potential causes of this condition, including anemia, heart failure, a heart attack, and issues with the heart's structure. Finally, it also seems to be a potential side effect of certain medications. Blood pressure medications appear to be the most common ones to cause it. Smoking and drinking high amounts of caffeine may increase an individual's risk of this as well.

Some patients may be prescribed anti-arrhythmic medication for tachycardia. This can be given to them as an anti-arrhythmic injection in the hospital. It may work faster this way. Other patients may undergo a procedure called cardioversion as a tachycardia treatment. They may also have a pacemaker installed for tachycardia. Surgery may also be a possibility. Of course, the treatment for tachycardia that the doctor chooses depends on the type that a patient has.

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter, as the name seems to suggest, affects the atria. These are the upper chambers of the heart. This form of tachycardia may occur when the atria beat faster than they should. However, they seem to maintain a regular heartbeat even if it is a little fast. Atrial flutter appears to be an issue with the electrical pulses in the heart. Some individuals with atrial flutter may also show symptoms of atrial fibrillation. The two conditions often seem to present in similar ways. In other cases, individuals may only deal with a faster heart rate. However, this condition may still cause stroke, heart failure, and other dangerous complications.

Patients may take medication for this condition. Doctors may also conduct a medical procedure that scars their heart to help. However, it is vital to know that the heart seems to struggle to keep blood circulating properly when it is beating too fast. This can mean that the organs do not get enough oxygen, which appears to be when complications occur.

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Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia appears to start in the ventricles, which are the heart's lower chambers. This form may include heart rates that are abnormal and fast. It appears as if patients need to have a minimum of three consecutive heartbeats that reach a rate of at least one hundred beats per minute. In addition, this condition may only last for a few seconds. However, it may also last for longer, in which case it can be life-threatening.

The major issue with this condition appears to be that the heart beats too fast to let it fill with blood. The result here seems to be compromised blood flow, which can trigger many severe complications. This condition may result from an abnormal circuit in the heart muscle that activates itself or is activated from outside. Both cases do not seem to be good for the patient, and both need treatment, particularly if the condition appears to be a sustained state.

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Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation seems to be similar to atrial flutter, including how it starts in the atria. However, it also appears to have distinct differences. For instance, patients with this condition seem to have a heart rhythm that is not only fast, but abnormal as well. This means that it is likely an irregular beat. This form of tachycardia also seems to increase the risk of stroke and heart failure, along with other common heart issues. It may also be because of the poor circulation that it causes.

Symptoms of this condition appear to be fairly mild. They may include muscle weakness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. In some cases, the episodes of this condition are random, though they can also be constant and need medical intervention. This condition may trigger emergencies. For instance, patients with it seem to be at a higher risk of blood clots in the atria. If this happens, the clots can circulate and may cause a blockage. This blockage may then result in a heart attack or stroke.

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Supraventricular Tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia seems to refer to various heart rhythm issues. They should all be abnormally fast, though the origin points may differ. Certain cases occur in the ventricles or the atria. Some cases may not even have a clear point of origin. However, as mentioned, they are all likely going to be quite fast. They should reach over one hundred beats per minute.

In addition, this form of tachycardia is not one that exercise triggers. In other words, the fast heart rate should be a resting one. There may be no symptoms beyond a fluttering or racing heart. If symptoms do happen to occur, they should be extremely mild. Rare instances of this condition do not seem to need treatment. However, if they become regular, intervention is likely necessary.

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Ventricular Fibrillation

Many doctors may consider ventricular fibrillation to be the most severe type of tachycardia. It appears to happen when the ventricles shudder rather than beat because of disordered electricity within the heart. During this time, the individual's heart does not seem able to circulate blood throughout the rest of their body. This form of tachycardia appears to result in patients collapsing and experiencing a heart attack. However, this condition may also occur after a heart attack. In both instances, it is likely life-threatening and needs immediate treatment in a hospital emergency room.

One of the causes of this form of tachycardia appears to be heart muscle damage from a previous heart attack. Issues with the aorta may also trigger this condition. It is also possible for insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle to cause it. Some evidence also seems to indicate that drug toxicity and severe infections cause this form of tachycardia too.