Version May 2024
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What is tachycardia? — Tachycardia is the medical term for a heartbeat that is faster than normal.
Sometimes, a fast heartbeat is a normal response to exercising or feeling excited or anxious. But other times, a fast heartbeat is a sign of another problem.
What causes tachycardia? — Exercising or feeling excited, anxious, or afraid can all cause tachycardia.
Other things that can cause tachycardia include:
●Having too many drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or soda
●Smoking or using chewing tobacco
●Taking certain illegal drugs, such as cocaine
●Having a fever
●Having a thyroid condition
Problems with your heart's electrical system can also cause tachycardia. Some people are born with these problems. Other people get them because of high blood pressure, a heart attack, or other heart problems.
What are the symptoms of tachycardia? — Most people with tachycardia have no symptoms. But they might notice that their heart is beating fast, beating hard, or skipping a beat. These kinds of heartbeat changes are called "palpitations."
Sometimes, a fast heartbeat makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to your body. This can cause symptoms such as:
●Dizziness
●Trouble breathing
●Chest pain
●Fainting
Is there a test for tachycardia? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse will probably do a test called an electrocardiogram ("ECG"). This test measures the electrical activity in your heart (figure 1).
You might also need other tests to see if another condition is causing your fast heartbeat.
Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you feel a fast heartbeat and have any of the symptoms above, tell your doctor or nurse. You should also tell your doctor or nurse if you often feel your heart beating fast or irregularly, even if you do not have other symptoms.
How is tachycardia treated? — The treatment depends on the cause of the tachycardia. When your heartbeat is very fast, your doctor might suggest ways to slow it down. They might have you cough, or bear down as if you're having a bowel movement. They might also put an ice pack on your face. Doing these things can affect the nerve that helps control your heartbeat.
Other treatments can include:
●Medicines to control the speed or rhythm of your heartbeat
●A treatment called "cardioversion" that involves applying an electrical current to the heart to fix its rhythm
●A device called an "implantable cardioverter-defibrillator" ("ICD") that the doctor can put in your body (figure 2). The ICD can help make your heartbeat normal using mild electrical currents.
●"Ablation" treatments, which use heat (called "radiofrequency ablation") or cold (called "cryoablation") to destroy the small part of the heart that is sending the abnormal electrical signals.
●Surgery to create scar tissue in the heart. This will block the flow of the electrical signals that make your heartbeat abnormal.
Can tachycardia be prevented? — If drinking too much caffeine or smoking caused your tachycardia, stopping those habits can prevent the problem.
Heart disease can increase your chance of having tachycardia. Doing things that keep your heart healthy can help, including:
●Eating lots of fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products, but not a lot of meat or fatty foods
●Walking or doing physical activity on most days of the week
●Losing weight, if you are overweight
●Avoiding or limiting alcohol
Stress and anxiety can also cause tachycardia. Try to find healthy ways to manage stress. If you struggle with anxiety, talk to your doctor or nurse. There are treatments that can help.
When should I call for help? — Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
●Have trouble breathing
●Have chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes
●Faint
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)
Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Sinus node dysfunction (The Basics)
Patient education: Vagal maneuvers (The Basics)
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