Patient education: Tachycardia (The Basics)

What is tachycardia? — 

This is 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 much caffeine

●Smoking or using chewing tobacco

●Taking certain illegal drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamines

●Fever

●A thyroid condition

Problems with the 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 have no symptoms. But they might feel like their heart is beating fast, beating hard, or skipping a beat. These kinds of heartbeat changes are called "palpitations."

A fast heartbeat can make it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body. This can cause symptoms such as:

●Dizziness

●Trouble breathing

●Chest pain

●Feeling lightheaded

●Fainting

Is there a test for tachycardia? — 

Yes. Your doctor or nurse will probably do a test called an electrocardiogram ("ECG"). This 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 have a fast heartbeat and any of the symptoms above, tell your doctor or nurse. You should also tell them 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 your 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. These things can affect the nerve that helps control your heartbeat.

Other treatments can include:

●Medicines to control the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat

●"Cardioversion" – This involves applying an electrical current to the heart to fix its rhythm.

●"Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator" ("ICD") (figure 2) – This is a device the doctor can put in the body. It can help make the heartbeat normal using mild electrical currents.

●"Ablation" treatments – These 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 blocks the flow of the electrical signals that make the 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. To keep your heart healthy, you should:

●Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products, but not a lot of meat or fatty foods.

●Walk or do physical activity on most days of the week.

●Lose weight, if you have excess body weight.

●Avoid or limit 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

More on this topic

Patient education: Overview of heart arrhythmias (The Basics)
Patient education: Palpitations (The Basics)
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)
Patient education: Cardioversion (The Basics)
Patient education: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (The Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for the heart (The Basics)

Patient education: Cardioversion (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for abnormal heartbeats (Beyond the Basics)