Overview Of The Types Of Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a term that includes heart rates that are too fast. Specifically, a patient with this condition will have a heart rate that is faster than one hundred beats per minute. This condition has several causes. Examples include anemia, heart attacks, an overactive thyroid, and heart failure. It also occurs due to abnormal heart structure and as a side effect of blood pressure medication. Major risk factors include drinking large amounts of caffeine and smoking.
Many patients receive anti-arrhythmic medication for tachycardia. The first medications given are anti-arrhythmic injections in a hospital. Many patients also undergo cardioversion for tachycardia. Pacemakers and surgery for tachycardia are also common treatments. Of course, the chosen tachycardia treatment depends on the type that an individual has!
Atrial Flutter
Atrial flutter affects the atria. These are the heart's upper chambers! This type of tachycardia occurs when the atria beat too fast. However, atrial flutter is still a regular heartbeat. It is simply faster than normal! This condition occurs due to problems with the electrical pulses in the heart. Although it is similar to atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm in an individual with this condition is organized. However, it is vital to note that patients often experience symptoms of both conditions! Certain patients only exhibit a fast heartbeat. However, atrial flutter does lead to serious complications. Examples include heart failure and a stroke!
This condition is easily treatable. Patients are typically prescribed medication! The surgery recommended for it is a procedure that scars the heart. Prompt treatment is key because of the risk of complications. The patient's heart will not circulate blood properly in this condition. Thus, their organs do not get enough oxygen. This is what triggers complications!
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Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia is an abnormal and fast heart rate! However, this condition starts in the ventricles. They are the heart's lower chambers! This condition means that patients have at least three heartbeats at a rate of one hundred beats per minute or more. Many cases of it only last for a few seconds. When this condition lasts for longer, it is life-threatening!
This condition starts in two ways. The first is when an abnormal circuit in the heart muscle is activated from the outside. The second way occurs when the same circuit activates itself. In both cases, the problem with this condition is that the heart rate does not allow the patient's heart to fill with blood. The result of this is compromised blood flow to the rest of the body!
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Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the second type of tachycardia to occur in the heart's upper chambers. Thus, it is quite similar to atrial flutter! However, individuals with this condition have an unsteady heart rhythm. It is hard to predict! This condition means that the atria do not sync with the ventricles when they beat. Of course, the poor circulation that this condition causes results in an increased risk of several issues. Once again, examples include stroke and heart failure!
Mild symptoms of this condition include heart palpitations, muscle weakness, and shortness of breath! Some patients experience random episodes. However, regular episodes require prompt medical treatment! This type of tachycardia is not directly life-threatening. However, it does increase the risk of emergencies. Patients with it, for instance, are at a higher risk of blood clots in their heart! These clots trigger blood flow blockages. Depending on where they circulate, the blockage can lead to a heart attack or stroke!
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Supraventricular Tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat. This term deals with a range of heart issues. In this condition, the irregular heartbeat starts in the ventricles, atria, or does not have an apparent origin point! This makes it harder to treat. This condition is comprised of heartbeats that are over one hundred beats per minute.
It is vital to note that this condition is a resting heart rate. It is not one that exercise elevates! In addition, symptoms of this condition are mild, when they do appear. Most patients feel as if their heart is racing or fluttering. Rare episodes of this condition do not need medical treatment. However, regular episodes do!
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Ventricular Fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation occurs when electricity in the heart makes the ventricles shudder rather than beat normally. It is the most severe type of tachycardia! It stops the heart from circulating blood through the patient's body. Patients collapse and have a heart attack due to this condition! Of course, this condition also happens after a heart attack. In both cases, it is a medical emergency!
This condition has several causes. The first cause is a previous heart attack that damaged the heart muscle. Not enough blood flow to the muscle also causes this condition, as do issues with the aorta. Severe infections and drug toxicity are two more causes of this form of tachycardia! Regardless of the cause, patients need immediate medical attention due to the sudden cardiac arrests this condition causes.