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Site FeedbackRapid Heartbeat (Tachycardia)
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Description | Treatment Options | John Muir Health Capabilities
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Definition
The heart has it own normal rhythm brought about by the flow of electrical impulses that begin in the heart's natural "pacemaker" (sinus node). A normal heart contracts about 100,000 times each day, at a rate from 60 to 100 times a minute. Changes in rate brought about by variations in activity, diet, medication and age are normal and common. When a heart begins to race for no apparent reason, however, it can be a sign of an abnormality in the electrical pathway and is cause for evaluation. Abnormal rapid heart rates can range from 100 beats a minute up to 400 beats a minute and can be relatively harmless or life threatening.
Description
The normal heart produces electrical signals that pass through the heart. This passage of electricity ends in a carefully coordinated contraction of heart muscle that pushes blood throughout the human body. The normal heart squeezes (contracts) 60-100 times a minute to meet the body's need for oxygen and other nutrients. During intense exercise, a heart may speed up to 160 to 180 or more beats a minute. Running up a flight of stairs or being startled by a noise account for normal increases in heart rates as well. The rapid-fire contractions in all these situations are faster than the "normal" resting range. This poses no danger in a normal heart. However, when the heart beats too quickly for a long time, the ventricles do not have enough time to fill with blood and cannot effectively pump blood to the rest of the body. This fast heart rate decreases the amount of oxygen carried to the body cells. Individuals who have known heart disease or who have had a heart attack or have heart failure, will not be able to tolerate a fast heart rate for very long. The lack of oxygen to the cells can prove deadly and leads to the following symptoms:
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Types of Arrhythmias
Understanding some common terms in the language of cardiac arrhythmias helps sort through the types of rhythm problems. An arrhythmia is any abnormality in heart rhythm. Arrhythmias are categorized in three main ways:
- Rate If the heart rate is rapid, or greater than 100 beats a minute, it is considered a tachycardia. Alternatively, a slow heart rate, below 60 beats a minute, is known as a bradycardia.
- Location The location of the problematic electrical circuit helps define the arrhythmia. For instance a rhythm is called supraventricular if it originates above the ventricles (lower chambers). So, the problem is most likely in the upper chambers (atria). It follows that a ventricular arrhythmia is the result of a problem in the lower chambers (ventricles).
- Irregular The nature of the heartbeat, whether it is steady or chaotic, is another key to categorizing an arrhythmia. A rapid beat that is irregular and chaotic may be a type of fibrillation, or quivering beat.
Who develops rapid heartbeats?
Anyone can develop a rapid heartbeat, even someone young without a previous heart problem. However, problems are more common in those:
- With previous heart trouble
- Over 65 years of age
- Who have suffered damage caused by a heart attack, cardiac surgery or other conditions
- With rare, inherited heart defects
Most Common Rapid Heartbeat
Atrial fibrillation is the most common fast heart rhythm in the United States. More than 2 million people experience atrial fibrillation (AF or A Fib). In AF, the heartbeat is irregular and rapid. The upper chambers, or atria, may beat as often as 400 times a minute, about four times faster than normal. Although it isn't life threatening, A Fib can lead to other problems. Chronic fatigue and heart failure are both common problems that are present with AF. Chances of having a stroke are five times higher for those with A F than for those without A F.
Treatment Options
The treatment for rapid heart rhythms called tachycardia varies and is dependent upon the cause. The symptoms that individuals experience range from mild discomfort to life-threatening unconsciousness. Severe symptoms must be treated as an emergency. In this case the heart may need a "shock" of electricity from a device called a defibrillator to restore a normal heart beat. Not all rapid rhythms produce a crisis. Most rapid rhythms can be treated by the doctor using special medication. If the rapid rhythm continues and the symptoms worsen, an electrophysiologist, a specialist in heart rhythms may be called in. An electrophysiologist is a cardiologist who has special training in the diagnosis and treatment of complicated heart rhythms. For complex rhythms, an electrophysiology study (EP) may be indicated. An EP study uses special wires to evaluate the entire conduction system of the heart. An electrical "map" is made to locate the problem area. A method of treating problem areas is call ablation. Ablation eliminates the problem area using special a energy catheter. This energy may take the form of radiofrequency energy, which cauterizes a very small area of tissue, or intense cold, which freezes, or cryoablates the tissue. This treatment has been found to be very effective in treating chronic heart rhythm problems.
John Muir Health Capabilities
John Muir Health is very proud of its Cardiac Rhythm Center. John Muir Health has eight leading cardiac rhythm specialists in the Bay Area on staff at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus and John Muir Medical Center, Concord Campus. These rhythm specialists are cardiologists that completed special training in the care of individuals with heart rhythm problems. Special equipment and well-trained staff at John Muir Health are available to care for those with the complex and life-threatening problems.