Rapid Heart Rate: When Should You Go To The Hospital?
In this age of relentless high-stress levels, it is not unusual to experience a racing heartbeat or pounding beating in your ears. Tachycardia is the medical term for a rapid heart rate, which is defined as 100-150 beats per minute. Many types of irregular heart rhythms can cause tachycardia.
The heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute in a healthy adult. Higher or lower rates should sound warning bells.
The pulse or heart rate is constantly changing, depending on activity levels and emotional states. Measurement of heart rates usually occurs when you’re at rest. Factors such as age and overall health are considered when your heart rate is measured.
What Causes Tachycardia?
Some causes of tachycardia could include underlying health conditions or lifestyle factors such as:
- Anaemia,
- Stress or anxiety,
- Heavy caffeine or alcohol intake,
- Electrolyte imbalance,
- Hormonal imbalances,
- Fever, and
- Strenuous physical activity.
What Are The Types of Tachycardia?
Several arrhythmias result in tachycardia. Arrhythmia refers to an irregular heartbeat.
The different types of tachycardia are:
- Sinus tachycardia – rapid increase in the heart rate which happens as a result of exercise or stress
- Atrial fibrillation – the most common tachycardia, which is a temporary occurrence of fast heartbeats that are chaotic, irregular electrical pulses that are based in the upper chambers in the heart.
- Ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmia in the ventricles – lower heart chamber Tachycardia hampers the ventricle function of pumping sufficient blood to the body. The episodes may be short, lasting only a few seconds, but when they last longer, they can be fatal.
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Supraventricular tachycardia starts above the ventricles, when you may experience a pounding heartbeat or palpitations that come suddenly and end abruptly.
Can Tachycardia Cause Other Problems?
Yes, tachycardia can lead to further issues.
Certain types of tachycardia can result in blood clots, strokes, and even cardiac arrest. This is why seeking medical care is important if you are experiencing tachycardia, as these events can be life-threatening.
What Are The Symptoms Of Tachycardia?
Fast heartbeats mean insufficient blood is pumped to the rest of the body. This starves the tissues and organs of sufficient oxygen.
The signs and symptoms of tachycardia:
- Racing or pounding heartbeat,
- Chest pain or discomfort,
- Syncope or fainting,
- Rapid pulse rate,
- Shortness of breath, and
- Light-headedness.
If you experience a few or all of these symptoms, you should have a physical exam done as soon as possible. You can do a physical exam in a hospital emergency room, where doctors will observe your heart’s activity on an ECG machine. This helps them see which ventricle of your heart isn’t performing correctly.
Tachycardia left untreated can lead to serious health problems, including heart failure, stroke or sudden cardiac death.
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