Measuring your pulse is a simple way to assess your heart rate and can indicate critical health issues, such as a dangerously high heart rate. While it is normal for your heart rate to increase in response to stress or physical action, a resting heart rate above 120 to 140 beats per minute can indicate a serious medical condition called tachycardia. This blog discusses what establishes a dangerous or rapid heart rate, its causes and dangers, and symptoms that designate the need for medical attention.
Tachycardia: Meaning and Types
Tachycardia, medically defined as a rapid heart rate, occurs once the heart beats faster than usual at rest. A rapid heart rate characteristically ranges from 100 to 140 beats per minute and can persist for a few seconds or hours. This increased heart rate prevents adequate blood flow to the heart chambers, disrupting blood and oxygen flow and can lead to serious problems. There are different types of increased heart rate depending on where the electrical problem starts, each with different severity and consequences:
Sinus tachycardia: Sinus tachycardia starts in the sinoatrial node, which regulates the rhythm of the heartbeat. When the SA node sends heart signs at earlier intervals in response to stress or intense activities such as exercise, it is called sinus tachycardia. This usually goes away when the person calms down or is at rest.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): Starts in the atria (the heart’s upper chambers). They can be classified as:
- Atrial flutter: A type of supraventricular tachycardia characterized by rapid, regular heartbeats in the heart’s upper chambers, which can cause irregular blood flow.
- Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT): A sudden spurt of rapid heartbeats originating in the atria that often returns and resolves independently.
- Atrial fibrillation (AF): A common form of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that involves rapid, irregular heartbeats in the atria that affect blood flow.
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT): A fast heartbeat that abruptly starts and stops within minutes, often due to electrical problems in the atria.
Supraventricular tachycardia most commonly affects heavy smokers, anxious children, and people who are tired or consume excessive amounts of alcohol or caffeine.
- Ventricular tachycardia: Begins in the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart). They are further divided into:
- Ventricular tachycardia: A potentially fatal rapid heartbeat that begins in the ventricles and dramatically increases the risk of heart failure or cardiac arrest.
- Ventricular fibrillation: A more serious type of ventricular tachycardia in which the inferior chambers of the heart quiver instead of pumping correctly, causing an emergency.
Ventricular tachycardia commonly affects people with diabetes or high blood weight, smokers, and people who have heart failure, heart attack, or heart disease.
What is a dangerous heart rate?
Before discussing high heart rates, it is essential to note that heart rate deviations (either too high or too low) can be dangerous. A latent heart amount overhead 100 beats per miniature is classified as tachycardia, while a latent heart rate below 60 strokes per minute is called bradycardia. An unsafe heart rate indicates that the heart is working too hard or not pumping hard enough to keep up with the body’s demands for blood and oxygen, which can lead to complications.
Signs and Symptoms of a High Heart Rate
Although tachycardia can sometimes occur without symptoms, common indicators include:
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Dazedness
- Rapid pulse
Causes and Risk Factors of a High Heart Rate
Several factors can cause your heart rate to reach dangerous heights, including:
- Tobacco and nicotine products: Smoking or nicotine products overstimulates the heart, cumulative heart rate and blood pressure.
- Stress: Chronic or acute pressure triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline, which makes the heart beat faster.
- Excessive caffeine consumption: Too much caffeine rouses the nervous system, causing palpitations and a rapid heart rate.
- Excessive alcohol consumption or sudden withdrawal: Excessive alcohol consumption or sudden withdrawal alters the heart rate, which can cause tachycardia.
- Anaemia (low red blood cell count): A lack of red blood cells reduces oxygen supply. Forcing the heart to compensate by thrashing earlier.
- Electrolyte imbalances: Fluctuations in sodium, calcium, potassium, or magnesium heights affect the heart’s electrical signals, causing an irregular or rapid heartbeat.
- Certain medications: Stimulants, decongestants, or asthma medications can increase the emotion rate as a side effect.
- Heart problems: Conditions such as arrhythmia, heart bout, or cardiomyopathy disrupt the heart’s normal function and activate tachycardia.
Factors that increase the danger of tachycardia include:
- Family history of tachycardia or other heart rhythm disorders: Hereditary predisposition increases the probability of having abnormal heart rhythms.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure forces the heart to work firmer, increasing the risk of tachycardia.
- Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption: Excessive consumption overstimulates the heart, altering its rhythm and rate.
- Obesity: Excess body weight puts weight on the heart, creation it more prone to tachycardia and related complications.
- Smoking: Long-term tobacco use compensations blood vessels and affects the heart rhythm, increasing the risk of tachycardia.
- Drug use: Illicit drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, overstimulate the heart and significantly increase the heart rate.
- Medication abuse: Misuse of prescription medications, such as stimulants or diet pills, can cause heart rhythm disturbances. Raw thyroid conditions: Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism disrupt the regulation of the heart rhythm, which can lead to tachycardia.
- Age: Older adults are particularly vulnerable because of the cumulative impact of age-related changes and pre-existing health conditions.
People at risk of developing an unsafe heart rhythm should make lifestyle changes to promote heart health. Proactive measures such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight. Eating a diet low in sodium and saturated fat, managing stress, and controlling blood pressure. Cholesterol, and diabetes can help prevent your heart rate from reaching dangerous levels.
Risks of a high heart rate
Untreated tachycardia can lead to serious and even fatal complications. The rapid, prolonged heartbeat puts pressure on the heart, disrupting its normal function, and increases the risk of a variety of health problems, including:
- Stroke
- Persistent tachycardia, especially atrial fibrillation, can cause blood to pool in the chambers of the heart, increasing the risk of blood clots. If a clot voyages to the brain, it can chunk blood flow and cause a stroke.
- Cardiac arrest
- Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation can prevent the heart from pumping blood, leading to sudden cardiac arrest, a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
- Blood clots
- Irregular heartbeats can cause blood clots. These clots can travel to vital organs such as the lungs (pulmonary embolism), causing serious complications. Frequent fainting
- Episodes of rapid heartbeat can restrict blood flow to the brain, producing dizziness or fainting (syncope) and increasing the risk of falls or other wounds.
- Heart failure
- Prolonged tachycardia deteriorates the heart muscle, reducing its effectiveness at pumping blood. This can lead to heart failure, a condition in which the heart has difficulty keeping up with the body’s demands.
- Decreased quality of life
- Persistent symptoms of tachycardia. Such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and palpitations, can interfere with daily activities and cause physical and emotional stress.
Seeking appropriate action from a qualified healthcare professional is energetic to reducing the risk of complications. Early diagnosis and action can help restore normal heart function, prevent complications, and improve overall quality of life.
When to See a Doctor for a High Heart Rate
Although not all cases of tachycardia require spare care. Seek immediate medical care if you or a loved one has any of the following symptoms:
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Fainting or fainting
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain or pressure
- Sudden onset of weakness
Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency that causes cardiac arrest. You may sign signs and symptoms such as:
- Sudden drop in blood pressure
- No pulse
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden collapse
Call an ambulance immediately and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and artificial respiration, or use an automated external defibrillator (if available) until medical help arrives.
Diagnosing Tachycardia by Increased Heart Rate
Healthcare professionals use a combination of techniques to diagnose tachycardia accurately.
- Medical history and lifestyle assessment: Doctors evaluate your medical history, lifestyle habits, and possible risk factors to identify underlying causes of tachycardia.
- Physical exam for symptoms: A physical exam allows doctors to detect signs of tachycardia, including a high-speed pulse or uneven heart sounds.
Diagnostic tests:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test is essential for classifying arrhythmias and determining the type of tachycardia.
- Echocardiogram: A diagnostic imaging test that uses complete waves to create detailed imageries of the heart, helping to identify structural abnormalities or functional problems.
- Electrophysiology test: A specialized test in which electrodes are located inside the heart to map its electrical pathways and classify arrhythmias.
- Coronary angiography: An imaging test to visualize the heart’s blood vessels and detect blockages or other problems that can cause tachycardia.
- Holter monitor: A portable device worn for 24 to 48 hours to continuously monitor the heart’s rhythm and detect intermittent episodes of tachycardia.
- Tilt table test: This test monitors changes in blood pressure and heart rate while changing body position, which helps diagnose fainting-related tachycardia.
- Stress test: A test that screens heart function during physical exertion and helps identify exercise-induced tachycardia or other heart problems.
- Chest X-ray: An imaging test used to evaluate the heart and lungs for abnormalities. Such as an enlarged heart or fluid buildup, which may be related to tachycardia.
Effective Treatments for Rapid Heart Rate
A rapid heart rate indicates the heart is under strain and has difficulty efficiently pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. This inefficiency can lead to serious complications. The main goal of treating tachycardia is to restore a regular heart rate (60 to 100 beats per minute) and prevent recurrent episodes. Some of the treatments doctors use to treat a rapid heart rate include:
- Lifestyle Changes
Addressing the root causes of tachycardia frequently begins with lifestyle changes. Lifestyle vicissitudes such as reducing stress, quitting smoking, warning alcohol and caffeine intake. Maintaining a healthy weight, and effectively managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are essential to preventing episodes of rapid heart rate.
- Vagal maneuvers
Simple physical techniques, such as coughing. Straining (as during a bowel movement), or splashing the face with cold water, can trigger the vagus nerve. This helps control the heart rate and is often effective for supraventricular tachycardia.
- Cardioversion
Cardioversion involves administering skilful electrical shocks to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. It is usually performed in a hospital setting under sedation and is very effective for some types of tachycardia, such as atrial fibrillation.
- Medications
Medications such as beta-blockers, calcium station blockers, and antiarrhythmics might be prescribed to control the heart rate or stop arrhythmias. These are tailored to the patient’s specific disorder and general health.
- Catheter ablation
This minimally invasive procedure includes guiding a catheter through the blood vessels to the heart. It uses hot or cold energy to destroy small tissue areas that are responsible for the abnormal electrical signals that cause tachycardia.
- Surgery
Surgery may be necessary in severe cases where other actions fail. There are two main options:
- Maze procedure: Surgeons create minor cuts or burns in the atria to disturb the abnormal electrical trails. Allowing the heart to maintain a regular rhythm. Pacemaker: A small device entrenched under the skin regulates the heartbeat by sending electrical impulses. It is beneficial in cases where the heartbeat is abnormally slow or fast.
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD): Like a pacemaker, an ICD monitors the heart’s rhythm and delivers shockwaves if it notices dangerous arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.
- Open heart surgery: In complex cases. Open heart surgery may be necessary to address structural problems or implant devices such as pacemakers or ICDs.
Conclusion
A dangerously fast heart rate may indicate a serious underlying health problem. Prioritize your heart health by consulting a specialist for a comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment. Prioritize your heart health and schedule a consultation with our cardiologists at Graphic Era Hospital.