beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal) or metoprolol (Lopressor).calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem (Cardizem) or verapamil (Calan).Medications that can help people manage tachycardia include: following a healthful diet and getting regular exercise.limiting the consumption of alcohol and caffeine.avoiding the use of tobacco and recreational drugs.Some ways to prevent tachycardia and other heart issues at home include: The following sections will discuss these measures in more detail. Some measures can help prevent and manage tachycardia. A cardiologist can implant the small device into the chest, where it detects abnormal heartbeats and delivers a shock to restore a normal rhythm when needed. Ongoing treatment: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator can continuously monitor the person’s heartbeat.In the hospital: A cardiologist may use cardioversion as part of a scheduled treatment.In an emergency setting: While waiting for medical help to arrive, a first responder or bystander may use an automatic external defibrillator if the person’s heart goes into a rhythm that prevents it from beating properly.There are different ways of performing cardioversion. This affects the electrical impulses in the heart and may restore a normal rhythm. Cardioversion and defibrillatorsĪ healthcare provider can attach patches, or electrodes, to the person’s body and have a machine deliver an electric shock to their heart. Some examples of antiarrhythmic drugs include amiodarone (Cordarone), sotalol (Betapace), and mexiletine (Mexitil). These drugs aim to restore a normal heart rhythm and control the heart rate. MedicationĪ doctor can administer antiarrhythmic drugs either orally or intravenously. holding the nostrils closed while the person blows out through the noseĪ healthcare professional may also apply gentle pressure to the eyeballs while the person has their eyes closed.applying gentle pressure to the area of the neck where the carotid artery is.applying cold water to the person’s face.Some techniques, or maneuvers, can affect this nerve and help slow the heartbeat. The vagus nerve helps regulate the heartbeat. The following sections will look at these in more detail. There are several ways to slow a rapid heartbeat during an episode. Heart block affects heart rhythms and slows the heartbeat. Sometimes, however, the exact cause may not be clear. physical and mental stress, including illness and anxiety.certain lung conditions, thyroid problems, anemia, and other health concerns.poor blood supply and damage to heart tissues due to heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart failure, heart muscle disease, tumors, or infections.using cocaine or other recreational drugs.consuming excessive amounts of alcohol or caffeine.Tachycardia usually stems from a disruption in the normal electrical impulses that control the heart’s pumping action, or the rate at which the heart pumps.ĭepending on the type and cause of tachycardia, the following factors may trigger it: When the ventricular muscles receive the electrical signals, they contract, pumping blood either to the lungs or to the rest of the body.Ī problem with the electrical signals can result in a faster-than-normal heartbeat. In doing so, it allows time for the ventricles to fill with blood. The AV node slows down the electrical signals, then sends them on to the ventricles. The electrical impulses continue to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which is a cluster of cells. This contraction pushes blood into the ventricles. Each one triggers an individual heartbeat.Īs the electrical impulses leave the sinoatrial node, they cross the atria, making the atrial muscles contract. The heart has a natural pacemaker, called the sinoatrial node, in the right atrium. (There are left and right atria and ventricles.) The human heart consists of four chambers: the atria, which are the two upper chambers, and the ventricles, which are the two lower chambers. Atria, ventricles, and the electrical circuitry of the heart In time, oxygen-starved cells can die, leading to heart attack.Īrrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Blood flow to the rest of the body, including the heart, reduces.Īlso, when the heart beats faster, the heart muscles need more oxygen. When the heart beats too rapidly, it pumps less efficiently. When tachycardia is present, either the upper or lower chambers of the heart beat significantly faster. Factors such as age and fitness levels can affect it. In adults, the heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times per minute.ĭoctors usually consider a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute to be too fast, though this varies among individuals. Tachycardia refers to a high resting heart rate. Share on Pinterest Image Credit: dusanpetkovic/Getty Images
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