Description

Atrial tachycardia is an irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia. It is a type of supraventricular tachycardia.

During an episode of tachycardia headset, the heart beats more than 100 times per minute. Then, it returns to a heart rate of around 60 to 80 beats per minute. An episode may start slowly, or you may start suddenly and rapidly. It can cause a pounding or racing heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting.

Atrial tachycardia is common. It can occur in people who have had heart surgery or who are pregnant. Infections, medications, stimulants, or alcohol consumption can trigger it.

Symptoms

The main symptom of atrial tachycardia is a very fast heartbeat. Normally, during atrial tachycardia, the heart beats of 150 to 200 times per minute. The heart beat fast you can go and come, suddenly, or it may be permanent.

Other symptoms of atrial tachycardia may include:

  • Pounding or fluttering feelings in the chest or the neck, called palpitations.
  • Pain in the chest.
  • Fainting or nearly fainting.
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Sweating.
  • Weakness or extreme tiredness.
  • Nausea.

Some people with atrial tachycardia not notice the symptoms.

Atrial tachycardia symptoms can be difficult to see in babies and small children. The symptoms of atrial tachycardia in children may include:

  • A bad diet.
  • Sweating.
  • Irritability.
  • Changes in the color of the skin.

If your baby or child has any of these symptoms, talk with a health care professional.

When to see a doctor

The symptoms of atrial tachycardia may be related to a serious health condition. Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have a very fast heartbeat that lasts more than a few minutes or if a rapid heartbeat occurs with these symptoms:

  • Pain in the chest.
  • The dizziness.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • The weakness.

Make an appointment for a health check if you have:

  • A very fast heartbeat for the first time.
  • An irregular heartbeat that lasts more than a few seconds.

Causes

Atrial tachycardia is caused by faulty electrical signals in the heart. These electrical signals control the heartbeat.

In atrial tachycardia, a change of these signals makes the heart beat start very early in the heart's upper chambers. This causes the heart to beat too fast. Then the heart is not able to fill up with blood properly.

Risk factors

Any person can get atrial tachycardia. But some health conditions or treatments can increase your risk. Atrial tachycardia risk factors include:

  • Heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, and other diseases of the heart.
  • Heart failure.
  • Condition of the heart that are present at birth is called a congenital defect of the heart.
  • Previous heart surgery.
  • Sleep apnea.
  • Disease of the thyroid.
  • Lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Diabetes.
  • Some medications, including those used to treat asthma, allergies, and colds.

Other things that may increase the risk of atrial tachycardia include:

  • The emotional stress.
  • The excess of caffeine.
  • The excessive use of alcohol, defined as more than 15 drinks a week for men and eight or more drinks a week for women.
  • Smoking and the use of nicotine.
  • Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Complications

Atrial tachycardia usually aren't life-threatening. However, it can be a problem if you have damage in the heart or other heart disease. If the very fast heartbeat continues, it can weaken the heart muscle.

Diagnosis

To diagnose atrial tachycardia, a health care professional examines and listen to your heart. A member of the health team takes your blood pressure. Normally you have questions about your symptoms, health habits, and medical history.

Tests

The tests and procedures to diagnose atrial tachycardia may include:

  • Blood tests. Blood tests can check for thyroid disease, heart disease, or other conditions that may affect the heart rhythm.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This is the most common test to diagnose tachycardia. An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows how the heart is beating. Small sensors, called electrodes, to attach in the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. Connect the cables from the sensors to a computer, that prints or displays the results.
  • Holter Monitor. A Holter monitor is a small device ECG. It is used for a day or more, to record the heart's activity during daily activities.
  • The echocardiogram. It is also called an ultrasound of the heart, this test uses sound waves to create images of the beating heart. It shows the heart's size and structure. It also shows how the blood moves through the heart and the heart valves.

Other tests may be done to attempt to trigger an episode of atrial tachycardia. The tests can give you more information about the heart.

  • Exercise test, also called a stress test. During a stress test, the heart of the activity was observed as you ride on a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. If you can't do the exercise, you may administer a drug that affects the heart in a way that is similar to that of exercise.
  • Electrophysiology (EP) study heart and cartography. An EP study is a series of tests that show how the electrical signals that propagate through the heart during each beat of the heart. May be done to confirm the tachycardia, or to find where in the heart of the defective signaling occurs. The test is performed in a hospital.

Treatment

The treatment of atrial tachycardia depends on what causes it and how serious it is. Treatment may include:

  • Maneuvers vagal. Simple but with specific actions, such as coughing, putting a bag of ice on your face, or pushing down as if having a bowel movement can help to slow the pace of the heart. These actions affect the vagus nerve, which helps control the heartbeat.
  • Drugs. Medicines may be given to control the rhythm of the heart and restore the heart rhythm. Some medications may need to be administered by the IV route .
  • Cardioversion. Paddles or patches on the chest that are used to give an electric shock to the heart. The rapid discharge of low energy reset the heart's rhythm. This can be a treatment option if atrial tachycardia does not improve with maneuvers vagal or medicine.
  • The ablation catheter. A doctor guides a thin, flexible tube called a catheter through a blood vessel, usually in the groin, and even the heart. Sometimes more of a catheter. The sensors in the tip of the probe of heat energy, called radio frequency energy, to create small scars on the heart. The scar tissue blocks faulty electrical signals. This restores regulate the beating of the heart.
  • Pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest to help control your heartbeat. When it detects an irregular heartbeat, sends an electrical signal to help correct the heart's rhythm. A pacemaker may be needed if other treatments for atrial tachycardia do not work. For people with atrial tachycardia, a pacemaker is typically placed during a treatment called ablation of the AV node.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have a very fast heartbeat, contact your healthcare professional. If your rapid heartbeat is severe and lasts more than a couple of minutes, seek medical help immediately.

Your healthcare provider may send you to a doctor trained in diseases of the heart, called a cardiologist. You can also see a doctor trained in heart rhythm disorders, called an electrophysiologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it is helpful to be prepared. I have here how to prepare for your visit.

What you can do

Prior to your appointment, call your health care professional in the office to see if there are special instructions that you must follow. For example, you may be asked not to eat or drink before a cholesterol test. Make a list of details for you to share with your health care team. Your list may include:

  • Any of the symptoms, even those that do not seem to be related to atrial tachycardia.
  • Important personal information, including to major life changes or major stresses.
  • All the medicines you take, such as vitamins, supplements, and other medicines you bought without a prescription. Include the dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care team.

Make a list of questions to ask your health care team. The questions may include:

  • What is the cause of my rapid heart beat?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • What are the risks of atrial tachycardia?
  • How often will I need checkups?
  • How to make my other health conditions or medications that affect my heartbeat?
  • Do I have to change my diet or activities?
  • Is there any useful information that I can take home? What sites do you recommend?

Be sure to ask any other questions you may have during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care team will probably ask a lot of questions. Be prepared to answer them, you save time and give you a chance to talk about any concerns you have. Your care team may ask:

  • When did the symptoms begin?
  • How often does your heart race?
  • How much time does your last heart beat fast?
  • What makes your symptoms worse?
  • Do you always have symptoms, or come and go?
  • Does anyone in your family have heart disease or a history of irregular heartbeats?
  • Someone in your family died suddenly or had a sudden cardiac arrest?
  • Do you smoke or have you ever smoked?
  • How much caffeine or alcohol use, in your case?
  • What medications are you taking?
  • Do you have any health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, which could affect the health of your heart?
Symptoms and treatment of Atrial tachycardia