Description

Ventricular tachycardia is a type of irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia. It starts in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles). This condition can also be called V-tach or VT.

A healthy heart normally beats about 60 to 100 times per minute at rest. In ventricular tachycardia, the heart beats faster, usually 100 or more beats per minute.

Sometimes, the rapid heartbeat stops of the chambers of the heart from properly filling with blood. The heart can't pump enough blood to the body. If this happens, you may feel shortness of breath or dizziness. Some people lose consciousness.

Episodes of Ventricular tachycardia can be short and only last a couple of seconds without causing damage. But the episodes that last more than a couple of seconds, called sustained V-tach , it can be deadly. Sometimes the ventricular tachycardia can cause all hearts to stop the activity. This complication is called sudden cardiac arrest.

Treatments for ventricular tachycardia include medications, an electrical shock to the heart, a heart device and a procedure or surgery.

Symptoms

When the heart beats too fast, can't send enough blood to the rest of the body. As well, the organs and tissues may not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of ventricular tachycardia is due to a lack of oxygen. They may include:

  • Chest pain called angina.
  • The dizziness.
  • Pounding heartbeat, called palpitations.
  • The dizziness.
  • Shortness of breath.

Ventricular tachycardia may be a medical emergency, even if their symptoms are mild.

Ventricular tachycardia, sometimes called V-tach or VT, grouped according to the duration of an episode lasts.

  • NonsustainedV-tach stops on its own within 30 seconds. Brief episodes may not cause any symptoms.
  • SustainedV-tach lasts more than 30 seconds. This type of ventricular tachycardia can cause serious health problems.

The symptoms of sustained V-tach may include:

  • Fainting.
  • The loss of consciousness.
  • Cardiac arrest or sudden death.

When to see a doctor

Many different things can cause ventricular tachycardia, sometimes called V-tach or VT. It is important to obtain a rapid and accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Even if you have a healthy heart, you should get prompt medical help if you have symptoms of V-tach .

Make an appointment for a health checkup if you think you have an irregular heartbeat. Sometimes, urgent or emergency care is needed.

Call 911 or the local emergency number for these symptoms:

  • Pain in the chest that lasts more than a couple of minutes.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Fainting.
  • Shortness of breath.

Causes

Ventricular tachycardia is caused by defective heart of signalling that causes the heart to beat too fast, in the lower chambers of the heart. The lower chambers of the heart are called the ventricles. The fast heart rate does not allow the ventricles to fill and squeeze to pump enough blood to the body.

Many things can cause or lead to problems with the heart, and the signaling trigger ventricular tachycardia. These include:

  • Before a heart attack.
  • Any condition that caused the scarring of the tissues of the heart, called structural heart disease.
  • Low blood flow to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease.
  • Problems with the heart present at birth, including the long QT syndrome.
  • The changes in the levels of minerals in the body called electrolytes. These include potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium.
  • Side effects of the medications.
  • The use of stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine.

Sometimes, the exact cause of the ventricular tachycardia could not be determined. This is called ventricular tachycardia idiopathic.

How does the heart beat?

To better understand the cause of the ventricular tachycardia, can help to know how the heart works.

The typical heart has four chambers.

  • The two upper chambers are called atria.
  • The two lower chambers are called the ventricles.

The heart's electrical system controls the heart beat. The heart's electrical signals start in a group of cells in the upper part of the heart called the sinus node. Pass through a path between the top and bottom of the chambers of the heart called the atrioventricular (AV) node. The movement of the signal causes the heart to contract and pump blood.

In a healthy heart, this heart signaling process usually goes well, which results in a resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

But there are some things that can change the shape of electrical signals that travel through the heart. In ventricular tachycardia, faults in electrical signaling in the lower chambers of the heart make the heart beat100 or more times in a minute.

Risk factors

Any condition that puts a strain on the heart or damage in the heart tissue may increase the risk of ventricular tachycardia. Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and not smoking can reduce the risk. It is also important to get a proper medical treatment if you have any of the following events and conditions:

  • Diseases of the heart.
  • Side effects of the medications.
  • The abrupt changes in the level of minerals in the body, called electrolyte imbalances.
  • A history of the use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine.

A family history of rapid heartbeat, or other heart rhythm disorders, also makes a person more prone to ventricular tachycardia.

Complications

Complications of ventricular tachycardia depends on:

  • How fast the heart is beating.
  • How long the fast heart rate lasts.
  • If there are other heart conditions.

A potentially fatal complication of the V-tach is ventricular fibrillation, also called V-fib. V-fib can cause all heart activity to suddenly stop, he called to a sudden cardiac arrest. Emergency treatment is needed to prevent death. V-fib happens more often in people with heart disease or a previous heart attack. Sometimes occurs in those who have high or low levels of potassium or of other changes in the body, the levels of minerals.

Other possible complications of ventricular tachycardia are:

  • Frequent episodes of fainting or loss of consciousness.
  • Heart failure.
  • Sudden death caused by cardiac arrest.

Prevention

The prevention of ventricular tachycardia starts with keeping the heart in good shape. If you have heart disease, get health checkups and follow your treatment plan. Take all of your medications as directed.

Take the following steps to keep your heart healthy. The American Heart Association recommends these eight steps:

  • Eating a balanced, nutritious diet. Eat a healthy diet, low in salt and solid fats and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
  • Get regular exercise. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days. Ask your health care team about which exercises are safe for you.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of heart disease. Talk with your care team to set realistic goals for body mass index (BMI) and weight.
  • Control of blood pressure and cholesterol. High blood pressure and high cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. Make lifestyle changes and take medications as directed to manage high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
  • Manage stress. The stress can cause the heart to beat faster. Do more exercise, the practice of mindfulness and connecting with others in support groups are some of the ways to reduce and manage stress.
  • Limit the consumption of alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
  • Stop smoking. If you smoke and can't stop smoking on your own, talk to a health professional about strategies to help you quit.
  • Practice good sleep habits. Lack of sleep can increase the risk of heart disease and other long-term health conditions. Adults should aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends. If you have trouble sleeping, talk with a health professional about strategies that might help.

Other lifestyle changes can also help to protect the health of the heart and can prevent irregular heartbeats:

  • Limit the consumption of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant. This can cause the heart to beat faster.
  • Do not use illegal drugs. Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine can increase the heart rate. If you need help to stop, talk with your health care team about a program that is right for you.
  • Check the medicine of the ingredients. Some cold and cough medicines you bought without a prescription contain stimulants that can increase the heart rate. Always tell your health care team about all the medicines you take.
  • Come to health screenings. Have regular physical exams and report any new symptoms to your health care team.

Diagnosis

Ventricular tachycardia sometimes requires emergency medical attention and can be diagnosed in a hospital. When possible, a health professional may ask you or your family to questions about symptoms, lifestyle habits and medical history.

Tests

Tests are done to check the heart and to confirm a diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, also called V-tach or VT. The results of the test can also help determine if another health problem that is causing V-tach .

  • 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. The test can help determine the type of tachycardia.
  • Holter Monitor. If a standard ECG does not provide enough information, your health care team may ask you to wear a heart rate monitor in your home. 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. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, supply of portable ECG monitoring. Ask your health care team if this is an option for you.
  • Monitor events. This portable ECG device is worn for up to 30 days or until you have an irregular heartbeat or symptoms. Normally you press a button when symptoms occur.
  • Implantable loop recorder. This small device records the heart beats continuously for up to three years. It is also called a cardiac event recorder. The device tells your care team how your heart beats during daily activities. It is placed under the skin of the chest during a minor procedure.

Imaging tests can help your care team of the verification of the structure of your heart. Cardiac imaging tests in diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia are:

  • X-ray of the chest. An x-ray of the chest shows the condition of the heart and the lungs.
  • The echocardiogram. This test is an ultrasound of the heart. Uses sound waves to create an image of the beating heart. It can show areas of poor blood flow and heart valve problems.
  • Exercise stress test. This is not a test image, but it can be done during an imaging test called an echocardiogram. The test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while a professional care of the clocks of the heartbeat. Some types of tachycardia are triggered or aggravated by exercise. If you can't do the exercise, you can receive a drug that affects the heart beats as the exercise you do.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test creates still and moving images of the blood flow through the heart. It is most often performed to determine the cause of the ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
  • Cardiac computed tomography (CT). TC combine multiple X-ray images to provide a more detailed view of the area being studied. A ct scan of the heart, called cardiac computed tomography, can be done to find the cause of the ventricular tachycardia.
  • The coronary angiography. Coronary angiography is performed to check for blocked or narrowing of the blood vessels in the heart. It uses a dye and special X-rays to show the inside of the coronary arteries. This test may be done to look at the blood supply of the heart in people with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

Other tests to confirm the tachycardia and its cause, and to learn how it leads to other health problems. These tests include:

  • Electrophysiology (EP) study. An EP study is a series of tests that help to create a very detailed map of how signals move between each heartbeat. May be done to confirm the tachycardia, or to find where in the heart of the defective signaling occurs. It is usually performed to diagnose isolated irregular heart beats. A doctor inserts one or more thin, flexible tube into a blood vessel and guided to the heart. Sensors at the tips of the tubes to send electrical signals to the heart and record the electrical activity of the heart.
  • Tilt table test. A tilt table test can be done to better understand how to tachycardia leads to fainting. A health care professional to check that your heart rate and blood pressure as you will lie on a table. The safety straps according to the table. Then, under careful supervision, the table slowly tilts up to standing. The test shows how the heart and the nervous system respond to changes in the position of the body.

Treatment

The Ventricular tachycardia that lasts more than 30 seconds, the call is sustained V-tach , need emergency medical treatment. Sustained V-tach can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac death.

The objectives of the ventricular tachycardia treatment are:

  • The speed of the heart beat fast.
  • To prevent future episodes of a fast heartbeat.

Ventricular tachycardia treatment may include medications, procedures, and devices for the control, or restore the heart rhythm, and heart surgery.

If another medical condition that is causing tachycardia, treating the underlying problem can reduce or prevent episodes of a fast heartbeat.

Drugs

Medicines are given to slow the heart rate fast. The medications used to treat tachycardia may include beta-blockers. You may need more than one medication. Talk with your health care team about the type of medicine that is best for you.

Surgery or other procedures

A surgery or procedure may be necessary to control or prevent the episodes of tachycardia.

  • Cardioversion. This treatment is usually performed when you need emergency attention for a long duration of the episode of ventricular tachycardia. Cardioversion is used for quick, low-energy shocks to reset the heart rhythm. It is also possible to do cardioversion with medications. A shock can also be delivered to the heart through an automated external defibrillator (AED).
  • The ablation catheter. In this treatment, the doctor will place one or more catheters into the blood vessels of the heart. The sensors on the catheter tips using heat or cold energy to create small scars on his heart. The scars of blocks of irregular heart signals and restore the heartbeat. Catheter ablation can also be done to diagnose an irregular heartbeat.
  • Open-heart surgery. Some people with tachycardia need of open-heart surgery to destroy the extra in the heart of the signaling pathway causing tachycardia. This type of surgery is usually performed when other treatments do not work or when surgery is needed for the treatment of another disease of the heart.

Some people with tachycardia need a device to help control the heartbeat, and restore the heart rhythm. Heart devices include:

  • An Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Your health care team may suggest this device if you have a high risk of dangerously fast or irregular heartbeats in the lower chambers of the heart, An ICD is placed under the skin near the collarbone. Constantly checks the heart's rhythm. If the device finds an irregular heartbeat, it sends out a shock to reset the heart's rhythm.
  • Pacemaker. If slow heartbeats do not have a cause that can be fixed, a pacemaker may be needed. 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.

Coping and support

Make plans for the management of an episode of a rapid heartbeat. This can help you to feel more calm and in control when one occurs. Talk with your health care team about:

  • How to check your heart rate and which type is best for you.
  • When to call your health care team.
  • When to get emergency care.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have tachycardia, you may be sent to a doctor trained in heart disease. This kind of professional attention is called to a cardiologist.

If you have ventricular tachycardia, you may not have time to prepare. You can be treated in a hospital or emergency medical facility.

If possible, bring someone with you who can provide support and help to remember new information. Because there may be a lot to talk about, can help to prepare a list of questions.

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to your heart.
  • Important personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • The medications you are taking, including vitamins, supplements, and those bought without a prescription. Include the dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care team.

A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. The basic questions are:

  • What is probably the cause of my rapid heart beat?
  • What tests do I need?
  • How can we check my heart?
  • What is the most appropriate treatment?
  • What are the risks and complications of ventricular tachycardia?
  • How often do I have any health examinations?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I manage together?
  • What do I need to limit or avoid any activity?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take my house? What sites do you recommend to visit?

Don't hesitate to ask additional questions.

What to expect from your doctor

When the beating of your heart is controlled, your healthcare team is likely to ask several questions. Your care team may ask:

  • When did the symptoms begin?
  • How often do you have episodes of a fast heartbeat?
  • How long do the episodes last?
  • Does anything, like exercise, stress, or caffeine, seem to trigger or worsen the episodes?
  • Does anyone in your family have heart disease or a history of irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias?
  • Has someone in your family has had the sudden cardiac death or died of a sudden?
  • Do you smoke?
  • How much alcohol or caffeine are used?
  • Does the use of substances such as cocaine or methamphetamines?
  • Do you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart or blood vessel conditions?
  • What medications do you take for these conditions, and do not take it as prescribed?
Symptoms and treatment of Ventricular tachycardia