What is tachycardia symptoms treatment. What are the symptoms and signs of tachycardia, what should be done and what actions should not be taken with a rapid heartbeat? The main symptoms of tachycardia are

Tachycardia is an increase in heart rate over 90 beats per minute. It can occur at any age, both in perfectly healthy people and against the background of various diseases. The degree of its danger to human life and health is determined by its type and the severity of certain symptoms.

Classification of tachycardia

By origin, tachycardia can be physiological and pathological.

Physiological tachycardia develops normally in healthy people against the background of the release of adrenaline into the blood as a result of intense physical exertion or severe stress. In this case, the adrenoreceptors located in the heart are stimulated, and it begins to contract more often.

After the cessation of active production of adrenaline, the pulse quickly returns to normal values.

Also, a type of physiological tachycardia can be considered a rapid heartbeat, which appears against the background of pathologies not associated with heart disease:

• high fever;
• intense pain;
• Acute surgical diseases;
• Critical decrease in blood sugar levels;
• Graves' disease;
• Various injuries, especially those accompanied by blood loss and a decrease in blood pressure, etc.

Of course, these conditions are not normal and, in most cases, require mandatory treatment. However, tachycardia with them can be considered as a natural protective physiological reaction of the body.

A pathological increase in heart rate is associated with the presence of any heart disease:

• With recent or past myocardial infarction;
• With damage to the sinus node or other elements of the conduction system of the heart;
• With heart failure;
• With inflammatory diseases (in particular, with myocarditis);
• With valvular heart disease, etc.

Because of them, the heart either begins to generate ordinary electrical impulses at an increased frequency, or switches to the formation of pathological stimuli.

Depending on where exactly the source of tachycardia is located, it happens:

1. sinus;
2. atrial;
3. atrioventricular;
4. Ventricular.

Sinus tachycardia is the most harmless. It is characterized by the formation of impulses in the sinus node, where this occurs normally. In most cases, it is physiological, while all other types of tachycardia are always pathological.

In atrial tachycardia, stimuli are generated in the atria, and in atrioventricular tachycardia, in the atrioventricular junction. These two types of palpitations are largely similar to each other in the clinical picture, as well as in the display on the ECG.

In addition, they require the same treatment. Therefore, very often they are combined into one type of tachycardia - supraventricular.

The most dangerous is ventricular tachycardia, in which impulses come from the ventricles. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that it can quickly turn into ventricular fibrillation and end in death from cardiac arrest.

Depending on the duration of the increase in heart rate, tachycardia is divided into a permanent and paroxysmal form.

With a constant variant of increasing the heart rate, the body has time to adapt to this condition, so the patient may practically not feel any symptoms and not even be aware of the existence of a pathology. With it, there are no emergency conditions leading to acute heart failure or sudden death.

However, its long existence significantly increases the load on the heart and contributes to its rapid wear.

The paroxysmal form is characterized by the appearance of sudden short-term attacks of palpitations that occur spontaneously and, often, also spontaneously disappear. At the same time, a person’s well-being during attacks can significantly deteriorate.

Cardiac tachycardia: symptoms

Consider how tachycardia manifests itself, and its signs in people with different forms. To begin with, you should separate the constant palpitations, often asymptomatic, and the attack of tachycardia, the symptoms of which are much more pronounced.

With constant tachycardia, a person usually does not experience any discomfort in the region of the heart, does not feel interruptions in his work.

In most cases, the clinical picture in this form is very poor, and it is limited to non-specific complaints of increased fatigue, weakness, decreased performance, poor exercise tolerance.

If the patient has paroxysmal tachycardia, the symptoms are usually expressed quite well. The main one is the sensation of the heartbeat. Normally, we do not notice how our heart works, it happens imperceptibly.

Here it suddenly “accelerates”, and this intense activity of it, arising literally “out of the blue”, becomes very tangible and often frightening. It seems to patients that the heart "is about to jump out of the chest", against this background, they often have a fear of death. At the same time, the resulting panic causes an additional influx of adrenaline, which only aggravates the situation.

Also during seizures, people may develop:

1. shortness of breath;
2. Sharp weakness;
3. dizziness;
4. Loss of consciousness, etc.

The appearance of frequent shallow breathing, on the one hand, is due to compensatory mechanisms that are activated with insufficient efficiency of cardiac activity, and, on the other hand, may also be associated with activation of the sympathoadrenal link of the autonomic nervous system.

Weakness, dizziness and loss of consciousness occur against the background of impaired blood supply to the brain. This situation is observed in cases where the heart contracts frequently, but cardiac output is catastrophically small.

However, even the presence of all these signs does not yet mean that a person definitely has a tachycardia of the heart. The symptoms that occur with tachycardia are very non-specific and can appear in a number of other conditions.

Therefore, for the diagnosis of tachycardia, an objective assessment of cardiac activity is very important, which can be carried out:

• By measuring the pulse;
• Assessing the apical impulse;
• Listening to heart sounds;
• I recorded an ECG.

In order to establish the presence of tachycardia as such, any of these methods is suitable. However, ECG has the greatest diagnostic value of them.

Causes and features of manifestation

Among women

In women, tachycardia often develops due to an unstable psycho-emotional background. The female psyche is more labile, they are more emotional and prone to hysteria. Therefore, especially at a young age, palpitations in most cases are physiological in nature.

Also, signs of tachycardia in women often appear due to hormonal imbalance. Very often, they develop palpitations in the premenopausal and menopausal period. Therefore, if no pathologies are found as a result of a heart examination, they are usually referred to an endocrinologist and a gynecologist.

Usually, tachycardia in women is sinus or supraventricular in nature, so the risk of developing sudden cardiac death is lower in women compared to men.

In men

Unfortunately, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia is widespread in men, often resulting in ventricular fibrillation and death. It can be triggered by seemingly minor damage to the heart muscle.

Symptoms of tachycardia of the heart in men are a formidable sign that in no case can be ignored. A sudden rapid pulse even at a young age is a reason to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

In children

In most cases, tachycardia in children is normal, physiological. As a rule, it is caused by psycho-emotional moments or restructuring of the body during the period of growth and, especially, puberty.

However, in some, its development is associated with congenital heart defects, anomalies of the coronary arteries, and also with metabolic disorders. Therefore, if a child has frequent unmotivated attacks of tachycardia, it is best to undergo a comprehensive examination by a pediatrician and a cardiologist.

A defect detected in time is the key to timely treatment and ensuring the normal functioning of the heart in the future.

In the elderly

Heart palpitations in the elderly are often associated with a deterioration in exercise tolerance. It is also very often due to the development of heart disease, which is widespread at this age. In addition, tachycardia in the elderly can cause the development (or one of the symptoms) of chronic heart failure.

With a regular increase in heart rate in old age, it is recommended to visit a general practitioner or cardiologist who knows how this or that disease manifests itself, how to diagnose and treat it.

In itself, the appearance of tachycardia is not a sentence, it can and should be fought. Timely started therapy can significantly increase life expectancy, as well as significantly improve its quality.

Rapid heart rate in pregnant women is common and, in most cases, absolutely normal.

The fact is that in the body of the mother there is an additional section of the circulatory system that provides nutrition to the fetus. In this regard, the volume of circulating blood slightly increases. To cope with this increased volume, the heart must work harder.

Therefore, in pregnant women, the frequency and strength of heart contractions increase. There is a so-called physiological tachycardia.

As the fetus grows, its need for blood supply also increases, therefore, with each month of pregnancy, the pulse steadily increases and reaches its maximum by the third trimester, when it becomes 15-20 beats per minute more often than the baseline.

However, in some cases, tachycardia during pregnancy may also be due to pathological causes. These can be any obstetric diseases (very often heart palpitations are observed with toxicosis in the early stages), as well as hidden heart pathologies that have become aggravated against the background of an increased load.

In such situations, the heart rate may increase not by 15-20 per minute, but much more. At the same time, the future mother has many symptoms of pathological tachycardia, and the fetus develops intrauterine hypoxia.

This condition requires mandatory thorough diagnosis and timely treatment.

What to do when attacked

With an attack of tachycardia that occurs for no apparent reason and does not pass in the first 5-10 minutes, it is best to immediately call an ambulance. At home, it is impossible to independently determine the type of tachycardia, and therefore, to assess the degree of its danger to life. This requires doctors who will have an ECG machine with them.

While waiting for an ambulance, you can do the following simple steps:

• Stop any physical or psycho-emotional stress (if any);
• Put the victim in bed with the head end raised (for this purpose, for example, you can put several pillows under your head);
• In case of loss of consciousness, turn the head to one side so that the person does not choke on the tongue and choke on vomit;
• Provide access to fresh air (open windows in the room, free your neck from tight clothing or a tie);
• Give a glass of water to drink, having previously dripped valerian or corvalol there.

The main purpose of these events is to try to calm the victim, to stabilize his psycho-emotional state. It should be remembered that they are not aimed at eliminating the attack, but at not exacerbating the arrhythmia once again.

If the ambulance does not travel for a long time, you can try to stop the tachycardia on your own by using the so-called vagal tests that help fight the supraventricular variant of rhythm disturbance by activating the vagus nerve:

1. Massage of the sinuses of the carotid arteries located at the angle of the lower jaw on the right and left;
2. Slight pressure on the eyeballs (with eyes closed);
3. Holding the breath while inhaling for 30-40 seconds and simultaneously straining;
4. Immersion of the face in cold water, etc.

However, do not expect that they will certainly work. With ventricular tachycardia, these methods are absolutely ineffective, and with supraventricular tachycardia, they help in 50% of cases.

Sometimes they can do more harm than good, so they can only be recommended in "field" conditions, when it is really not possible to quickly get to medical care.

Those people who have such attacks regularly, and who have already been examined to determine the type and cause of tachycardia, can use the drugs recommended by their doctor just for such cases. As a rule, they already know well how tachycardia manifests itself specifically in them, and what they need to do in such a situation.

What actions should not be taken

First of all, when an attack of tachycardia occurs in yourself or someone from your family and friends, you should not panic. Yes, this condition can be very dangerous, and there really is cause for concern.

However, panic is the worst enemy. Psycho-emotional overstrain will only aggravate the patient's condition, it can become much worse for him. In addition, against the background of stress, you can begin to take unreasonable actions that can also harm the victim. You need to try to calm down and act as calmly as possible.

You should not rely on the fact that it will “pass by itself”, you just need to wait a little longer. It may pass, or it may not. In that case, why take the risk again?

Do not try to self-medicate and use any drugs to stop the attack, without a doctor's prescription. This is a very common mistake. You cannot know what type of tachycardia a person has, and what is the reason for its development.

Therefore, medications will be taken almost “blindly”. And they, on the contrary, are selected pointwise, taking into account the type of rhythm disturbance and its causes. At best, your attempt at self-treatment will be useless, and at worst, harmful.

Diagnosis of tachycardia

Diagnosis of any tachycardia begins with an examination by a doctor. He uses the simplest methods, such as measuring the pulse and listening to heart sounds. To do this, he needs only eyes, hands, ears and a phonendoscope. Such a simple set is quite enough to establish the very fact of the development of tachycardia.

However, this is not enough. It is also necessary to determine its type. In this, the doctor, as a rule, helps the ECG. With the help of a cardiogram, you can evaluate the teeth and complexes and, by their shape, determine where the electrical impulses come from, causing the heart to contract faster:

1. With sinus tachycardia, all teeth and complexes are correct, as in a normal ECG, only the distance between them becomes smaller;
2. With supraventricular tachycardia, in addition, the P waves change: they become biphasic or negative;
3. In the ventricular form of arrhythmia, the P waves disappear, and the complexes themselves expand and deform.

Sometimes an attack of paroxysmal tachycardia is so short that it cannot be "caught" on the ECG. Then her 24-hour Holter monitoring comes to the rescue: the patient is hung up with a special device that records electrical impulses coming from the heart in a continuous mode.

This method allows not only to determine the presence and type of arrhythmia, but also to assess the frequency of seizures per day, to identify the provoking factor.

In addition, when a rapid heartbeat is detected, an ultrasound of the heart is performed in order to establish its causes and consequences, and, if necessary, an MRI or coronary angiography. These studies are supplemented by laboratory diagnostic methods, such as clinical and biochemical blood tests, coagulogram, etc.

Treatment

If tachycardia has developed against the background of a non-cardiac disease, then in most cases it is enough to eliminate the cause to eliminate it. At the same time, the appointment of any antiarrhythmic drugs is not required.

If tachycardia is associated with cardiovascular pathology, then drugs of one of the following groups are used for its therapy:

• Sodium channel blockers (lidocaine, procainamide);
• Beta-blockers (atenolol, bisoprolol);
• Potassium channel blockers (sotalol, amiodarone);
• Calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil).

For the appointment of each of the drugs, there are indications and contraindications, which can only be determined by a doctor. It should be remembered that antiarrhythmics can be very dangerous, and self-medication with them is unacceptable. Uncontrolled intake of these drugs can significantly aggravate the disease.

If the treatment is chosen as a result of consultation with a doctor, then you must strictly follow his recommendations. This will help to significantly reduce the frequency of tachycardia attacks, stop the progression of the disease.

Bibliography

1. Latfullin I.A., Bogoyavlenskaya O.V., Akhmerova R.I. - Clinical arrhythmology, 2002. Belyalov F.I. - Cardiac arrhythmias, 2011.
2. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEART RHYTHM DISORDERS - YAKOVLEV V.B. - PRACTICAL GUIDE, 2003.
3. Grishkin Yu.N. - Differential diagnosis of arrhythmias, 2010.
4. Shpak L.V. - Violation of the heart rhythm and conduction, their diagnosis and treatment, 2010.

Tachycardia of the heart: what is it and how to treat

Arousal, stress, exercise, sometimes make your heart beat faster.

Tachycardia is often harmless and goes away after a while. However, contrary to popular belief, the cause of tachycardia of the heart can be not only stress or increased physical activity.

Persistent tachycardia may also indicate a violation of the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and this problem requires immediate treatment.

Let's take a closer look at what it is and how to treat this condition.

What is cardiac tachycardia

Tachycardia of the heart - increase (HR). Tachycardia means that the heart is beating faster, thereby increasing the heart rate.

The human heart beats between 60 and 90 beats per minute. During exercise, the pulse can rise to 100 beats per minute. Also, the heart rate can accelerate with mental tension, stress, the use of certain substances and various diseases.

Common causes of tachycardia are, for example:

• stress or nervous disorders;
• caffeine intake;
• emotional stress;
• heavy physical activity;
• drinking alcohol, smoking;
• heart disease, such as hypertension or mitral valve insufficiency;
• hyperthyroidism;
• (anemia).

In all these cases, the heartbeat exceeds 90 beats per minute.

Also, there are ectopic and (a form of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia), and each of them require separate attention and treatment.

Causes tachycardia

Tachycardia or palpitations should not be cause for concern. Often this is a healthy reaction of the body to exercise or stress.

When the heart rate increases, the organs and muscles move blood better, more oxygen enters the body. Muscles get energy through oxygen and sugar.

With fear and excitement, it is also normal for the heart to beat faster. The body tends to run or fight - both work better if the muscles are well oxygenated.

Diseases that cause heart palpitations

In addition, tachycardia may occur against the background. Typical causes of this form of cardiac arrhythmia are:

• heart disease such as heart disease, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), high blood pressure (hypertension);
• potassium deficiency;
• hyperthyroidism;
• alcohol;
• infections (for example);
• chest injury;
• vegetative disorders.

Other possible reasons why the heart is beating fast:

• anemia (anemia);
• low blood sugar;
• pulmonary embolism;
• severe allergic reaction ();
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• blood poisoning ().

Heart disease

Here there is paroxysmal tachycardia, which is accompanied by seizures, when the heart begins to beat strongly. In this case, the patient can name the exact time frame of when the attack started and when it ended, and this is what is considered a hallmark of the disease.

There are additional symptoms, which include:

• dizziness;
• fainting;
• feeling as if the heart were jumping out of the chest;
• nausea;
• sweating.

Heart disease can lead to the development of ventricular fibrillation, and in the future to cardiac arrest. This violation is extremely dangerous, and therefore, with it, it is recommended to consult a specialist cardiologist. Treatment will depend directly on the results of the examination.

Group of vegetative disorders ( VSD, NDC)

There is no specific algorithm for detecting tachycardia, because there can be both seizures and a constant persistent increase in heart rate. The number of strokes in this case can reach 140 strokes.

A distinctive feature is that the patient with this disorder cannot even perform the usual daily activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.

The complexity of the disease is that in the presence of pronounced psychological symptoms, it is almost impossible to distinguish it from psychosis or neurosis.

Other symptoms of heart tachycardia include:

• dizziness;
• weakness;
• fast fatiguability;
• increased anxiety;
• mood swings;
• sudden changes in body temperature;

Good day, dear readers!

In today's article, we will look at tachycardia with you, as well as its symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, treatment with conservative and folk remedies, prevention and other interesting information about this condition. So…

What is tachycardia?

Tachycardia- a special condition of the body in which the heart rate (HR) exceeds 90 beats per minute.

Tachycardia is one of the types.

Doctors consider tachycardia as a symptom, which is most often caused by strong emotional experiences, increased physical activity of a person, the use of certain foods and drugs, as well as a number of diseases and other systems.

If we talk about the main symptoms that usually accompany an increased human heartbeat, then this is a feeling of palpitations, pulsation of the vessels of the cervical region and dizziness. However, in some situations, tachycardia can lead to the development of life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction, acute heart failure and cardiac arrest.

It is important to note that tachycardia in children under 7 years old is considered by most experts to be the normal state of a healthy child.

In many cases, the treatment of tachycardia comes down to removing from a person's life a factor that caused an increased heart rate, for example, a ban on excessive coffee consumption, a change of job with increased physical activity or frequent stress.

Development of tachycardia

The development of tachycardia is based on the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) located in the spine. Speaking in human language, the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for activating the work of one or another organ, but above all, the heart. There is also the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for deactivating the organs. The vital activity of the organism, i.e. the work of human organs is regulated automatically, for example, the sympathetic nervous system contributes to the inhalation of a person, and the parasympathetic nervous system to exhale.

If we translate this mechanism of the body's vital activity into the plane of tachycardia, then we can derive the following picture: when the human body is exposed to some factor that is not characteristic of its normal state (stress, fear, overload, etc.), the sympathetic system enhances the work of the heart - his sinus node, the heartbeat rises. At the same time, if a person finds himself in a stressful situation, the production of adrenaline by neuroendocrine cells and its release into the blood increases, which is also a protective function of the body against possible danger. Adrenaline also increases the heart rate.

All this leads to the fact that the heart ventricles do not have time to fill with blood, because of which the blood circulation of the whole organism is disturbed, the blood does not have time to fill with oxygen and deliver it in the required amount to all organs.

That is why, with an increased heartbeat, the patient experiences dizziness, up to loss of consciousness.

Tachycardia - ICD

ICD-10: I47-I49, R00.0;
ICD-9: 427, 785.0.

The symptomatology of tachycardia largely depends on the etiology of palpitations, its severity and duration, as well as the general state of human health.

The main symptoms of tachycardia are:

• Feeling of a strong heartbeat;
• Heaviness in the region of the heart, pain in the heart;
• Pulsation of the vessels of the neck;
• up to loss of consciousness;
• Feeling short of breath;
• (low blood pressure).

Additional symptoms of tachycardia:

• , increased fatigue;
• Decreased appetite;
• Bad mood, increased irritability;
• Decreased diuresis;
• Body cramps.

There are a very large number of causes of heart palpitations, but all of them can be divided into 2 main groups - intracardiac and extracardiac factors. Let's consider them in more detail...

Internal (intracardiac, or cardiac) causes of tachycardia:

Diseases and pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system: heart failure, severe form, heart disease, left ventricular dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, bacterial nature, congenital lengthening of the Q-T interval, mitral valve prolapse syndrome, hypoxemia, acute vascular insufficiency (with the loss of a large amount of blood, shock, collapse, or fainting).

External (extracardiac, or non-cardiac) causes of tachycardia

• Increased physical exertion on the body, or a long stay in an uncomfortable position for the body, for example, when bending over (working in the garden, etc.);
• A sharp change in body position, for example, from a horizontal to a vertical position;
• Strong feelings, fears,;
• Violation of the normal functioning of the cerebral cortex and subcortical nodes;
• Disorders in the work of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), including -;
• Presence:, and other diseases that are accompanied - each additional 1 ° C of body temperature increases heart rate by 8 beats / minute (adults) and by 10-15 beats / minute (children);
• Disorders of work:, pheochromocytoma
• The use of certain drugs: sympathomimetics, or drugs that activate the active sympathetic nervous system (adrenaline and norepinephrine drugs), hormonal drugs (corticosteroids, thyroid-stimulating hormones), vagolytics (atropine), antihypertensive drugs (lowering blood pressure), diuretics (diuretics), psychotropic drugs (phenothiazides), some anesthetics, aminophylline, intoxication with cardiac glycosides and other drugs;
• Ingestion of certain harmful substances: alcoholic beverages, nicotine, nitrates (a poison that may be found in food);
• Drinking coffee and caffeinated drinks, strong tea;
• Congenital pathologies;
• Severe pain attacks (colic and others);
• Bites of some representatives of the animal world -,;
• There is also tachycardia of unknown etiology, which belongs to the group of idiopathic tachycardia. This may include heart palpitations as a result of exposure to spiritual forces, but of course, official medicine usually does not recognize spiritual factors.

The classification of tachycardia includes the following types of this condition:

By etiology:

Physiological tachycardia. The heart rate (HR) increases as a result of the impact on the body of a certain factor. It is an adequate response of the body to an irritant (fear, stress, taking certain substances, getting the body into certain climatic conditions, etc.);

Pathological tachycardia. The main cause of heart rate is the presence of an acquired or hereditary pathology of the heart and other organs while the body is at rest. It is a dangerous condition, prolonged exposure to which contributes to the development of heart diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD) or myocardial infarction. Pathological tachycardia is accompanied by a decrease in the filling of the ventricles with blood, which leads to insufficient blood supply to all organs, and, accordingly, their nutrition. At the same time, a person falls, and a long period of this pathological condition leads to the development of hypoxia and arrhythmogenic cardiopathy, in which the efficiency of the heart is significantly reduced. The longer a person is in this state, the worse the prognosis for a full recovery.

Idiopathic tachycardia. The cause of heart palpitations in healthcare workers cannot be identified.

According to the source that generates electrical impulses in the heart:

Sinus tachycardia- develops as a result of an increase in the activity of the sinus, or sinoatrial node, which in fact is the main source of electrical impulses that sets the rhythm of the heart (HR) at rest. It is characterized by a gradual onset, heart rate up to 120-220 beats / minute and the correct rhythm of the heartbeat.

Ectopic (paroxysmal) tachycardia- the source of electrical impulses originates in the atria (supraventricular) or ventricles (ventricular). It is characterized by a paroxysmal course, which both appear suddenly and disappear, but their duration can be from several minutes to several tens of hours, during which the heart rate remains consistently high - from 140 to 250 beats / minute, with the correct heartbeat rhythm. Such seizures are called paroxysms.

Paroxysmal tachycardia includes 3 forms:

• Atrial (supraventricular, or supraventricular) tachycardia - most often, the cause of palpitations is the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which usually occurs with - fears, stress, shock, etc .;
• Ventricular tachycardia (VT) - the most common cause is dystrophic changes in the heart muscle, for example - about 85-95% of this form of heart rate is observed in patients with or myocarditis;
• Nodular tachycardia.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF). It is often a complication of a massive transmural myocardial infarction or a continuation of the development of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, although some scientists consider ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia as one phenomenon. It is characterized by chaotic and irregular contraction of the heart muscle at a level of 250 to 600 beats per minute, which in some cases leads to complete cardiac arrest. In addition, after 15-20 seconds, the patient may experience severe dizziness and lose consciousness, and after 40 seconds, he may experience a single tonic spasm of skeletal muscles, accompanied by involuntary urination and defecation. At the same time, the victim's pupils increase in size, which after one and a half to two minutes are expanded to a maximum level. The patient begins to breathe rapidly, but after breathing slows down, and after 2 minutes clinical death occurs.

In the medical world, ventricular fibrillation is conventionally divided into 3 types:

Primary FJ. Development occurs in the first 4-48 hours from the onset of myocardial infarction, but before the onset of left ventricular failure and other complications of an attack. It is characterized by high mortality of patients.

Secondary FJ. The development occurs in patients with a heart attack against the background of insufficient blood circulation in the left ventricle and cardiogenic shock.

Late FJ. Development occurs 48 hours later (in most cases at 2-6 weeks) from the onset of myocardial infarction and is characterized by 40-60% of deaths.

Diagnosis of tachycardia

Diagnosis of tachycardia includes the following types of examination:

How to treat tachycardia? The treatment of tachycardia begins first of all with a thorough diagnosis of the patient and identification of the cause of the rapid heartbeat.

Treatment of tachycardia usually includes the following points of therapy:

1. Elimination of external factors of increased heart rate (see "Causes of tachycardia");
2. Drug treatment (drugs for tachycardia);
3. Surgical treatment.

A healthy human heart makes 60 - 100 beats per minute, and the excess of these indicators may indicate the presence of a disease such as tachycardia. In children, the heart rate norms differ from adults and amount to 120-140 beats, but by the age of six they stabilize to 90.

Anyone can notice changes in their heartbeat after a brisk walk or emotional stress. This is not always a symptom of the disease, if everything passes after a short period of time.

People are prone to heart pathologies more and more often and this applies to everyone, as modern living conditions negatively affect the entire body. Cardiac tachycardia - what is it? What symptoms may occur? What diagnostic and treatment methods are used by specialists? We will answer all these questions in this article.

Cardiac tachycardia

Our heart is a special organ that performs a vital function and has a kind of autonomy. The rhythm of the heart is regulated and controlled not only from the outside - by the autonomic nervous system and endocrine glands, but also from the inside - by the heart's own conduction system (PCS).

This system is represented by special muscle fibers that form the sinus, atrioventricular node, located between the ventricles and atria, the His bundle and the Purkinje fibers. These specific formations contribute to the rhythmic and consistent contraction of the heart muscle and the consistent pushing of blood from the atria into the ventricles, and then into the bloodstream.

Failures in the work of the PCC can cause disturbances in its rhythm, and, consequently, lead to a change in blood flow, blood filling of blood vessels, and blood supply to the heart muscle itself. This in turn causes ischemia.

In addition, some types of arrhythmias pose a serious danger not only to health, but to human life itself, as they can even cause cardiac arrest. In addition to failures in the work of the PCS, arrhythmias, and in particular tachycardia, can cause disturbances in the work of the endocrine or autonomic nervous system.

Thus, thyrotoxicosis, or hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, causes an increase in myocardial excitability and, as a result, persistent tachycardia with a heart rate (HR) of 120 beats or more. A disease such as pheochromocytoma, or a tumor of the adrenal medulla, is characterized by an increase in the synthesis and release of adrenaline into the blood and an increase in the sympathetic effects of this mediator.

Increased heart rate is one of the main symptoms of activation of sympathetic innervation. In itself, the predominance of sympathetic influences over parasympathetic ones is also characterized by increased heart rate.

This condition can be observed in violation of the autonomic nervous system, better known as vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD). Whatever the etiology of tachycardia, this condition is considered pathological only if it occurs suddenly, the number of heartbeats per minute exceeds 90, and there are no objective reasons for heart palpitations.

At the same time, tachycardia can be a completely natural, physiological condition that accompanies strong physical or emotional stress. At the same time, the pulse rate increases gradually, with an increase, and also gradually returns to normal (60 to 80 beats / min).

Signs of low blood pressure also include tachycardia. In this case, its appearance is compensatory. An increase in the heart rate occurs as a response to a decrease in blood supply to the vessels.

By contracting faster, the heart tries to throw large volumes of blood into the bloodstream. Such a reflex increase in heart rate against the background of hypotension can also be considered physiological, since it is not associated with the occurrence of pathological areas of excitation.

Tachycardia of the heart - what is it

Tachycardia is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders, manifested by an increase in heart rate (HR) of more than 90 beats per minute. With the appearance of tachycardia, a person has a feeling of palpitations, in some cases, a pulsation of the vessels of the neck, anxiety, dizziness, and rarely fainting are possible.

In patients with cardiovascular pathology, this arrhythmia can worsen the prognosis of life and provoke the development of complications such as heart failure. The main mechanism for the development of tachycardia is to increase the automatism of the sinus node, which normally sets the correct rhythm of the heart.

If a person feels his quickening and increasing heartbeat, then this is far from always evidence of the existence of problems.

In practically healthy people, tachycardia can be caused by the action of physiological compensatory mechanisms in response to the release of adrenaline into the blood and activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which cause an increase in heart rate, which is a response to one or another external factor.

The termination of the latter leads to a gradual return of heart rate to normal. In healthy people, tachycardia occurs:

• as a result of stressful situations, physical exertion and emotional arousal;
• with an increase in air temperature;
• when using certain medicines, strong tea, coffee or alcohol;
• from a sudden change in body position, etc.

In preschool children, tachycardia is considered a physiological norm.

At the same time, the course of certain pathological conditions is often accompanied by tachycardia. Most often, tachycardia manifests itself not as an independent disease, but as a symptom, a kind of reaction of the heart to impulses of the nervous system, physical activity, or the intake of substances that increase heart rate.

This so-called physiological tachycardia does not pose a health hazard, as it is one of the reactions of our body to the natural manifestations of the central nervous system.

It is not uncommon for cases of heart palpitations in young children, as well as adolescents, as a result of a more active lifestyle, imbalance of the endocrine and other systems in the process of development of a young organism.

Pregnant women also experience episodic seizures. This is mainly due to the fact that the body works with a vengeance, the hormonal background is restructured, weight increases, and an enhanced metabolic process begins.

A significant acceleration of the heart rate can be caused by active physical exercises, a stressful situation, the effect on the body of caffeine, nicotine and other substances that affect the functioning of the heart. Often there is a similar deviation in patients suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia.

During panic attacks, there is a feeling of shortness of breath, and a feeling that the heart is about to jump out of the chest. In this state, you need to take a comfortable position, perform breathing exercises, try to relax, calm down.

Classification

Acceleration of the sinus node leads to tachycardia, which in various forms of manifestation is:

• physiological,
• short-term
• pathological.

Too frequent heart rate does not allow the heart to function normally, to be saturated with blood in full, while blood pressure decreases, which means that the amount of vital fluid decreases.

The lack of pumped blood leads to oxygen starvation of the whole organism and the heart muscle and creates the prerequisites for the development of such diseases as arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and so on.

By itself, tachycardia is not a disease, it is rather a symptom and manifestation of another, more serious disease, but it can also occur as an independent ailment. Sinus tachycardia is a normal physiological reaction of the body to various life situations.

In a state of excitement, fear, physical activity, heartbeats increase, but after a short time period, heart rate indicators return to normal without any negative consequences for a person.

With this type of tachycardia, the increase in the work of the heart goes smoothly, increasing, and also gradually subsides. For such tachycardia, no treatment is required. Pathological tachycardia is diagnosed if the patient has an increase in heart rate at rest and is divided into two main types: ventricular and supraventricular.

The latter form of tachycardia is more insidious in its manifestations, and can be fatal. Tachycardia is characterized by spontaneous and sudden attacks.

At this moment, the heart rate in a person sharply changes the pace in the direction of increase. Heartbeats become frequent and distinct. Some patients have external signs, such as pulsation of blood vessels in the neck.

During attacks of tachycardia, dizziness, lack of air, heavy breathing, a state close to loss of consciousness, severe weakness, involuntary trembling of the upper limbs are noted.

When listening to the heart, beats are heard, similar to the sounds of a swinging pendulum. The frequency of contractions in paroxysmal tachycardia is 140-240 beats per minute.

Perhaps a slight increase in body temperature, excessive sweating, upset of the gastrointestinal tract, and at the end of the attack - profuse urination.

There are tachycardia attacks that last literally seconds. And also - attacks are exhausting, long, which can last for several days. Such attacks are characterized by the presence of fainting, constant weakness.

Signs of tachycardia that should not be ignored:

• chest pain;
• darkening in the eyes, frequent dizziness;
• rapid heart rate at rest without objective reasons, not passing for several minutes;
• repeated loss of consciousness.

Such manifestations of tachycardia eloquently indicate the presence of some kind of chronic disease. It is advisable to consult a doctor and determine what caused the appearance of tachycardia, as well as choose a treatment strategy.

Causes

Cases of sinus tachycardia occur in all age groups of both healthy people and patients with certain diseases. Its occurrence is facilitated by intracardiac or extracardiac etiological factors (cardiac or extracardiac, respectively).

In patients with cardiovascular diseases, sinus tachycardia can be a manifestation of any pathology of the heart:

• coronary heart disease,
• arterial hypertension,
• myocardial infarction,
• acute and chronic heart failure,
• rheumatic and congenital heart defects,
• myocarditis,
• cardiomyopathies,
• cardiosclerosis,
• infective endocarditis,
• exudative and adhesive pericarditis.

Physiological extracardiac factors contributing to the development of tachycardia include emotional stress and physical activity.

Most extracardiac arrhythmias are neurogenic tachycardias, which are associated with primary dysfunction of the cortex and subcortical nodes of the brain, and disorders of the autonomic nervous system:

• affective psychosis,
• neuroses,
• cardiopsychoneurosis.

The greatest susceptibility to them is characterized by young people with lability of the nervous system. Other factors of extracardiac tachycardia are endocrine disorders (thyrotoxicosis, increased production of adrenaline in pheochromocytoma), anemia, acute vascular insufficiency (shock, collapse, acute blood loss, syncope), hypoxemia, acute pain attacks.

The main reasons why tachycardia occurs:

• disorders of the cardiovascular system: arrhythmia, endocarditis, myocarditis, heart disease, cardiosclerosis;
• endocrine diseases: pheochromocytoma, decreased thyroid function, diabetes mellitus, menopausal syndrome;
• diseases of the autonomic nervous system;
• neurotic states;
• emotional turmoil;
• changes in the electrolyte composition of the blood.

With prolonged use of drugs such as sedatives, hormonal and diuretic drugs, there is a deficiency of potassium and magnesium, which inevitably affects the work of the heart muscle.

Tachycardia may appear due to fever that develops in conditions of various infectious and inflammatory diseases (pneumonia, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, sepsis, focal infection). For every 1 °C increase in body temperature, there is an increase in heart rate by 10-15 bpm. in children and 8-9 bpm. in adults (compared to normal).

The occurrence of pharmacological (drug) and toxic sinus tachycardia is caused by the influence of various medicinal and other chemicals on the function of the sinus node.

These include sympathomimetics (adrenaline and noradrenaline), vagolytics (atropine), aminophylline, corticosteroids, thyroid-stimulating hormones, diuretics, antihypertensive drugs, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, poisons, etc. Individual substances that do not have a direct effect on the function of the sinus node , increase the tone of the sympathetic nervous system and cause the so-called reflex tachycardia.

Allocate adequate and inadequate sinus tachycardia. The latter is characterized by the ability to remain at rest, lack of dependence on stress and medication. Such tachycardia may be accompanied by feelings of lack of air and a strong heartbeat.

Experts suggest that this rare and little-studied disease of unknown origin is related to the primary lesion of the sinus node.

Symptoms

The clinical symptoms of sinus tachycardia appear depending on how severe and prolonged it is, as well as on the nature of the underlying disease. Subjective signs of sinus tachycardia may be completely absent, sometimes there may be a feeling of palpitations, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the region of the heart.

With inadequate sinus tachycardia, persistent palpitations, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath, weakness and frequent dizziness are observed. Fatigue, insomnia, mood deterioration, loss of appetite and performance may occur.

The severity of subjective symptoms depends on the sensitivity threshold of the nervous system and the underlying disease.

In patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system (coronary atherosclerosis, etc.), an increase in heart rate can provoke angina attacks and aggravate decompensation of heart failure.

Rapid heartbeat often leads a person into a state of anxiety and fear. With the appearance of such symptoms of tachycardia as sweating, cold hands and a feeling of lack of air, a person has a fear for his health.

It begins to seem to a person that his condition is very unstable, or that he is ill with a serious illness. Among other things, the symptoms of tachycardia include chest pain, shortness of breath, darkening of the eyes, fear.

Against the background of such mental stress, an attack of tachycardia may intensify, which in turn affects the aggravation of the neuropsychological state of a person.

This phenomenon is especially dangerous for suspicious people, because in a fit of fear for their own health, rash decisions can be made (false call for an ambulance, taking drugs in large quantities, etc.).

Tachycardia requires treatment if it appears without any obvious reasons: the person feels well and is in a calm state or asleep. What symptoms warn of danger:

• Shortness of breath (hard to breathe);
• dizzy;
• there are noises in the head, in the ears;
• darkens in the eyes;
• fainting weakness, loss of consciousness;
• heartache.

The patient needs to call an ambulance, and before it arrives, you should:

• release the neck and chest;
• open a window;
• apply cold to the forehead;
• wash with ice water.

The physiological causes of tachycardia of the heart are practically harmless. They are the result of the body's normal reaction to external stimuli (exercise or fright).

With pathological causes, you need to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms of tachycardia (sweating, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, etc.). When such symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

An attack of tachycardia, especially for the first time, is always frightening. The state of the patient depends on how competently the people around the sick person behave. If a person turns pale and complains of an increase in heart rate, it is necessary:

• Call a doctor or an ambulance.
• Keep the victim calm.
• Try to calm the patient (people in this state experience a strong fear of death).
• Unfasten the person's belt, loosen the tie and unbutton the clothing that is squeezing the body.
• If the attack occurred indoors, then open the windows, providing an influx of fresh air.
• Give the person a drink of Corvalol, valerian, or other sedatives.
• Place a cold, damp washcloth on your forehead.
• Invite the person to hold their breath for a while and tighten the abdominal muscles.

If simple sedatives are ineffective, it is recommended to wait for the ambulance to arrive, despite all the protests of the sick person. Most people try to avoid hospitalization, but almost all types of tachycardia (except for the ventricular form) are stopped on an outpatient basis, and it is recommended that the sick person be examined in a clinic.

Interesting! Some sources recommend that to stop the increased heartbeat, press the victim on the eyeballs or offer to cough, but this is not recommended.

Coughing and pressing on the eyes gives the necessary pulsatile effect only with sinus tachycardia, but with a ventricular form of pathology, these actions can only harm.

The leading role in the differential diagnosis of the type of tachycardia, the determination of rhythm and heart rate belongs to electrocardiography (ECG). In the event of paroxysms of arrhythmias, it is highly informative to conduct daily monitoring of the ECG according to the Holter.

This method allows you to identify and analyze any heart rhythm disturbance during the day, as well as determine ischemic ECG changes during the patient's normal physical activity.

Echocardiography, which provides information on the size of the heart chambers, the thickness of the myocardial walls, violations of local contractility and pathology of the valvular apparatus, is a routine research method to exclude heart pathology in any rhythm disturbances.

In rare cases, magnetic resonance imaging of the heart is performed to detect congenital pathology. Only a cardiologist can determine how to treat tachycardia of the heart. It is useless to treat tachycardia itself - the cause of the increased heartbeat should be eliminated.

To diagnose the underlying disease, a number of examinations are prescribed:

• ECG (daily Holter, 2-3-day monitoring);
• blood and urine tests;
• analysis to detect the content of thyroid hormones;
• Ultrasound of the heart to detect abnormalities in the structure of the heart or its departments;
• echocardiography.

The invasive methods of examining patients with tachycardia include conducting an electrophysiological study. The method is used in the presence of appropriate indications before surgical treatment of arrhythmia only to a limited circle of patients.

With the help of an electrophysiological study, the doctor receives information about the nature of the propagation of an electrical impulse through the myocardium, determines the mechanisms of tachycardia or conduction disturbances.

To identify the cause of tachycardia, additional research methods are sometimes prescribed: a complete blood count, a blood test for thyroid hormones, electroencephalography, etc.

Treatment

The principles of treatment of tachycardia depend on the cause of its occurrence. Any therapy should be carried out by a cardiologist or other specialists.

The primary task of treating tachycardia is to eliminate provoking factors:

• exclusion of caffeinated drinks (strong tea, coffee),
• nicotine,
• alcohol,
• spicy food,
• chocolate,
• protecting the patient from all kinds of overloads.

Cases of physiological sinus tachycardia do not need medication. As part of the treatment of pathological tachycardia, it becomes necessary to eliminate the underlying disease. Patients with sinus tachycardia of a neurogenic nature need to consult a neurologist.

The treatment itself involves the use of psychotherapy and sedatives (luminal, tranquilizers and neuroleptics: tranquilan, relanium, seduxen).

Reflex (hypovolemia) and compensatory (anemia, hyperthyroidism) tachycardia require elimination of the causes of their occurrence. Otherwise, the consequence of treatment aimed at lowering the heart rate may be a sharp decrease in blood pressure and aggravation of hemodynamic disturbances.

With tachycardia caused by thyrotoxicosis, along with thyrostatic drugs prescribed by the endocrinologist, β-blockers are also used for treatment. In this case, non-selective β-blockers are more preferred. In case of contraindications, it is possible to use non-hydropyridine calcium antagonists (verapamil, diltiazem).

With the appearance of sinus tachycardia in patients with chronic heart failure, it is possible to prescribe cardiac glycosides (digoxin) in combination with beta-blockers.

The selection of the target heart rate during treatment should be individual and take into account both the patient's condition and his underlying disease. The target resting heart rate in IHD patients is 55–60 beats per minute; in the absence of heart disease, resting heart rate in an adult should be no more than 80 beats per minute.

It is possible to increase the tone of the vagus nerve with paroxysmal tachycardia due to a special massage performed by pressing on the eyeballs. In the absence of the effect of non-drug therapy, they resort to the appointment of antiarrhythmic drugs (propafenone, cordarone, etc.).

Ventricular tachycardia requires immediate qualified medical care and emergency hospitalization.

In rare cases, surgical methods are used to treat persistent tachycardia, the most modern is radiofrequency ablation of the arrhythmiogenic area of ​​the myocardium (cauterization of the affected area in order to restore normal rhythm).

Medical treatment

To reduce the load on the heart, reduce the reactivity of the conduction system and block sympathetic effects on the heart muscle, drugs from the group of beta-blockers are used.

Not so long ago, in the course of clinical studies, scientists have proven that the use of these pharmaceuticals reduces the mortality rate among people suffering from cardiovascular diseases by several times.

Among herbal preparations used for the treatment of tachyarrhythmias, a group of cardiac glycosides should be distinguished.

They reduce the conductivity in the atrioventricular node, reduce the load on the heart and contribute to a decrease in the number of heartbeats per minute. However, the treatment of cardiac tachycardia with cardiac glycosides, as well as the use of other antiarrhythmic drugs, should be carried out under strict medical supervision.

In addition, cardiac glycosides are taken according to a special scheme (the principle of digitalization) and cannot be canceled on their own. Such precautions are necessary in order to prevent the occurrence of atrioventricular blockade, the main complication of taking cardiac glycosides.

In the event that tachycardia was the result of a strong emotional shake-up or a stressful situation, then more traditional and widely known means, such as Corvalol, Valocardin, Validol tablets and some others, are suitable for its elimination.

They not only help relieve nervous tension and calm down, but also reduce heart rate. In this case, some alternative methods of treatment can also be used. These can be various sedative preparations, herbal teas, infusions of soothing herbs such as valerian, cyanosis, hops, motherwort, and many other folk remedies.

Therapy is aimed, first of all, at eliminating the cause of the heartbeat, and only then medicines are selected to slow down the pulse. Antiarrhythmic drugs have many side effects and should be used with caution.

In mild cases, patients may be prescribed natural herbal remedies:

• motherwort;
• hawthorn;
• peony;
• valerian;
• Persen;
• Novo-passit.

A good effect is the use of Corvalol. These drugs help reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Often, the treatment of the underlying disease and the use of herbal preparations provide the necessary therapeutic effect.

If taking sedatives is ineffective or the cause of the development of an attack cannot be eliminated, then an antiarrhythmic agent is selected for the patient, taking into account the characteristics of the underlying disease.

Depending on the underlying pathology, the patient is prescribed the following medications:

• Verapamil;
• Kordaron;
• Ritmilen;
• Anaprilin;
• Ethacizin;
• Diltiazem;
• bisoprolol;
• Adenosine;
• Atenolol.

The list of antiarrhythmic drugs is large, but calcium antagonists and adrenoceptor blockers are mainly used for therapeutic purposes. Note!

With the ineffectiveness of medical treatment, surgical treatment is indicated. During the operation, an artificial pacemaker is installed in a person, which is responsible for the heart rate.

Treatment of tachycardia at home

Treatment of tachycardia at home is aimed at reducing the number of heart contractions and normalizing the work of the heart. For this, various means and medicines are used:

1. Drok dyeing.

Among all the folk remedies for tachycardia, such a herb as dyeing gorse stands out. It is prescribed in cases where the disease is severely neglected, and there is no hope for other means and medicines.

So, we suggest you make such an infusion: pour 2 tablespoons of dried gorse dye with 2 cups of boiling water, let stand for 20 minutes and strain. Drink 3-4 times a day, 100 ml.

2. The gorse is thorny.

You can also treat heart palpitations with the help of thorny gorse. The dry seeds of this plant should be ground in a coffee grinder and taken 3 times a day, 1/3 teaspoon. You can dilute the gorse powder with water or mix it with honey (this will soften the unpleasant taste of the plant).

Here is another recipe for using thorny gorse: pour half a glass of grass with 400 ml of vodka, tightly close the lid and leave in a dark place for 14 days, then strain. Take 3 times a day, 10 ml of alcohol tincture, diluting it with 50 ml of water.

Some herbalists advise making an alcoholic tincture from the seeds of the thorny gorse. It is prepared like this: 2 tablespoons of seeds are poured into 100 ml of vodka and infused for 10 days, after which they are filtered. Take 3 times a day, 20-30 drops, until the tachycardia completely disappears.

3. Hawthorn.

If you are worried about how to treat tachycardia, keep hawthorn fruit and flowers on hand at all times. They help strengthen and regulate the heart, eliminate arrhythmia.

Hawthorn decoction is an excellent remedy for various types of stress and neuroses caused by insomnia, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Hawthorn also has a diuretic effect, removing excess fluid from the body, thereby lowering blood pressure.

So, at the first sign of tachycardia, you need to do this drug: pour a handful of hawthorn fruits or flowers with 1 liter of water, boil for 5 minutes and let cool. How to use? 0.5 cup of decoction 3 times a day before meals.

4. Adonis.

If we talk about tachycardia treatment with folk remedies, then you definitely need to talk about such a wonderful plant as adonis.

Here is our recipe: boil 1 liter of water and add 2 tablespoons of spring adonis. On a small fire, you need to boil the potion for 5-7 minutes, then cool and strain.

How to use? Adults - 1 tablespoon 3 times a day, children under 12 years old - 1 teaspoon 1 time a day before meals. With the help of such a medicine in just a month, you can completely cure tachycardia of the heart.

5. Herbal collection No. 1.

You can treat tachycardia with folk remedies using the following collection:

• Melissa herb - 40 g
• Linden flowers - 40 g
• Nettle - 20 g
• Chamomile - 20 g
• Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

Take 1 tablespoon of the collection and pour 1 glass of boiling water, insist under the lid for 5 minutes, then drink in one gulp. This remedy must be taken 3 times a day, and each time you need to make a new portion of the infusion.

In just 2-3 months, you will notice that these folk remedies have completely relieved you of unpleasant symptoms in the heart area.

• Herbal collection No. 2.

Here is another way to treat tachycardia. Take these herbs:

• Mint - 100 g
• Melissa - 100g
• Motherwort - 50 g
• Lavender - 50 g
After the broth has cooled, it must be filtered. During the day you should drink 2-3 glasses of this medicine. After a few days, you will notice that you feel much better, and after a few months of treatment, the tachycardia will completely go away.

• Herbal collection No. 3.

Here is another herbal tea recipe that will help successfully treat tachycardia:

• Chamomile flowers - 100 g
• Sunflower flowers - 100 g
• Heather - 50 g
• Blackcurrant leaves - 50 g
• Melissa leaves - 20 g
• Mint leaves - 20 g

How to cook: Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Take 2 tablespoons of the mixture and pour it into a 2 liter thermos. Pour boiling water on top of the herbs, close the lid and leave for 4-5 hours. This liquid should be taken 1 glass 3 times a day. It can be sweetened with honey or sugar.

• Herbal collection №4

Everyone who has tachycardia knows how difficult it is to cure. But folk herbalists know thousands of recipes to combat this disease. For example, try this potion:

• Nettle herb - 100 g
• Birch leaves - 100 g
• Ginkgo biloba - 15 g
• Lemongrass leaves - 50 g
• Mistletoe - 100 g

How to cook: Take 1 teaspoon of herbal mixture and pour 1 cup of boiling water over it. Cover and wait 5-10 minutes, then drink in small sips.

• Healing balm.

Our great-grandmothers knew perfectly well how to treat tachycardia without doctors and expensive drugs. They treated her with a healing balm:

• Garlic - 10 heads
• Natural honey - 1 liter
• Lemons - 10 pieces

Take 10 heads of garlic (namely heads, not cloves), peel them and grate them on a fine grater. Separately squeeze the juice from the lemons.

Mix garlic and lemon juice with honey and leave in an airtight container for 10 days in a dark and cool place. Then use 1 teaspoon of this balm 4 times a day. Before swallowing it, you must thoroughly dissolve the balm in your mouth, although this is unpleasant.

With the help of such a drug, you can cure tachycardia of the heart forever. By the way, many healers claim that such a balm should be taken throughout life, and then no ailment will be terrible for you.

• Delicious medicine.

And now we will talk about how to treat tachycardia with a very tasty and healthy mixture of nuts, honey and chocolate. No need to be surprised: the fact is that the above products are rich in magnesium, and this element is an integral part of enzymes that inhibit the influx of calcium into cells with myocarditis, affecting the normal heart rhythm.

So, mix the following ingredients in a jar: Natural honey - 1 l Chopped almonds - 100 g Chopped walnuts - 100 g Chopped natural dark chocolate - 100 g Cacao - 100 g Try to use this mixture every morning for 1 tablespoon (keep it in the refrigerator), and soon you will notice that you no longer have heart problems.

• Grape leaves.

Grape leaves contain a well-known antioxidant - resveratrol, which strengthens the veins and makes them flexible. The fact is that resveratrol prevents the breakdown of proteins - elastin and collagen - the building material from which the walls of blood vessels are made.

As a result, grape leaves prevent the formation of varicose veins, relieve all types of edema, improve blood circulation in the limbs and protect blood vessels from destruction.

The active substances contained in these plants also have an antispasmodic effect, lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate. Prepare this decoction: pour 1 cup of finely chopped grape leaves with 1 liter of hot water and boil for 5-7 minutes.

After that, wait until the product has cooled down and strain it. The decoction should be drunk half a glass 2 times a day between meals. The course of treatment lasts 10-20 days, depending on the neglect of the disease.




• cardiac asthma.
• arterial hypertension.
• Heart failure.
• Hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke.
• Acute myocardial infarction.
• Changes in the rhythm of the heart.
• Pulmonary edema.
• Coma.
• biological death.
In order to timely identify the early signs of this disease, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive medical examination annually, then its treatment will be more effective.





For the prevention of tachycardia is very important:

• Timely treat concomitant diseases;
• Perform physical exercises;
• Adhere to a rational diet;
• Take vitamins and minerals.

To prevent tachycardia against the background of diseases of the cardiovascular system and other chronic pathologies, it is necessary to constantly monitor the indicators and follow the treatment plan.

Daily physical activity stimulates the work of the heart and makes the myocardium more resilient and resistant to external factors. It is advisable to coordinate the intensity of the exercises with your doctor, but a half-hour walk in the fresh air will not hurt anyone.


People suffering from tachycardia should avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing caffeine and other stimulants. It will be very useful to reduce the intake of fatty foods and sugar, replacing them with fruits and vegetables. With excessive excitability of the nervous system, herbal teas with a slight sedative effect will help.

Often, tachycardia occurs against the background of a lack of magnesium and potassium in the body. The main function of these trace elements is to regulate the cyclical contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle. Before using any drugs, it is better to consult with your doctor first.

Tachycardia is a rapid heartbeat caused by pathology of the cardiovascular system or other diseases.

Only in a small number of cases (with a paroxysm of nodal tachycardia) can you try to cope with it yourself. For this, vagal tests are used (straining, inducing a gag reflex, coughing).

In all other cases, the help of a doctor is needed, who will relieve the attack either by intravenous administration of drugs or by electropulse therapy (passing current through the heart). For the prevention of tachycardia, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease, as well as a healthy lifestyle (rational nutrition and sports).

For healthy people, tachycardia does not carry a negative prognosis. This phenomenon is absolutely safe for a person with a physiological manifestation, even pronounced.


People with a history of heart disease may have a very different prognosis. Tachycardia can disrupt many processes of the heart, slow down treatment.

Pathological conditions of tachycardia can be very painful for a person, bring discomfort and impede the normal functioning of the body. With frequent manifestations of tachycardia without apparent physiological causes, it is likely that the arrhythmia appeared as a symptom against the background of another ailment.

The right step would be to go to the doctor without self-medication. Without a clear definition of the cause of tachycardia, it will not be possible to cure it completely and independently.

Tachycardia is an abnormal increase in the heart rate from ninety beats per minute. As a sign of disease, tachycardia is considered when it occurs at rest. The development is based on increased automatism of the sinus node, which normally sets the pace and rhythm of heart contractions, or ectopic centers of automatism.

Doctors consider tachycardia as a symptom, which is most often caused by strong emotional experiences, increased physical activity of a person, the use of certain foods and drugs, as well as a number of diseases of the cardiovascular, endocrine and other systems.

What is cardiac tachycardia?

Tachycardia of the heart is not a separate disease, but a symptom or condition in which additional unpleasant manifestations from the body are possible, in addition to heart palpitations.

Usually tachycardia refers to such deviations as or abnormal heart rhythm. Most often, patients during attacks have more than 90 beats per minute, while a person can feel increased heartbeats, pulsation in the temples, dizziness. Fainting occurs less often, pulsation in the vessels of the neck can be observed.

Feeling the person's heartbeat acceleration and increase in heart rate) is not always indicative of a disease.

Tachycardia appears in healthy people during physical exertion, stressful situations and nervous excitability, with a lack of oxygen and elevated air temperature, under the influence of certain drugs, alcohol, coffee, with a sharp change in body position from horizontal to vertical, etc.

ICD code:

• ICD-10: I47-I49, R00.0;
• ICD-9: 427, 785.0.

Classification

Due to occurrence:

• physiological - processes in the body and reactions to external stimuli become sources that stimulate an increase in heart rate;
• pathological - when the causes for tachycardia are diseases of organs and systems; is a rather negative state.

By duration of symptoms:

• acute - this form of arrhythmia occurs from time to time, paroxysmal, can last both a few moments and several days;
• chronic - increased heartbeat accompanies a person constantly.

Depending on the characteristics of the pathologically accelerated heart rate, tachycardia can be divided into sinus, paroxysmal and ventricular fibrillation.

Sinus tachycardia

This is a condition in which an increase in heart rate occurs due to external manifestations. So, it can be severe stress, physical activity, etc. In this case, it is very important to know what is the cause of this condition.

It is the body's normal response to stress. It appears with fast walking, climbing stairs and other physical activity. The cause of tachycardia can be strong negative and positive emotions. After the cessation of stress, such tachycardia quickly (within a few minutes) disappears.

Sinus tachycardia is characterized by a gradual onset and end. A decrease in cardiac output is accompanied by impaired blood supply to tissues and various organs.

Ectopic (paroxysmal) tachycardia

What it is? The rhythm generator is located outside the sinus node, in the ventricles or atria. Most often, the disease proceeds in the form of beginning and ending attacks, lasting from several minutes to several days with a constant high level of heartbeat.

Paroxysmal tachycardia includes 3 forms:

• Atrial (supraventricular, or supraventricular) tachycardia - most often, the cause of palpitations is the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which usually occurs with - fears, stress, shock, etc .;
• Ventricular tachycardia (VT) - the most common cause is dystrophic changes in the heart muscle, for example - about 85-95% of this form of heart rate is observed in patients with coronary heart disease or;
• Nodal. This type of increased heart rate is referred to as physiological. It occurs during physical exertion and strong psycho-emotional outbursts.

Normal state of the heart on the ECG

Sinus tachycardia on ECG

Supraventricular tachycardia of the heart

Ventricular tachycardia

Causes

Sinus tachycardia occurs in different age groups, more often in healthy people, as well as among patients with heart and other diseases. The occurrence is facilitated by intracardiac (cardiac) or extracardiac (extracardiac) etiological factors.

Approximately 30% of patients with a rapid heart rate, this disease was caused by panic attacks and other psychopathological causes.

The causes of tachycardia are:

physical arousal;

taking medications;

a sharp change in body position;

drinking caffeinated drinks;

alcohol consumption;

smoking;

deficiency of potassium and magnesium.

The causes of tachycardia allow us to distinguish 2 forms of the disease:

• Physiological;
• Pathological.

Physiological acceleration of the heart rate occurs in young people with hormonal changes.

Pathological tachycardia is a dangerous syndrome that leads to disruption of the heart. Nosology leads to an acceleration of hemodynamics, an increase in cardiac output, a weakening of blood flow to tissues. Against the background of pathology, the internal organs do not receive oxygen. Poor blood supply is the cause of coronary heart disease, cerebral stroke, myocardial infarction.

Symptoms of tachycardia

Most often, an attack of tachycardia develops very quickly and without precursors. A person may not even notice it until the heart rate reaches extremely high numbers. In the vast majority of people, a certain malaise is felt already at 110 beats per minute.

Feeling a frightening heartbeat does not allow you to concentrate on work, and with the slightest physical exertion, severe shortness of breath and dizziness occur.

Other common symptoms characteristic of different types of tachycardia are:

• dizziness, loss of coordination of movements, fainting and fainting;
• shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, the inability to take a full deep breath;
• a general feeling of faintness and weakness;
• increased sweating;
• pain in the region of the heart, as well as behind the sternum; heaviness in the chest;
• nausea;
• appetite problems;
• and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• mood swings.

Symptoms in adults
sinus	The main symptom of the disease is lack of air. Other possible signs of sinus tachycardia: loss of appetite; dizziness (the symptom is often manifested); increased fatigue, decreased performance; sleep disorders; dyspnea; permanent high heart rate. The severity of symptoms depends on the sensitivity of the nervous system and the underlying human disease.
Paroxysmal	Abrupt onset (“shock” in the heart) and end of the attack, allowing you to outline its time frame Variable duration - from a few seconds to several days High heart rate - up to 220-250 beats / min Autonomic disorders: nausea, overexcitation, sweating An increase in body temperature up to 38 ° C.
supraventricular	As a rule, the patient can clearly indicate the beginning and end of the attack, manifested by a pronounced sensation: heartbeat, pain and discomfort in the heart area, difficult breathing dizziness feelings of anxiety or panic reduced blood pressure.
Ventricular	The symptoms of the disease include: chest pressure; feeling of heaviness in the region of the heart; dizziness; loss of consciousness a few seconds after the onset of the attack.

Complications

In addition to fatigue, unpleasant, sometimes painful sensations, any tachycardia causes heart failure - the heart wears out. In addition to conduction disturbances, heart rhythm, tachycardia can give complications such as:

• cardiac asthma,
• arrhythmic shock,
• pulmonary edema,
• cerebral thromboembolism,
• acute cerebrovascular insufficiency,
• pulmonary embolism.

Ventricular tachycardia in combination with acute can cause death.

Tachycardia in pregnant women

Tachycardia is one of the most common pathologies in pregnant women. The main cause of this condition is changes in the cardiovascular system.

In addition, there are a number of other main causes of occurrence:

• overweight;
• diseases associated with changes in blood composition ();
• overdose of vitamin and mineral complexes;
• infections in the lungs;
• abnormalities in the thyroid gland;
• dehydration of the body;
• heart failure;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• placental abruption;
• various injuries;
• profuse bleeding.

Symptoms of tachycardia in women in position, in addition to general malaise, sleep disturbances, chest pain and dizziness, include a disorder of the digestive tract, numbness of different parts of the body, increased nervousness / anxiety.

An increase in the heart rate of pregnant women is considered a physiological norm, but you should consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• pain in the heart or chest;
• nausea, vomiting;
• frequent dizziness, fainting;
• unreasonable fatigue;
• excessive anxiety.

There may also be numbness of certain parts of the body.

In the absence of organic causes of the disease, a pregnant woman is recommended to keep rest. Limiting physical activity, taking herbal sedatives, as well as drugs containing potassium and magnesium.

Diagnostics

When diagnosing, it is important to start working with the patient with a thorough questioning. The doctor must listen to the patient with a stethoscope, determining the presence of a heart murmur. For a correct diagnosis, it is important for a specialist to determine what causes tachycardia, how long the attack lasts, and whether it suddenly manifests itself.

To detect cardiac pathology that causes tachycardia, an in-depth diagnosis is carried out, which includes:

• echocardiography
• MRI of the heart
• electrophysiological study of impulse migration through the heart muscle
• load test.

Since tachycardia is not necessarily a consequence of cardiac pathology, in the presence of uncertainty in the diagnosis, additional studies are carried out, including:

• Blood analysis
• Thyroid hormone analysis
• Electroencephalogram of the brain.

In what case should you see a doctor?

• One or more episodes of loss of consciousness (fainting)
• Presence of chest pain
• Attacks of dizziness, blackouts in the eyes
• If palpitations appear for no apparent reason and do not go away within 5 minutes
• If tachycardia occurs against the background of other existing heart diseases.

An individual examination plan will be appointed by the attending physician at a full-time appointment; self-diagnosis in the presence of complaints of heart palpitations cannot be done.

Treatment of tachycardia in adults

When treating tachycardia, it is important to consider the reasons why this condition develops, as well as the type of tachycardia. There are a number of conditions in which treatment is not required at all. To normalize the heartbeat, you need a good rest, a change in lifestyle to a more correct one. Often people just need to calm down.

The main methods of struggle are:

• maintaining a diet;
• abstinence from smoking and drinking alcohol;
• visiting a specialist and taking sedative drugs;
• taking medication;
• massage in the form of pressing movements on the eyeballs;
• surgical intervention.

If ventricular tachycardia occurs, the patient needs immediate hospitalization and quality medical care. Preventive measures include diagnosing the disease in the early stages and timely treatment of pathology.

There are the following drugs used in the treatment of tachycardia:

1. Herbal sedatives(Novo-passit, valerian, Persen, etc.) and synthetic drugs (Diazepam, Phenobarbital, etc.) are used to treat tachycardia in these drugs normalize the functioning of the nervous system, reducing the frequency of attacks.
2. Antiarrhythmic drugs- This is a large group of medicines, including medicines with different mechanisms of action. The appointment of one or another antiarrhythmic agent is carried out only by the attending physician on the basis of the data available to him.

Medicines perform the following functions:

• control the heart rate;
• restore normal heart rhythm;
• control the heart rate.

The choice of antiarrhythmic drug for the treatment of tachycardia depends on the following factors:

• type of tachycardia;
• other diseases of the patient;
• side effects of the selected drug; patient response to treatment.

In some cases, several antiarrhythmic drugs are indicated.

Lifestyle

Any type of tachycardia, especially ventricular, in combination with heart disease, requires a more careful approach to the organization of lifestyle. This concept includes:

• adherence to the principles of rational nutrition - the exclusion of fatty, salty, spicy foods, the use of cereals and cereal products, lactic acid products, lean meats, fish and poultry, natural juices, vegetables and fruits.
• compliance with the regime of work and rest with the restriction of significant psycho-emotional and physical stress, prolonged exposure to fresh air.
• adherence to treatment is the key to preventing frequent attacks and complications.

It is necessary to visit a doctor in a timely manner with additional research methods, regularly take antiarrhythmic drugs and other medicines prescribed by a doctor for other heart diseases.

Surgery

Surgical intervention is indicated for frequently occurring ventricular tachycardia (more than 2 paroxysms per month), as well as in all other cases where conservative methods of treatment have not been effective. Purpose of surgery– destruction of closed pathways of impulse conduction in the heart – achieved by resection of the myocardial scar and reconstruction of the cavity of the left ventricle. In some cases, localization of the scar requires prosthetics of the mitral valve of the heart.

An attack of tachycardia of the heart: what is the danger and what to do?

An attack of tachycardia always begins unexpectedly. This phenomenon can be recognized by a sharp increase in the number of heart contractions. The duration of the attack varies from minutes to hours.

Attacks of tachycardia negatively affect the work of the cardiovascular system, since due to an increase in the speed of the heartbeat, it is not provided with blood supply in the required volume. As a result, the blood filling of the ventricles decreases, which in turn negatively affects the functioning of the heart muscle and can lead to myocardial infarction.

There are several simple tricks that help normalize heart contractions by reducing their intensity. You can do these tricks on your own.

• Start coughing hard, clearing your throat.
• Wash your face and hands with very cold water.
• Lightly press on the eyeballs and massage them.
• Hold your breath and exhale with an effort.
• Try to tighten all the muscles of the body, then relax them. Repeat the exercise several times. When straining, it is advisable to hold your breath.
• Inducing vomiting can reduce the number of heartbeats.

Folk remedies

1. Healing mixture for tachycardia. Chop 2 walnuts, mix with 1 tbsp. l. honey, add lemon zest. Eat a portion of this gruel before bed every day for a month, then take a 10-day break and repeat the course.
2. Decoction of lemon balm and mint also recommended for attacks of tachycardia. For its preparation 2 tbsp. l. dry herbs are poured with boiling water and infused for several hours. After that, you need to strain the broth, you can add 1 tsp. honey. Drink half a glass 2-3 per day.
3. Sedative drug, prepared from the following herbs: motherwort - 50 grams; peppermint - 100 grams; lavender - 50 grams; Melissa - 100 grams. Mix all ingredients. Pour the collection with cold water (a liter of liquid per tablespoon of raw materials). Put on a slow fire and stand after boiling for 8 minutes. Strain after cooling. Three glasses of decoction should be drunk per day. Phytotherapists claim that it is possible to cure tachycardia in a few months with such folk remedies.
4. Take a teaspoon of motherwort herb, a tablespoon of hawthorn fruit and a tablespoon of rose hips. a teaspoon of green tea large leaf. Pour the grass into a thermos, pour 500 milliliters of boiling water into the thermos, leave for about 30 minutes. Then we filter, we drink such tea in two doses, in the morning and in the evening, dividing the amount in half. Take 20 days, then 10 days off.
5. You need to grind the chicory roots and pour a tablespoon of already crushed product with a glass of boiling water. After it has been infused for one hour, you can take it three times a day after meals for a tablespoon.

Folk remedies can be an effective addition to drug therapy, speeding up the healing process.

Forecast

For a healthy body, the occurrence of physiological tachycardia does not pose a serious threat to the patient's life. In people with heart disease, the prognosis can be serious, since the sinus form of the disease can worsen the course of chronic heart failure.

Prevention

1. To stay healthy, you need to eat right. Healthy food provides the body with important elements and substances, which has a good effect on the work of all organs, especially the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
2. Excess weight provokes the development of many dangerous diseases, especially blood vessels suffer.
3. Smoking provokes vasospasm and negatively affects the functioning of many organs. Very often, tachycardia is the result of this bad habit.
4. Self-medication with various drugs can provoke an increase in heart rate.