Depending on the type and cause of tachycardia, the following factors may trigger it:. Heart block affects heart rhythms and slows the heartbeat. Learn more about it here. If there is no clear underlying cause, it may take some time to find a suitable treatment option. There are several ways to slow a rapid heartbeat during an episode.
The following sections will look at these in more detail. Some techniques, or maneuvers , can affect this nerve and help slow the heartbeat. Such techniques include:. A healthcare professional may also apply gentle pressure to the eyeballs while the person has their eyes closed.
A doctor can administer antiarrhythmic drugs either orally or intravenously. These drugs aim to restore a normal heart rhythm and control the heart rate. Some examples of antiarrhythmic drugs include amiodarone Cordarone , sotalol Betapace , and mexiletine Mexitil.
This affects the electrical impulses in the heart and may restore a normal rhythm. Some measures can help prevent and manage tachycardia. The following sections will discuss these measures in more detail. Medications that can help people manage tachycardia include:. An electrophysiologist can insert catheters into the heart through the blood vessels.
Electrodes at the ends of the catheter can ablate, or damage, small sections of the heart that are responsible for the abnormal heartbeat. Sometimes, a doctor will recommend surgery to make repairs or changes that can help reduce the risk of tachycardia.
They will only do this if other therapies have not worked or if the person has another heart condition. Depending on the type and cause of tachycardia, the following symptoms may occur:. However, many people have no symptoms and only find out that they have tachycardia during a routine examination. The following sections will outline some common types of tachycardia.
In this type, the heart beats faster than usual, but the rhythm is regular, and the impulse comes from the sinoatrial node.
Learn more about sinus tachycardia here. Atrial or supraventricular tachycardia is an accelerated heart rhythm that starts in the upper chambers of the heart. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. But your resting heart rate is your baseline. Resting heart rate can vary from person to person and day-to-day. But a high resting heart rate can be a red flag, says cardiologist Tamanna Singh, MD.
Place a finger on the side of your neck or against your wrist until you feel your pulse. Then count the number of beats in 60 seconds.
In general, a slower resting heart rate is a sign of good health. Often, a high resting heart rate is a sign that your heart is working harder than it needs to. Singh says. How can you dial down a resting heart rate? Your target heart rate uses this calculation to reflect the ideal bpm you need for a great workout. For adults, a fast heart rate is defined as a heart rate over beats per minute.
There are many different types of tachycardia. Their classification is based on their cause and the part of the heart they affect.
Experiencing tachycardia may be temporary. For athletes and people that exercise regularly, a heart rate of under 60 beats per minute is normal and even healthy. Borderline or occasional bradycardia may not need treatment. But prolonged bradycardia, or bradycardia that is not treated, can become more serious. If you are already living with heart disease, heart failure, or a history of heart disease and notice a fluctuation in your heart rate, you should go to the doctor as soon as you can, as it could be a sign of a serious complication.
It could be a sign of a serious heart complication, and you should get yourself to the doctor or the emergency room as soon as you can. While there are a wide variety of wearable devices that can help you check your own heart rate, you can also do it manually. The American Heart Association has a simple method :. Tachycardia, which again is when your heart rate is faster than it should be, can be caused by underlying health conditions, such as:.
Taking illegal drugs such as stimulants, like cocaine or methamphetamines or misusing both prescription and non-prescription medicines like diet pills may also cause your heart to beat too fast.
Once a diagnosis is made, your doctor will work with you to develop a plan to treat and manage your condition. You should always aim to take good care of your heart. This includes doing things like exercising regularly , eating a variety of heart-healthy foods , minimizing alcohol, and managing your weight. These include:. In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal.
The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular AV node and into the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood. To understand the causes of heart rate or rhythm problems such as tachycardia, it helps to understand how the heart's electrical system works.
Your heart is made up of four chambers — two upper chambers atria and two lower chambers ventricles. Your heartbeat is normally controlled by a natural pacemaker called the sinus node, which is located in the right atrium. The sinus node produces electrical impulses that normally start each heartbeat.
From the sinus node, electrical impulses travel across the atria, causing the atrial muscles to contract and pump blood into the lower chambers of the heart ventricles. The electrical impulses then arrive at a cluster of cells called the atrioventricular AV node — usually the only pathway for signals to travel from the atria to the ventricles.
The AV node slows down the electrical signal before sending it to the ventricles. This slight delay allows the ventricles to fill with blood. When electrical impulses reach the muscles of the ventricles, they contract, causing them to pump blood either to the lungs or to the rest of the body. When anything disrupts this complex system, it can cause the heart to beat too fast tachycardia , too slow bradycardia or with an irregular rhythm.
Growing older or having a family history of tachycardia or other heart rhythm disorder makes you more likely to develop tachycardia.
Any condition that puts a strain on the heart or damages heart tissue can increase your risk of tachycardia. Such conditions include:. Lifestyle changes or medical treatment for related health conditions may decrease your risk of tachycardia.
Complications of tachycardia depend on the type of tachycardia, how fast the heart is beating, how long the rapid heart rate lasts and if you have any other heart conditions.
The most effective way to prevent tachycardia is to maintain a healthy heart and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. If you already have heart disease, monitor it and follow your treatment plan to help prevent tachycardia.
If you already have heart disease, you can take steps to help prevent tachycardia or another arrhythmia:. Tachycardia care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.
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