Percentages of death from tachycardia. Causes of the pathological form of tachyarrhythmia. Congenital malformations

The reaction of a rapid heartbeat in itself is not dangerous and does not indicate problems with the heart if it is isolated in nature, and you can accurately name the reason why the heart rate has increased. However, in some cases, an accelerated heartbeat may indicate a problem with the cardiovascular system.

In medicine, this symptom is called tachycardia (from the ancient Greek “tachos” - fast and “cardia” - heart). Tachycardia is not isolated independent disease, but is classified as a symptom of other diseases, not always associated specifically with the work of the heart.

We measure the pulse correctly

An easy way to tell if your heart rate is normal is to monitor your pulse regularly. To do this, measure the pulse in a calm state: in a healthy person, the heart rate is from 50 to 100 beats per minute. The readings will not be accurate if the pulse was measured immediately after eating, in an emotional state, with a cold accompanied by fever, and so on. By the way, hence the often occurring inaccuracy of diagnosis during a full-time appointment with a doctor - the patient's excitement provokes an acceleration of the heartbeat. If you have to go to a cardiologist, measure your pulse and blood pressure at home for several days, when nothing worries or worries you, and show these data to the doctor at the appointment.

If, when measuring the pulse in calm conditions, its frequency exceeds 90-100 beats, it makes sense to see a doctor. In such cases, we can talk about the presence of tachycardia, and it may indicate heart disease. The fact is that many cardiovascular diseases develop “silently”. Their early diagnosis consists of monitoring pulse and blood pressure. Such simple observations, accessible to anyone at home, will help maintain health for many years.

Physiological tachycardia

Tachycardia as a natural reaction, which we mentioned at the very beginning of the article, is called physiological. This is the body's natural response to exposure to an extreme environment. A sharp release of adrenaline into the blood affects the heart rate, which is a direct consequence of hormonal fluctuations. In a healthy person, the pulse can also accelerate in hot weather, high in the mountains, where the air is rarefied, in conditions of high humidity.

Tachycardia can also be provoked by a sharp change in body position - for example, you abruptly got up from a lying or sitting position, took a deep and strong breath. Strong coffee and tea, alcohol, and taking medications also have an effect on the pulse rate. All this is physiological tachycardia. In a healthy person, it is not accompanied by dizziness, pain in the cardiac region, shortness of breath or fainting.

It is worth mentioning separately people with so-called constitutional tachycardia (asthenics) and tachycardia of pregnant women, when an increase in heart rate is associated with an increasing load on the heart and blood vessels. After childbirth, such tachycardia resolves naturally and does not require medical supervision.

Is it necessary to treat physiological tachycardia?

Physiological tachycardia is compensated by the body itself when negative external factors, affecting the functioning of the cardiovascular system. For example, in a healthy person, the pulse returns to normal 5 minutes after you stop playing sports. If the tachycardia was caused by a high temperature, then it will also “calm down” after the main symptom is relieved.

Physiological tachycardia has a sinus cause: the pulse quickens when the active work of the sinoatrial node begins. In the vast majority of cases, it is not necessary to treat tachycardia, but to eliminate external load on the cardiovascular system.

If you do not exercise, do not drink alcohol or tonic drinks, and your pulse is still outside the normal range, it makes sense to check your thyroid gland and monitor drinking regime, find out if you have vegetative-vascular dystonia.

For sinus tachycardia, sedatives are most often used. In mild cases, herbal sedatives based on well-known medicinal herbs - lemon balm, valerian, and so on - will be sufficient. When stress on the nervous system is regular, it is possible to use synthetic sedatives.

When tachycardia is life-threatening

In addition to sinus tachycardia, paroxysmal (ectopic) is distinguished. The heart rate is affected not only by the sinoatrial node, but also by other areas of the heart. When they increase their impulse activity, ectopic tachycardia appears. It can be both ventricular and supraventricular (that is, atrial). However, only an electrocardiogram can reveal such nuances. The type of tachycardia is not diagnosed or determined in absentia.

Paroxysmal tachycardia is a sudden sharp increase in heart rate, which is usually preceded by a feeling of anxiety and restlessness. Paroxysmal tachycardia is much more dangerous than physiological tachycardia, because its attack can be combined with an attack of angina pectoris (severe pain in the heart), panic attacks (thoughts of death, severe anxiety of unknown origin), fainting, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Even more dangerous is the fact that this type of tachycardia can hide the development of myocardial infarction, a life-threatening condition that requires emergency hospitalization.

Urgent ambulance!

It is necessary to immediately call an ambulance if the pulse rate during an attack of tachycardia exceeds 140 beats per minute. After taking an ECG, the doctor will be able to determine what caused the paroxysmal attack, and this is vitally important. Thus, atrial tachycardia can be provoked by prolonged stress and the presence of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It is unpleasant, but not life-threatening. But ventricular tachycardia may indicate myocardial infarction, acute intoxication, acute myocarditis and other potentially life-threatening conditions.

Even if the attack of paroxysmal tachycardia did not last long and stopped on its own, it is important to contact a cardiologist. The danger of this type of tachycardia is that an attack can begin at any time and last up to several days if the symptom is not stopped on time under medical supervision.

To treat or not to treat – that is the question

What is fraught with tachycardia, which is not treated and prefer to "endure" attacks until "it goes away by itself."

For example, cardiogenic shock. This is a pathological condition in which the blood stops circulating in the body in a normal rhythm. The result is unconsciousness and fainting. Among the dangerous consequences of tachycardia are also acute heart failure with pulmonary edema, coronary insufficiency and a number of other pathological conditions that pose a direct threat to life. Panic attacks with acute attacks fear of death is also a reason.

How to live with tachycardia

If you are already familiar with tachycardia firsthand, then it is in your power to keep the symptom under control and prevent the development of such severe consequences. Fortunately, tachycardia allows you to live a full life and not be afraid of a constant attack, if a person is ready to monitor his body.

First, you should contact a cardiologist to determine the type of tachycardia and the presence of an underlying disease that provokes its attacks. In this case, the main therapy will be to treat the disease, the symptom of which is tachycardia. As soon as the cause is eliminated, the tachycardia will go away.

Simple and accessible measures for everyone to alleviate their condition with rapid heartbeat:

• giving up strong tea, energy drinks, alcohol, and the habit of stimulating the nervous system with coffee;
• lung intake sedatives herbal based;
• compliance with the daily routine: and rest;
• therapeutic exercises or, on the contrary, complete rest and refusal of physical activity (depending on the type of tachycardia and the doctor’s prescription);
• taking vitamins of the potassium and magnesium group.

Medical therapy may also include prescribing antiarrhythmic drugs. It is not recommended to self-medicate tachycardia if its attacks are regular and are not caused by the body’s natural reactions to external stimuli. remember, that different types tachycardias require a different treatment approach.

Any heart disease brings inconvenience, discomfort and fear. In order to bring your condition back to normal during attacks or heart failure, you need to understand a little about these diseases. Consider how dangerous the heart is, what kind of pathology it is and how to treat it.

Tachycardia is an increased heartbeat. That is, this is a type of arrhythmia in which the contraction of the heart muscle exceeds 90 beats/min. The standard rate for a healthy adult is 60-90 beats per minute.

In newborn babies, the heart beats twice as fast and the norm is 120-140 beats/min. It directly depends on individual characteristics person. But a heartbeat below or above this norm is considered a pathology.

This type of violation heart rate there are two types:

1. the pathological type of tachycardia is more dangerous and occurs both during exertion and in a state of calm. This indicates a violation of the cardiovascular system and the development of the following diseases: cardiosclerosis, myocarditis, and others. The main danger is that tachycardia can lead to
2. the physiological type of tachycardia occurs with temporary phenomena that do not satisfy human health. It can be excessive loads, stress, nervous tension, elevated temperature bodies. It is important to note that the heart rate increases with both negative and positive emotions. Other temporary factors that increase heart rate can be smoking, alcohol, irritating drinks such as energy drinks or coffee. Physiological tachycardia does not require treatment - it is a normal natural process, that is, the body’s reaction to some stimulus.

If the heart rate increases quite often, for no particular reason, this is a reason to contact a cardiologist and undergo diagnostics to identify heart diseases, which are “reported” by tachycardia.

Varieties and symptoms

Tachycardia has pronounced symptoms, so it can be easily recognized independently. But you need to be treated only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Experts identify several types of tachycardia, and each of them has special symptoms, but the general ones that characterize increased heartbeat include the following:

• general weakness of the body
• shortness of breath when walking
• temporary bouts of dizziness
• feeling of "darkening" in the eyes
• lack of air
• appearance pain in the chest
• possible loss of consciousness
• feeling of an attack when changing heartbeats

Now let's look in more detail at the symptoms of each type of tachycardia:

1. Sinus tachycardia characterized by a beat exceeding 100 beats per minute. You can determine it when counting pulse contractions or using. A slight increase in heartbeats, as a rule, does not require treatment, and doctors recommend adjusting your diet and establishing a daily routine. In some individual cases (if the patient has previously had heart problems), medications may be prescribed to slow down the heart rate. Self-administration of such drugs can lead to bradycardia (slow heartbeat) and heart block. Therefore, it can be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor in the appropriate dosage. Symptoms of this type of tachycardia include a slight increase in heart rate and fatigue, both physical and psychological.
2. Atrial tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia is manifested by a strong heartbeat of 150-250 beats per minute. In this case, there arises severe shortness of breath, feeling of excitement and fear. You cannot survive such an attack; you must urgently call an ambulance. Atrial tachycardia is eliminated only in hospital conditions.
3. Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia is manifested by temporary attacks that begin for no known reason and also end on their own. In this case, the heartbeat reaches up to 220 beats. Symptoms include weakness, tinnitus and dizziness. If it is stuffy, you may feel dizzy. As the heart beats accelerate, the chest contracts and a feeling of lack of air occurs. At this time there may be excessive sweating(“breaks into a sweat”), nausea, possible stomach upset. If the attack continues long time, then most likely your blood pressure will decrease. If the attack does not go away after some time, it is necessary to call ambulance, since after a few hours other signs will begin - a violation of the excretory system, in which the volume of urine increases. Often such an attack becomes a precursor. It is impossible to distinguish paroxysmal tachycardia from atrial tachycardia on its own, so it is important to consult a doctor and have a cardiogram done to clarify the diagnosis.

You can learn more about how to treat tachycardia at home from the video:

Most often, tachycardia occurs in men after 40 years of age and in women after menopause. In some cases, it affects children. In infants this symptom manifests itself in connection with abnormal contraction of the heart chambers. As a rule, this phenomenon goes away with age and does not pose any threat to the health and life of the baby. The exception is children who were born with a heart defect.

In children, tachycardia manifests itself in the same way as in adults:

• skin turns pale
• heartbeat increases
• general weakness
• dyspnea
• fainting

If the child is still small and cannot report his health status, then parents should themselves monitor the heartbeat, mood and condition of their child.

Why is tachycardia dangerous?

Attacks of tachycardia negatively affect the entire body as a whole. First of all, they provoke development. This is due to the fact that constant attacks worsen the functioning of the heart, causing oxygen deficiency due to impaired blood circulation. Then, the increased heart rate wears out the heart muscle, which can cause arrhythmic shock.

When the heart beats rapidly, blood circulation is disrupted, causing a lack of oxygen and minerals in the brain, which can cause a person to lose consciousness.If you experience a rapid pulse, it is recommended to contact a cardiologist for an examination.

There are several research methods for diagnosing tachycardia. The very first is a survey and examination by a cardiologist. The doctor studies the patient's medical history, measures pulse and blood pressure. If there is a suspicious heart rhythm, he writes a referral to. It is this type of study that will accurately indicate the presence or absence of tachycardia and show its type.

Based on the results of all studies, the specialist determines the type of tachycardia and, depending on it, prescribes treatment.

In some cases, to get more accurate results They can perform a Holter ECG - this is a 24-hour study. In this case, special sensors are attached to the patient and the heart rhythm is monitored throughout the day. This will allow more accurate analysis results.

In addition, you must pass general tests blood and urine. From them you can see disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system, since hormonal background plays an important role in the functioning of the heart.

Treatment and prognosis

The essence of treatment is determined by the causes of its occurrence and type. Due to the fact that disturbances in the functioning of the heart negatively affect the functioning of other organs.

In this regard, complex treatment is most often prescribed:

• First, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that provoke increased heart rate.
• Secondly, it is important to adjust your diet and sleep patterns. An adult should sleep at least 8 hours.
• In addition, you should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.

During the treatment period, you must undergo an examination and consultation with an endocrinologist, immunologist, neurologist and other specialized specialists to determine your health status.

As for prognosis, tachycardia most often occurs as a result of a defect or dysfunction of the left ventricle. In addition, arrhythmia (a subtype of which is tachycardia) is a signal of a disorder in the cardiovascular system. As a rule, an increased rhythm is a precursor to a heart attack, so you should be careful and careful.

During an attack, it is better to call an ambulance than to try to regulate the heart function on your own.

Since the whole body is one whole, the work of all organs directly depends on each other. As preventive methods against tachycardia, it is necessary to treat any diseases in a timely manner. It is important to improve nutrition, excluding from daily menu spicy, fried foods that are harmful to the body. It is necessary to take care of a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals that come through food.

It is very important to "breathe fresh air". This means that you need to regularly ventilate the room and go outside daily. Breathing stagnant air is not very beneficial. As a result, oxygen deficiency may occur.

Is tachycardia dangerous?

Tachycardia is the name given to rapid heartbeat of any origin. A heart rate of more than one hundred beats per minute is considered tachycardia. In this case, the rhythm usually remains unchanged and correct, that is, the length of the intervals between heart contractions is constant. Paroxysmal tachycardia is a condition in which an attack of tachycardia comes unexpectedly and just as suddenly ends.

Why does tachycardia appear?

There can be many reasons for the appearance of tachycardia. Tachycardia appears due to the body’s normal, natural reaction to physical and emotional stress, alcohol consumption, increased body temperature, and smoking. The heartbeat becomes faster in the case of:

• lowering blood pressure (for example, during bleeding);
• due to a decrease in hemoglobin levels (in case of anemia);
• during development purulent infection;
• with a malignant tumor;
• increased function thyroid gland;
• in the case of the use of certain drugs.

There is also a special group of tachycardias, the appearance of which is associated with pathology of the heart muscle or various disorders in the system associated with the electrical conductivity of the heart.

How does tachycardia manifest?

Symptoms of tachycardia include:

• heartbeat;
• dizziness;
• weakness;
• feeling of lack of air;
• feeling of near loss of consciousness.

How is tachycardia treated?

The method of treating tachycardia depends on the causes of development and its specific type. In most situations, you can do without treatment. A person just needs to calm down, change his lifestyle, and relax. In some cases it is shown drug treatment, but only a doctor should decide on the prescription of certain drugs after conducting an appropriate examination. The appearance of tachycardia without obvious reasons should be a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

Correcting the condition is based on eliminating the causes. Tachycardia is not a symptom, not independent disease. Most often, tachycardia is caused by disorders of the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, heart diseases.

What is the danger of the condition

Tachycardia should be taken as quite dangerous phenomenon, as a result of which blood pressure decreases and blood flow to the organs decreases. In addition, the blood supply to the heart is disrupted. In particular severe cases tachycardia can lead to fibrillation of the heart, which may stop.

How to cure tachycardia using traditional methods

Pour one tablespoon of blue cornflower with a glass of boiling water, leave for one hour, strain. Take a third of a glass three times a day twenty or thirty minutes before meals.

Pour two tablespoons of lemon balm herb into two glasses of boiling water. Leave for an hour, strain, take half a glass half an hour before meals three or four times a day.

Tachycardia - what is it? Causes, symptoms and treatment of tachycardia in children and adults

Any heartbeat whose intensity is more than 100 beats per minute is perceived by most people as tachycardia. This is a common stereotypical opinion. But in fact, the whole problem is not in the number of beats, but in the rhythm of the heartbeat, that is, in the duration of the interval between heart contractions. If they differ in time, it is alarm signal. Moreover, tachycardia is a condition that can suddenly overtake a person and end just as unexpectedly.

There is no need to immediately think about what medications to buy for tachycardia. We need to get to the bottom of the problem. If a person is healthy, he has normal temperature, then in a calm state the number of heart beats per minute should be about 80 (in a lying position). In a standing position - about 100. If these indicators exceed the designated norms, we can talk about tachycardia.

There are two forms of tachycardia - physiological and pathological. If a symptom of heart tachycardia - rapid beating - occurs often after certain physical activities, experiences or worries, then we're talking about about physiological tachycardia. If we consider the second option - pathological tachycardia, then rapid heartbeat in this form is a consequence of certain diseases. These are failures in endocrine system, and nervous and mental disorders. Often pathological tachycardia develops while taking certain drugs or alcohol, and often in case of failures in the cardiac system.

Causes of tachycardia

Tachycardia is a disease that is defined by doctors as chronic or with periodically recurring attacks. In the latter case, the doctor decides what kind of cardiac tachycardia the patient has - paroxysmal or sinus. There is a certain difficulty in identifying sinus tachycardia, since often the patient himself cannot determine exactly when it occurs, he may not feel it. To determine tachycardia, it is necessary to listen to the heart and measure the heartbeat.

As a rule, if you are subjected to physical or emotional stress, you have chronic diseases heart, if you are a smoker, drink alcohol, then you may develop tachycardia. Treatment - drugs prescribed by a doctor. If the case is severe, the doctor prescribes those drugs that normalize the concentration of electrolytes in the blood - potassium, calcium, chlorine. Beta blockers may also be prescribed.

A rapid heartbeat can occur in a situation where blood pressure drops sharply (bleeding is open in some part of the body). Decreased hemoglobin levels are additional factor leading to the development of tachycardia. The cause of the disease can also be the presence of a purulent infection in the body or the development of a malignant tumor. In addition, if you have an impaired thyroid secretion, you are taking medication strong action, then you are also at risk of developing tachycardia. Finally, there is tachycardia, the causes of which are hidden in the characteristics of the heart muscle itself.

Cardiac tachycardia: recognizing the symptoms of the disease

As a rule, the symptoms of tachycardia of the heart are characterized by pronounced severity, namely:

1. The heart rate increases sharply.

2. Weakness.

3. Attacks of dizziness.

4. Attacks of nausea, intermittent.

5. Lack of air, fainting.

6. Since the blood supply to the brain is difficult, there is a darkening in the eyes.

7. Shortness of breath.

8. The occurrence of pain in chest area.

Since tachycardia is not one disease, but several, it means that its different types have different symptoms. Let's consider the main ones.

Sinus tachycardia: recognize and treat

ECG is the most reliable way diagnosing. If this is not possible, count your pulse. If the heart rate is more than 90 beats per minute, and the rhythm remains correct, then this may be a sign of sinus or supraventricular tachycardia. Another symptom may be increased fatigue. If sinus tachycardia is minor, it may not be specifically treated. Seeing a doctor is mandatory if attacks recur. And the doctor will individually prescribe medications and treatment. Medicines for tachycardia are medications that slow the heart rate, called beta blockers.

Supraventricular tachycardia of the heart - what is it? It originates in the atria. It is characterized by the following manifestations:

1. Heart beats can reach up to 250 beats per minute.

2. A feeling of fear arises from time to time.

If these symptoms occur, call an ambulance immediately. Doctors will provide immediate treatment. Supraventricular tachycardia in this form is eliminated by identifying the real reason its occurrence, doctors conduct comprehensive medical research.

Paroxysmal tachycardia

It should immediately be noted that this type of tachycardia requires prompt medical intervention; when its first symptoms appear, you should urgently call an ambulance. Ventricular tachycardia occurs, accordingly, in the heart ventricles. The onset is characterized by a sudden attack, which also passes suddenly and can last a few seconds or several days. The heart rate reaches 140-220 beats per minute. At the same time, the patient feels very severe weakness general, dizziness, nervous tension, tinnitus, heaviness in the chest area, a feeling of constriction of the heart. May also be accompanied by sweating, nausea and increased gas formation in the intestines.

If the attack lasts for a long time, the patient’s blood pressure often drops and fainting may occur. As a rule, ventricular tachycardia develops against the background of myocardial infarction and myocarditis, intoxication from medications. This type of tachycardia poses a serious threat to human life.

How to distinguish atrial tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia

The most reliable way is to do an ECG. If attacks recur, doctors carry out therapy aimed at eliminating the arrhythmia, but the doctor’s main decision is to eliminate the disease that provokes the development of tachycardia. Do not self-medicate tachycardia disease. Treatment - medications prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment of sinus tachycardia

Rest, peace and strength, good sleep are the most important medications for supraventricular tachycardia. Shows walks in nature, light physical workload, positive emotions, minimizing stress. In general, it is shown that it will promote relaxation and restore the disturbed heart rhythm. If possible, you should give up alcohol and cigarettes. Review your diet in favor of easily digestible foods, eliminate caffeine-containing drinks (coffee, tea), which increase heart rate. This regimen is an excellent prevention of sinus tachycardia.

Treatment of ventricular tachycardia

In this case the only way out- this is a hospital. Therapy consists of the use of drugs based on lidocaine (Lidocaine). The doctor prescribes medications that have an antiarrhythmic effect, for example, Flecainide, Adenosine, Varapamil. If a diagnosis is made paroxysmal tachycardia", the treatment consists of intravenous administration antiarrhythmic substance.

It happens that a severe attack is taken by surprise, and it is impossible to call an ambulance. Don’t panic, even if no one is around, just learn the following algorithm of your actions: unbutton the top buttons of your jacket, sweater, collar, take off your scarf, that is, ensure a free flow of air to the nasopharynx, open the window. If you are at home, apply a cool compress, hold your breath and push as if you want to go to the toilet.

Various hormonal abnormalities are often the cause of tachycardia, the treatment of which consists of surgery. For example, for thyrotoxicosis, it is usually recommended to remove part of the thyroid gland so that it does not produce excess hormones that affect the heart rate.

If surgery is scheduled

Most effective way treatment of ventricular tachycardia, in contrast to the use of medications, is surgery, namely, catheter ablation. This operation allows you to forget about tachycardia attacks forever in most cases. In simple terms, during the operation, radiofrequency pulses destroy the tissue that causes the heart rhythm to fail. Within 24 hours after surgery, the doctor prescribes bed rest. You should avoid physical activity for a week.

Tachycardia during pregnancy

Starting from the sixth month of pregnancy, women often experience an attack of tachycardia. The number of heart beats during sinus tachycardia can reach 115-120 beats per minute; if a woman was prone to paroxysmal tachycardia, then the beats can reach 220 per minute. Moreover, symptomatically, the disease manifests itself in general weakness, dizziness, pain in the heart area.

At the same time, we must remember that a pregnant woman’s rapid heartbeat is not a reason to urgently call an ambulance or, God forbid, to run to take medication. The heart of a pregnant woman, working at a rapid pace, provides the child with nutrients and oxygen, without which he cannot exist, grow and develop. You just need to lie down and relax, turn on calm music, and isolate sources of stress. But if a pregnant woman’s tachycardia is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, then this may indicate the presence of one or another heart disease. Contact your gynecologist, he will refer you to a specialized doctor. It is dangerous for a pregnant woman to self-medicate.

Pediatric tachycardia

Children, even infants, unfortunately, are also susceptible to this disease. There are standards for the number of heart beats per minute for children, and they depend on the age of the child. The heart of a baby 1-2 days old should beat with an intensity of 123-159 beats per minute, and for a teenager 12-15 years old this figure is lower according to the norm - 60-119 beats.

Children are characterized by supraventricular tachycardia, which consists of too rapid contraction chambers of the heart. As a rule, this does not threaten the child’s life, and sometimes no doctor’s intervention is required.

It's a different matter when it comes to ventricular tachycardia. It occurs when the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, pump blood too quickly. And although it is quite rare in children, it can pose a threat to their lives.

Symptomatically, tachycardia in children is defined in the same way as in adults - chest pain, general weakness, rapid heartbeat, fainting states, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, dizziness.

The difficulty in determining tachycardia is that both shortness of breath and dizziness are also characteristic of other diseases (for example, bronchial asthma), but there is a possibility that it is still tachycardia. Treatment at home in any case and in case of any suspicion should be excluded; contact your pediatrician and give the child an ECG.

Tachycardia often occurs in infants, although it is quite difficult to determine in them, because the child cannot describe his sensations at this age. Generally symptomatic picture may look like this: the baby is capricious, anxious, sleeps a lot. Mothers should be very careful and monitor the child’s breathing rate - if the baby is breathing frequently, this may be one of the signs of tachycardia along with those listed above.

Algorithm of behavior in case of suspected childhood tachycardia:

1. Take a blood test for the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin, this will allow you to diagnose diseases such as anemia or leukemia.

2. Donate blood to determine thyroid hormones.

3. Take a urine test, the purpose of which is to identify adrenaline breakdown products in it.

4. Do an ECG; you can also do an electrocardiogram using the Holter method, which measures the work of the heart muscle during the day.

5. Do an echocardiogram or ultrasound of the heart. This comprehensive assessment work of the heart and its valves. During the procedure, heart defects and any chronic diseases of the heart muscle can be diagnosed.

Treatment of tachycardia in children

If the child is already big, the Valsalva method is quite effective - blowing out the middle ear: close the nose and mouth and try to exhale. So the attack is stopped if there is a supraventricular tachycardia of the heart. Children with ventricular tachycardia may benefit from radiofrequency ablation. It is carried out by inserting a catheter into the heart, which transmits radio signals designed to destroy those cardiac tissues that cause rhythmic abnormalities of the heart.

A bit about traditional medicine

Folk remedies have never been a panacea for serious diseases, especially heart diseases. If you get nervous and have tachycardia, treatment at home is simply a way to relieve the attack. If right now there is no way to call an ambulance, it is possible to remove the attack herbal remedies that have a calming effect - hawthorn, mint, motherwort, lemon balm, valerian.

At the same time, alcohol-based plant tinctures are more effective, but since alcohol is contraindicated for many people, decoctions of these herbs are used. At the same time, before taking folk herbal medicines be sure to check with your doctor! Perhaps the reception of certain herbal preparations goes against the medications you are taking!

If you are concerned about heart problems of any nature, then your diet should definitely include dried apricots, honey, lemon and nuts - foods containing potassium and magnesium. They are also suitable for children's menus, but you should remember that honey is a strong allergen, and you should not get carried away with it.

Breathing exercises

Finally, we can note one breathing practice, which in the initial stages of the development of tachycardia will quickly neutralize attacks of increased heart rate. This practice came to us from the East and is called “yogi breathing”. The method of using it is very simple - you just need to alternate inhaling through one nostril (the second should be closed) and exhaling through the other. But again - this is on initial stage, if the condition of tachycardia worsens, consult a doctor.

Prevention of tachycardia

Rest, sleep, minimum stress, eliminating, if possible, the source of the disease is best prevention tachycardia. What causes the tachycardia - the doctor will determine the reasons. Timely therapy is aimed at avoiding the development of pathologies of the disease, as well as eliminating the development of extracardiac factors that contribute to the development of tachycardia.

General recommendations for those who have progressive cardiac tachycardia - treatment under the supervision of a doctor, compliance with all his instructions. To prevent the disease, try to keep healthy image life. Give yourself the maximum possible (taking into account the individual characteristics of each person’s body) physical activity. Walking, fresh air, controlling your weight, eating clean water And healthy food- these are natural measures that prevent the development of a disease called cardiac tachycardia (we looked at what it is in detail). To go outside, to the park, to the forest once again - is it really difficult? Try to let less stress into your life and experience more positive emotions!

Arrhythmias. Increased heart rate (tachycardia) and decreased heart rate (bradycardia)

There are many various classifications heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). I will try to present you with a simplified, but absolutely understandable:

Arrhythmias:

1. Bradycardia (when the heart beats rarely).

2. Tachycardia (when the heart beats quickly). Tachycardias are:

2.1. Supraventricular (when the rhythm is set from the atria).

2.2. Ventricular (when the rhythm is set from the ventricles).

3. Atrial fibrillation (atrial fibrillation). In principle, atrial fibrillation refers to supraventricular tachycardia. But due to its prevalence and complexity of treatment, I took it out separately.

How are arrhythmias manifested?

Palpitations or cardiac arrest, interruptions in heart function.

Both bradycardia and tachycardia can be accompanied by dizziness (even fainting), chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Not all bradycardias and tachycardias require treatment. There are physiological bradycardia and tachycardia. For example, during sleep, a person’s heart rate can normally drop to 45 beats per minute. And with physical activity, the frequency increases up to 150 - 160 beats per minute. And that's okay! At rest there is no need for intensive blood circulation, just as during exercise there is such a need.

It is important to know that the vast majority of arrhythmias are secondary to the underlying disease. Those. For heart rhythm disturbances to occur, there must be some kind of heart disease, one of those that we discussed before. And treatment of the underlying (causal) disease can significantly help in the treatment of arrhythmia.

Bradycardia.

Bridycardia is a decrease in heart rate.

Bradycardias are:

1. Physiological (for example, at night a decrease in heart rate to 45 per minute is not considered pathological).

2. Dependent on the vagus nerve (vagal, parasympathetic). The vagus nerve is most active at night, after eating and after exercise. Vagal bradycardia is more typical for young people.

3. Sick sinus syndrome. These are situations when the generation of heart rhythm is disrupted. One of the varieties of sick sinus syndrome is tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome: when one condition contributes to the development of the second (bradycardia provokes tachycardia, and vice versa) and they alternate with each other.

4. AV block. These are situations when the conduction of the heart rhythm from the atria to the ventricles is disrupted, i.e. the ventricles contract less frequently than the atria.

What to do?

Examination of bradycardia includes: ECG, 24-hour ECG monitoring, atropine test, drug-induced cardiac denervation test and electrophysiological study. Most importantly: 24-hour ECG monitoring (Holter).

Physiological bradycardia does not require treatment.

Vagal bradycardia has a favorable prognosis and does not require pacemaker implantation. In some cases, it may be necessary to prescribe drugs that block the vagus nerve (becarbon, besalol, bellataminal, etc.).

Sick sinus syndrome and AV block require pacemaker implantation. Indications for implantation are divided into classes. The absolute indication (class 1) for implantation of a pacemaker is the presence of syncope in a patient. Class 2 A (implantation is reasonable) includes pauses of more than 3 seconds on the daily ECG and / or a decrease in heart rate of less than 30 beats per minute, which are accompanied by dizziness.

What types of pacemakers are there?

The most commonly implanted are AAI, DDD, VVI.

AAI is a mode of ATRIAL pacing. VVI is a mode of ventricle stimulation. DDD is atrial and ventricular pacing.

There are varieties of the stimulants listed above: VVIR, DDDR, AAIR. The letter R at the end means that the stimulator has a device that allows you to increase the heart rate during physical exertion. Those. imitate the normal physiological reaction of the heart (normally, during exercise, the pulse increases).

When should what type of stimulator be implanted?

For sick sinus syndrome, AAIR, AAI are indicated.

With AV block – DDD.

With a combination of sick sinus syndrome and AV block - DDDR.

For AV block and chronic atrial fibrillation – VVIR.

I draw attention to the type of electrode, i.e. on the wiring that goes from the stimulator to the heart. It is important that it be bipolar, i.e. so that the stimulator itself is not a cathode or anode. With a bipolar electrode, it is not possible to stimulate the muscles of the chest and diaphragm (in addition to the heart) and it is not possible to suppress the work of the stimulator due to the perception of contraction of the muscles of the chest and shoulder girdle.

Pacemaker implantation should not be treated as if it were major heart surgery. The pacemaker is implanted under local anesthesia, and the wiring is inserted into the heart through the vessels. A pacemaker is simply a heart assistant.

Tachycardia.

Tachycardia is an increase in heart rate.

Tachycardias (tachyarrhythmias) are:

1. Supraventricular, i.e. when the rhythm begins from the atria (i.e. above the ventricles of the heart):

1.1. Physiological (for example, with physical activity An increase in heart rate to 160 per minute is not considered pathological).

1.2. Extrasytolia is a premature contraction of the heart. Extrasystoles are not yet tachycardia, but tachycardia is often many extrasystoles in a row.

1.3. Reciprocal (AV nodal, WPW syndrome, atrial, atrial flutter type 1) tachycardias. These are tachycardias whose existence is based on the circulation of excitation along the ring inside the heart.

1.4. Focal and trigger tachycardias. These are tachycardias in which the source of the rhythm becomes a more active focus than the sinus node, which generates the rhythm normally.

1.5. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter type 2 are chaotic contractions of the atria.

2. Ventricular, i.e. when the impulse begins in the ventricles of the heart. Prognostically, ventricular arrhythmias are much more dangerous than supraventricular arrhythmias.

2.1. Long QT syndrome. This interval is measured on the ECG. When it is lengthened, the risk of subsequently developing ventricular arrhythmias is significantly higher.

2.2. Extrasystole is also a premature contraction of the heart, but with a source of rhythm in the ventricles. Ventricular extrasystole has its own prognostic classification (according to Luan-Wolf-Ryan), the higher the class in this classification, the worse the prognosis:

1st class – fact of availability ventricular extrasystoles, extrasystoles should be similar to each other (i.e., come from the same area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe myocardium) and there should be no more than 30 per hour.

Class 2 – more than 30 similar extrasystoles.

Grade 3 - the number of extrasystoles does not matter, but they should not be similar to each other (that is, they come from different parts of the myocardium).

Class 4 – paired extrasystoles (i.e. two in a row):

A. Two are identical, similar to each other.

B. Two different, dissimilar extrasystoles.

Class 5 – three or more ventricular extrasystoles in a row. In fact, this is already a short ventricular tachycardia.

2.3. Ventricular tachycardia. It can be unstable (up to 30 seconds) and stable (more than 30 seconds). The most dangerous ventricular tachycardia with circulatory disorders (loss of consciousness). The extreme manifestations of such tachycardia are fibrillation and ventricular flutter.

Emergency care for tachyarrhythmias before the doctor arrives.

You do not know what kind of tachycardia it is according to the above classification, but you know that the patient's heart beats often (pulse on the arm, on the neck and in the region of the heart). Your actions depend on whether the patient is conscious or not.

If the patient with rapid heartbeat unconscious, then you need to hit him hard in the chest with your fist, at the same time call an ambulance. If the patient does not recover, then resuscitation should be started immediately (artificial respiration and indirect massage hearts), because Although the heart beats frequently, its efficiency is extremely low. Resuscitation measures must be continued until the ambulance arrives.

If a patient with a rapid heartbeat is conscious, then you should try to influence his vagus nerve. To do this, you can ask him to breathe deeply and often, ask him to strain or cough, press on his stomach, spray in his face cold water, press on the sides of the neck, ask to make gagging movements. At the same time, you must also call an ambulance. After this, provide the patient with access fresh air and peace. If the patient knows about his illness, then you need to help him take the usual medications for him in such cases.

Examination of tachycardia includes: ECG, 24-hour ECG monitoring and electrophysiological study.

Planned treatment of tachycardias upon diagnosis.

1. Supraventricular.

1.1. Physiological tachycardias do not require treatment, because This normal reaction body under load.

1.2. Supraventricular extrasystoles also do not require special treatment. Treatment of supraventricular extrasystoles with antiarrhythmics (except beta blockers) is more dangerous than NOT treatment. Treatment of the patient’s underlying disease can help reduce the number of extrasystoles (for example, coronary disease hearts). Patients are divided into those who sense extrasystoles and those who do NOT feel extrasystoles. For the latter they may be effective psychotropic drugs type alprozalam (Xanex, alzolam, etc.). They will not change the number of extrasystoles, but will significantly affect the perception of extrasystoles and quality of life.

1.3. Reciprocal (AV nodal, WPW syndrome, type 1 atrial flutter) tachycardias are treated with transvenous intracardiac radiofrequency ablation. The effectiveness of the method is close to 100%. This is not an operation in the usual sense, because... no incisions are made, only local anesthesia (at the sites of vascular punctures). Mortality from such an intervention is practically absent. Of the possible complications, the most common (from 0.5 to 5%) is artificial induction of AV block followed by possible implantation of a pacemaker. Preventive drug treatment of reciprocal tachycardias is significantly DANGEROUS than radiofrequency ablation.

1.4. Focal and trigger tachycardias. The approach to treatment is individual in each case.

1.5. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter type 2. Several subsequent newsletters will be devoted to these rhythm disturbances.

2. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

2.1. It is necessary to measure the QT interval on an ECG, because For long QT syndrome, certain medications (amiodarone) cannot be used. In the brady variant of long QT syndrome, implantation of a pacemaker (DDD) is indicated. In other cases, it is advisable to take beta-blockers (metoprolol or atenolol) and/or implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (a device that produces electrical defibrillation immediately when ventricular tachycardia occurs). The cost of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator starts from $12,000, so in Russia, unfortunately, this procedure is not available to everyone.

2.2. Ventricular extrasystoles of low Lown-Wolff-Ryan classes do not require special treatment. Treatment of ventricular extrasystoles with antiarrhythmics (except beta blockers and amiodarone) is more dangerous than NOT treatment. QT. When treating ventricular extrasystoles of high grades according to Lown-Wolf-Ryan, implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator is preferable.

2.3. For preventive treatment For ventricular tachycardia, in addition to measures to treat the underlying disease, beta blockers (metoprolol or atenolol), amiodarone and/or implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator are used. Amiodarone is contraindicated in the presence of long term syndrome. QT . The most effective in terms of prognosis is implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator.

Much depends on the severity of the pathological condition and the duration of its course. In acute cases, blood pressure can quickly drop and, as a result, ischemia of the brain and heart muscle occurs. Sometimes ventricular fibrillation develops, in which unproductive cardiac activity is observed, quickly leading to the death of the patient.

Progressive tachycardia may not immediately be complicated by severe conditions. In such cases, the prognosis is more favorable and the patient can be provided with timely medical care. The only thing is that it is important not to delay calling a doctor at the first symptoms.

Video Tachycardia

Fusiform tachycardia

This is a complex condition in its development, which can be complicated by pathologies of varying severity. Most often, acute cerebral ischemia occurs, which is expressed in loss of consciousness. Some patients subsequently fall into a coma, from which it is extremely difficult to recover them. Heart failure may also develop, which is often accompanied by pulmonary edema. Without the necessary treatment, the risk of death is high.
Fusiform tachycardia can immediately be complicated by stopping blood circulation. Then in as soon as possible a defibrillator must be used. IN otherwise biological death occurs, which is expressed by irreversible changes in the body.

Video Blood Circulation

Flickering tachycardia

Much depends on the nature of the attack, its duration and the presence of concomitant diseases. In some cases, the rapid development of atrial fibrillation leads to acute heart failure and pulmonary edema. If the rhythm disturbance is prolonged and a heart rate of more than 130 beats/min is observed, then the risk of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy increases.
Flickering tachycardia is considered dangerous disease due to the most frequent development vascular thromboembolism, most often of the brain. As a result of this, the percentage of strokes with a given rhythm disturbance is the highest among cardiovascular diseases.

Flickering tachycardia can lead to death if the attack develops against the background of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with a short refractory period. Such patients without an ambulance medical care doomed.

Extreme tachycardia

Often develops against the background of various diseases, injuries, severe blood loss. If the patient is in intensive care and a sharp increase in heart rate is recorded on the monitor of the device attached to him, then they speak of extreme tachycardia. If the medical staff responds promptly, it does not lead to serious consequences.

Extreme tachycardia may be complicated by ventricular tachycardia or, in the worst case, ventricular fibrillation immediately occurs. This is observed with concomitant organic heart diseases, or if surgery was performed on the organ.

Video Heart disease. Symptoms, treatment, surgery, consequences

Physiological sinus tachycardia

In a healthy person, the development of physiological sinus tachycardia cannot lead to any complications. It is worth noting that any tachycardia causes the heart muscle to contract more frequently, which over time increases the risk of its weakness. But the situation is different with physiological heart palpitations, since this compensatory mechanism is short-lived. In a calm state, it quickly passes and, often, does not bother you until the next physical activity or emotional experience.

Physiological sinus tachycardia can develop at any age. It is especially often experienced by athletes, pregnant women, and emotionally labile people. Often, palpitations are not felt at all and can be determined by specially checking the pulse. Therefore, in most cases, the occurrence of rhythm disturbances is not a cause for concern.

Video Sinus tachycardia in a child

Transient tachycardia

The presented state in some cases passes without a trace, while in others it contributes to the development of more complex diseases. Tachycardia itself already forces the heart to work beyond its capabilities. The presence of predisposing factors in the form of organic heart lesions, traumatic injuries, shock states helps to start the process of formation of more severe pathologies in the form of fibrillation, flicker, atrial/ventricular flutter.

Terminal tachycardia refers to transient cardiac disorders. Its formation is often recorded by resuscitation equipment, which is capable of detecting the most rapid changes in heart function. Therefore, when providing timely assistance rhythm disturbance does not have a significant effect on hemodynamics,

Video Consequences of cardiovascular diseases

Extrasystolic tachycardia

When various types of rhythm disturbance are combined, the patient’s general well-being significantly worsens. Tachycardia in combination with extrasystole can provoke a panic attack in extremely susceptible people. The risk of developing organic heart pathology also increases, especially when the disease develops in old age or with negative heredity.
Extrasystolic tachycardia can be associated with diseases not only of the heart, but also of other localizations. Accordingly, various complications arise. Basically, frequent and difficult to treat extrasystole in combination with tachycardia increases the risk sudden stop hearts. One of the most dangerous consequences of the development of rhythm disturbances is atrial fibrillation, which is also known as atrial fibrillation.

Video Dr. Myasnikov advises atrial fibrillation

Junctional tachycardia

Refers to atrioventricular reciprocal nodal tachycardia, which in most cases is defined as congenital pathology. It occurs in both adults and children, but is more often detected in young women. It can be complicated by any cardiovascular disorder, especially if there is exposure to a provoking factor (stress, physical activity, bad habits).

Nodal tachycardia belongs to the category of rhythm disturbances formed according to the principle of circular circulation of an electrical impulse. Such pathologies are often complicated by flickering, and in rare cases by fibrillation. Swiftly developing seizures may have other serious consequences - severe suffocation. If palpitations continue for a long time, then due to decreased ventricular contractility, the risk of acute heart failure increases.

Video Heart failure. What makes the heart weak?

Left ventricular tachycardia

Any processes affecting the functioning of the left ventricle pose a considerable danger to human health and even life. Therefore, the development of left ventricular tachycardia can negatively affect hemodynamics and, accordingly, the general well-being of a person.
Left ventricular tachycardia can be complicated by acute heart failure. The risk of developing such a pathology is especially high in older people and in the presence of a family history of cardiovascular diseases. In severe cases, ventricular fibrillation develops, which requires immediate medical intervention.

Pacemaker tachycardia

Rhythm disturbances appear in those patients who have had a pacemaker implanted. Prolonged attacks noticeably worsen your well-being and prevent you from performing your usual work. Patients often require special medical care, since when the heartbeat develops, the normal operation of the device is disrupted. In some cases, the pacemaker leads to rapid heartbeat, so the performance of the device must be assessed.

Pacemaker tachycardia itself is a complication of cardiac pacing. Pathology can provoke more severe cardiac dysfunction. In particular, flicker or fibrillation may develop and require immediate medical attention. Against the background of a rapid heartbeat, the patient’s well-being noticeably worsens, so it is very important to start treatment on time.

Video Understanding the Pacemaker And Heart’s Electrical System – Manipal Hospital

Sinoatrial tachycardia

The disease is characterized by a complex course and is often unpredictable in its development. In some cases it does not cause complications. Some patients only feel palpitations and autonomic disorders during an attack, and between attacks the quality of life does not noticeably deteriorate. In other cases, the paroxysm is so pronounced that it is difficult to stop medications and at favorable conditions may cause flickering or fibrillation.

Sinoatrial tachycardia, like other forms of rapid heartbeat, can negatively affect the cardiovascular system. Long-lasting attacks or short but frequent attacks weaken the heart muscle. If a person is aged or has other heart diseases in addition to rhythm disturbances, then the risk of developing cardiogenic shock and other terminal conditions increases.

Video Myocardial infarction

Recurrent tachycardia

Much depends on the severity of the clinic and the duration of the attack. Prolonged palpitations can cause acute heart failure. This pathology, in turn, contributes to the development of pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock, which, in fact, are very close to clinical death.
In some cases, recurrent tachycardia has a more favorable course. The heart is still doing its job, but not enough, which can cause ischemia various organs, including the heart muscle. Angina pectoris or myocardial infarction develops. If the rhythm disturbance occurs against the background of chronic heart failure, then the paroxysm significantly worsens the general condition of the patient.

Video What you need to know about paroxysmal tachycardia

Intercostal tachycardia

The rhythm disturbance presented is symptomatic manifestation, arising against the background of intercostal neuralgia. In fact, tachycardia in this case acts as a complication that develops due to severe pain. With proper treatment of this kind, palpitations cannot lead to any complications.
Intercostal tachycardia is a compensatory, that is, protective, manifestation that helps to cope with increased pain. But prolonged exposure to a rapid heartbeat leads to weakening of the heart muscle. In the presence of favorable circumstances, against this background, another organic pathology of the heart may appear, more complex and dangerous.

Video Heart Disease

Ischemic tachycardia

The presented disorder of cardiac activity is a symptomatic manifestation that is associated with coronary heart disease. With this disease, there is a violation of the coronary blood supply, which means that the heart muscle receives less oxygen and nutrients. Developed oxygen starvation causes compensatory tachycardia, which in turn can be complicated by heart failure.
In addition to insufficient cardiac activity in ischemic tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation may develop. This is one of the most unfavorable conditions, often ending in death. Therefore, the presented violation of the rhythm must necessarily be under medical supervision and under the guise of appropriate drug treatment.

Video Elena Malysheva. Cardiac ischemia

Functional tachycardia

Pathology itself is a complication of other somatic disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia, and neuralgia. The severity of rhythm disturbance mainly depends on the complexity of the course of the underlying disease, so it is rather difficult to talk about specific consequences when functional tachycardia appears.

Functional tachycardia, like any other form of palpitations, can aggravate the course of the underlying disease. A particularly severe deterioration is observed when rhythm disturbances are combined with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, neurological disorders. In some cases, the diagnosis is cardiovascular dystonia. This pathology is often associated with high blood pressure.

Video What is cardiovascular dystonia?

Rhythmic tachycardia

Most often it develops with atrioventricular reciprocal tachycardia. It may also be associated with various somatic diseases anemia, hypertension, hyperthyroidism. In this regard, rhythm disturbance can aggravate the course of the underlying disease, making the prognostic conclusion less favorable.
Rhythmic tachycardia, like any other rapid heartbeat, can significantly worsen the patient’s general well-being.

At first, there may be only clinical signs, but with long-term rhythm disturbances, organic changes occur in the heart, which are expressed in severe complications such as myocardial infarction, fibrillation, etc.

Video Myocardial infarction - how and why it happens

Non-paroxysmal tachycardia

The rhythm disturbance is characterized by a relatively favorable course. In this condition, in rare cases, Negative consequences and complications. Most often they are defined in childhood when, in addition to cardiac disorders, other predisposing factors are present. Sometimes non-paroxysmal tachycardia lasts a long time and is poorly clinically manifested. In such cases, its course may be complicated by heart failure.

In childhood, non-paroxysmal tachycardia can cause neurological and autonomic disorders. Children with similar pathology They adapt poorly to society and have problems with their peers. Externally, pallor, thinness, and excessive nervousness may also appear. In severe cases, depression develops. Therefore, when diagnosing a child with such a diagnosis, parents should be extremely careful.

Video Heart rhythm disturbances in children

Antidromic tachycardia

The presented pathology has a direct connection with accessory pathways that are involved in the formation of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Antidromic tachycardia develops much less frequently than orthodromic tachycardia, but is considered more dangerous due to high risk development of ventricular fibrillation.
Antidromic tachycardia may have a more or less favorable course when the attack was stopped and the prescribed drugs were effective in preventing relapses. Since the disease is often diagnosed in childhood, you should be especially careful, since some drugs (digoxin, verapamil, beta-blockers) can cause ventricular fibrillation if the rhythm disturbance is present.

Video Elena Malysheva. Ventricular fibrillation

Polymorphic tachycardia

Pathological condition refers to ventricular tachycardia and its course can lead to a number of life-threatening complications. First of all, the risk of ventricular fibrillation increases, which in turn can be complicated by cardiogenic shock, acute heart failure, and asystole.

Another complication of polymorphic tachycardia may be a deterioration in the patient’s quality of life due to periodic attacks. To a lesser extent, there are no consequences of rhythm disturbance as such.

Video Heart rhythm and conduction disturbances on the monitor

Hormonal tachycardia

Patients with presenting arrhythmia may experience unpleasant subjective sensations, but the prognostic conclusion is generally favorable. A lot depends on the form of arrhythmia, which manifested itself against the background of a hormonal disorder. If it is sinus or supraventricular tachycardia, then there is no cause for concern. Enough to stick general recommendations so that the pathology clinic does not progress.

In some cases, hormonal disorders are accompanied by tachycardia with an unfavorable course. In particular, paroxysmal palpitations can cause fibrillation or atrial/ventricular flutter. Severe complication considered pulmonary edema, acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock. The percentage of development of such consequences is small, but they should still be prevented in a timely manner with appropriate drug treatment.

Video What you need to know about cardiogenic shock

Idiopathic tachycardia

The disease is characterized by unpredictable development, with frequent absence of a specifically identified cause. Therefore, the consequences and complications of idiopathic tachycardia can be very different. Rare attacks of palpitations are often not complicated at all, so this course of the disease is considered favorable.

In complex cases, idiopathic tachycardia can cause a number of complications in the form of fibrillation, heart failure, and deterioration in the patient’s quality of life. The most formidable consequence, of course, is sudden death. The risk of such a complication is much higher in those patients who have had a history of death from sudden cardiac arrest in their family.

Video Cardiac arrhythmia can lead to a number of serious complications and even death

Orthostatic tachycardia

A heart disorder does not pose a threat to human health. The patient may experience subjective discomfort due to the temporary appearance of rapid heartbeat and dizziness after a sudden transition from a horizontal or sitting position to a vertical one. But since unpleasant symptoms pass quite quickly, their appearance does not cause concern.
In difficult cases, when orthostatic tachycardia is combined with organic heart pathology, the patient may faint. This can be considered both a direct and indirect complication of rhythm disturbance, since loss of consciousness is more associated with left ventricular failure caused by rapid heartbeat.

Video Live Healthy! Heart failure

The normal average heart rate is 60-90 beats per minute. During the day, the heart rhythm changes in response to changes in physical activity, emotional and general physical state of the body. Tachycardia is an increase in heart rate that occurs as a natural reaction to external stimuli or as a transient symptom of certain diseases. To know for sure whether tachycardia is dangerous, you should find out the reasons for its occurrence.

Physiological tachycardia that occurs during severe physical exertion, emotional stress, heat and some other circumstances disappears after elimination external cause without any serious consequences. The danger of tachycardia of any origin increases greatly if a person has severe accompanying illnesses, especially heart disease.

The most serious complications of tachycardia are:

• Ventricular fibrillation (flickering);
• Pulmonary edema;
• Thrombosis and thromboembolism of blood vessels;
• Cardiogenic shock;
• Sudden cardiac death.

Tachycardia can have other consequences: the development of chronic heart failure, cardiomyopathy, fainting, general weakness accompanied by weight loss.

When abnormal high frequency As the heart beats, turbulences are formed in the blood flow. Disruption of normal blood flow is accompanied by the destruction of a certain number of red blood cells and subsequent activation of the coagulation system. A clot formed in the cavity of the heart enters the aorta and can travel through the bloodstream to any organ. Blockage of a vessel by a thrombus or thromboembolism leads to acute hypoxia of the affected organ or part thereof. Thrombosis is most susceptible to:

• Arteries of the brain;
• Intestinal arteries;
• Arteries of the limbs;
• Pulmonary artery.
• Splenic artery.

The consequences of thromboembolism depend on the functions of the affected organ and the speed of providing appropriate medical care. Thrombosis of the vessels of the extremities can lead to the need for amputation, blood clots in the vessels of the brain are the cause of a stroke. Pulmonary embolism has a very high risk of death.

Cardiologists identify several risk factors for blood clots:

• Elderly age;
• Diabetes;
• Prolonged attacks of tachycardia of the type of atrial fibrillation (48 hours or more);
• Arterial hypertension;
• Heart failure;
• Dilated cardiomyopathy;
• History of episodes of thromboembolism.

These factors are believed to be more related to pathological types tachycardia, but their presence is a good reason for correcting the patient’s lifestyle. The mechanism of an overly violent physiological reaction to physical activity and emotional shocks does not exclude the possibility of thrombosis. Due to potential threat For this complication, with frequent attacks of tachycardia, you should visit a cardiologist.

The most severe manifestation of coronary heart disease. During an attack of tachycardia, the myocardium consumes more oxygen than usual. Violation of cardiac output volumes leads to the development of hypoxia of organs and tissues, which only aggravates the situation. Acute oxygen starvation entails the death of myocardial cells, a heart attack. A heart attack can also be triggered by thrombosis coronary vessels, but against the background of tachycardia this rarely happens.

Arterial hypertension, hypertrophic changes in the myocardium, and atherosclerosis increase the risk of developing myocardial infarction significantly.

The development of a heart attack is indicated by:

• Weak pulse;
• Pale skin;
• Cold sweat;
• Sharp pain in the region of the heart;
• Fear of death.

Coronary heart disease is one of the most common cardiac pathologies, therefore regular attacks tachycardia should not be ignored. The risk of developing a heart attack can be significantly reduced if preventive measures knowing how dangerous tachycardia is in a particular case.

Cardiogenic shock

Against the background of disturbances in filling the heart with blood, acute left ventricular failure may develop during a prolonged attack of tachycardia. At the same time, the mitral and aortic valves. As a result, almost no blood enters the big circle circulation, which can lead to death.

A characteristic symptom of developing cardiogenic shock is a sharp drop in blood pressure to a critically low level. The rest of the symptoms are due to low pressure. Treatment is aimed at stabilizing blood pressure within normal limits and restoring normal heart rhythm.

In cardiogenic shock, there are:

• Impaired consciousness;
• Sharp blanching of the skin;
• Weakening of kidney function;
• Pulmonary edema.

Cardiogenic shock is an emergency. If you suspect the development of this complication, you must call an ambulance.

Fibrillation (flicker) of the ventricles

Some forms of tachycardia occur as ventricular fibrillation. Fibrillation refers to uncoordinated chaotic contractions of the myocardium at a heart rate of about 300 beats per minute or higher. The flow of blood into the systemic circulation becomes critically low. Ventricular fibrillation is one of the symptoms preceding myocardial infarction and is an emergency condition. Fibrillation occurs unexpectedly and develops very quickly. In particularly severe cases clinical death may occur within a few minutes from the moment the attack occurs. The highest risk of developing this complication is in patients with diagnosed ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia.

Sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death refers to cases of death within 6 hours from the onset of the first cardiogenic symptoms. Rapid death in most cases is a consequence of ventricular fibrillation.

An attack of tachycardia such as ventricular fibrillation quickly leads to acute heart failure and disturbances in the pumping function of the heart. An almost complete cessation of blood pumping leads to stagnation in the bloodstream and increasing general hypoxia. Due to severe oxygen starvation, necrotic changes develop in the myocardium and brain tissue.

Signs of sudden death:

• Stopping breathing;
• Absence of pulse, including the carotid artery;
• Sudden loss of consciousness;
• Pupil dilation.

This complication requires immediate resuscitation with artificial respiration and the use of a defibrillator to restore normal heart rhythm.

Pulmonary edema

Congestion in the pulmonary circulation against the background of a disorder in the pumping function of the heart can lead to pulmonary edema. Since blood intake in the left sections is difficult due to arrhythmia, it accumulates in the pulmonary circulation. The pressure in the tissues increases, and gas exchange processes are disrupted. Excess fluid begins to leak into the alveoli.

With increasing pulmonary edema, the following are observed:

• Wheezing in the lungs;
• Wet cough producing foamy pinkish sputum;
• Profuse sweating;
• Sudden blue or pale discoloration of the skin.

Fainting

Strictly speaking, fainting is not even a complication of tachycardia, but is one of accompanying symptoms, which can lead to dire consequences. Loss of consciousness during sudden attack tachycardia occurs without gradual deterioration of the condition. With rapidly emerging acute hypoxia, loss of consciousness can occur within several tens of seconds from the onset of the attack. Unexpected loss of consciousness due to an attack of tachycardia is one of the causes of domestic and industrial injuries, as well as road accidents.

General weakness and weight loss

They develop against the background of frequently recurring long-term attacks of tachycardia, which do not lead to the development of acute heart failure. Frequent violations in the supply of oxygen to tissues entail profound changes in metabolism as a whole. The processes of nutrient absorption are disrupted, and the immune system is suppressed. Chronic hypoxia caused frequent attacks tachycardia, manifested by general weakness, drowsiness, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.

The absence of acute and urgent complications during a single attack does not mean that the problem does not exist. Pathological changes heart rates may have long-term consequences, developing gradually and being asymptomatic for a long time.

Chronic paroxysmal tachycardia can provoke the development of heart failure and myocardial conduction disorders. If attacks of arrhythmia occur against the background of existing cardiac pathology, they aggravate its course and increase the risk of myocardial infarction and other ischemic events. Repeated attacks of rapid heartbeat should not be ignored; it is better to contact a cardiologist in a timely manner and find out how dangerous tachycardia is and how to keep it under control.