What is tachycardia?

With tachycardia, many of us have experienced many times in our life. In general terms, the question of what tachycardia is, can be answered in the following way: this is a perceptible increase in heart rate - over 90 beats per minute (the norm is given for adults and children over 7 years old). It can be observed, in particular, in strong excitement: so, frightened of something, many noted how quickly, literally "thrilled", the heart can be beating. This kind of tachycardia is called neurogenic - with nervous tension it manifests itself even in perfectly healthy people.

Palpitation increases with physical work or sports, fast walking, climbing uphill or up the stairs. In this case, the answer to the question, what is tachycardia, will be as follows: this is a completely natural condition caused by an increase in the body's need for oxygen. To provide the necessary amount, the heart begins to pump more blood and, consequently, to contract, the breathing becomes more frequent. No changes in the cardiovascular system are observed. Such a tachycardia does not pose a danger to the body, but it is still necessary to control your pulse when exercising in order to prevent overload.

Physiological tachycardia manifests itself in other situations - for example, if a sitting or lying person abruptly rises or jumps, assuming an upright position (this is the so-called orthostatic tachycardia). In addition, the increase in heart rate can be caused by the intake of certain drugs (hormonal, corticosteroids, cardiovascular agents), and perhaps also a consequence of high body temperature. It is also known the ability of coffee and strong tea to increase the heart rate by keeping caffeine in them. Tachycardia, caused by the above reasons, is called a sinus or sinusoidal - the frequency of contractions is more frequent, given the so-called sinus node located in the right atrium . Violations in his work, in turn, can also be caused by various extracardiac ("out-cardiac") conditions and pathologies: thyrotoxicosis, neuroses, infectious diseases.

Those who are interested in what tachycardia is, one should also know about its pathological varieties. Their main difference from physiological tachycardia is that they manifest not only with physical activity or excitement, but also at rest when a person does not perform any active movements and is not alarmed at all. The source of the rhythm is located outside the sinus node - a kind of tachycardia called ectopic or paroxysmal, emphasizing its paroxysmal nature.

Depending on the source of impulses distinguish between ventricular and supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia. Palpitations usually occur suddenly, for no apparent reason, and just as suddenly stop. Their duration can be different. The heart rate during an attack can be up to 170 (ventricular tachycardia) and even up to 230 beats per minute (supraventricular tachycardia). This indicator is one of the indirect signs, allowing to distinguish these forms of the disease. Pathological may be sinusoidal tachycardia - in this case, it is a consequence of the incorrect functioning of the sinus node itself, which develops against the background of organic damage to the heart. With her, unlike the ventricular and supraventricular forms, the rhythm of cardiac contractions after the acceleration is normalized gradually.

The causes of paroxysmal tachycardia are found in various heart diseases and pathologies - they include, for example, congenital and acquired heart defects, heart muscle damage (myocarditis), etc. For the purpose of adequate treatment of tachycardia, a thorough examination of the patient, including ECG, ultrasound of the heart And others - on the advice of a doctor. These activities will help to establish exactly the type of tachycardia and the reasons that caused it.

Thus, the final answer to the question of what tachycardia is, can be formulated as follows: it is a symptom that should not be ignored, since it can be the result of a serious illness. If your heart palpitations bother you often, you should contact your cardiologist.