Tachycardia or fast heartbeat occurs when the heart rate goes more than 100 beats per minute in adults. Though the heart naturally speeds up during exercise or stress, sustained irregular heart rate can be an indication of an underlying medical condition. Learn about the diagnosis and treatments for tachycardia below.
Diagnosis of Tachycardia or Fast Heartbeat
The cardiologist will first look into the patient’s detailed medical history and recommend some diagnostic tests. These include the following.
- Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram is considered to be a primary tool for diagnosing tachycardia. It helps measure the heart’s electrical activity and can determine the origin of arrhythmia.
- Echocardiogram: It is an ultrasound test that offers detailed images of the heart’s structure and function. This enables them to identify underlying causes like valve problems, heart disease and fluid around the heart.
- Holter Monitoring: In case the tachycardia is persistent, a 24-48 hour holter monitoring will be recommended. This will check the heart’s activity regularly while performing day-to-day activities. The test can also identify the triggers and patterns.
- Stress Test: A stress test is a diagnostic test in which the patient exercises when their heart gets monitored. This may be used to observe the way the heart responds to physical exertion. Doctors can evaluate the results of this test to determine arrhythmias that are triggered by activity.
Treatments
The treatments for tachycardia or fast heartbeat are as follows.
- Lifestyle Changes: In case the tachycardia is triggered by stress, alcohol, caffeine or some medications, lifestyle changes can help in managing the condition. Reducing stress with the help of relaxation techniques, avoiding stimulants and following a healthy lifestyle will reduce episodes and improve heart health.
- Medications: Various medications can regulate your heart rate and rhythm. These include-
- Calcium-channel blockers or beta-blockers for slowing down the heart rate.
- Blood thinners to minimize the risk of stroke.
- Antiarrhythmic drugs to restore normal heart rhythm.
- Catheter Ablation: For patients suffering from recurrent tachycardia, catheter ablation can be done. This is a minimally invasive procedure that threads the catheter through the blood vessels to the heart to destroy the abnormal tissue that causes arrhythmia.
- Surgery: If the other treatments for tachycardia or fast heartbeat prove to be ineffective, then surgery will be recommended. This repairs damaged heart vessels and removes abnormal heart tissue.
Conclusion
Many cases of tachycardia or fast heartbeat can be managed effectively with timely diagnosis and the right treatment. You can consult the best heart specialists in Mukundapur for your tachycardia treatment.