Tachycardia
Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heart beat, greater than 100 beats per minute.
A normal rate in adults is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
Types of tachycardia
Although some types of tachycardia are mild ventricular tachycardia can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
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Sinus tachycardia |
- rapid firing of the sinoatrial node — the natural pacemaker of the heart — when the body needs extra oxygen
- occurs normally in response to:
- exercise
- excitement or fear
- pain
- fever
- excessive thyroid hormone secretions
- stimulants (such as caffeine, alcohol, cold medicines, methamphetamine, cocaine)
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Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia |
- bouts of rapid, regular heart beating that originate in the atrium (the upper chambers of the heart)
- typically not life-threatening
- causes symptoms of:
- palpitations
- chest discomfort
- shortness of breath
- dizziness
- fainting
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Ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach) |
- rapid heart beat originating in the ventricles
- prevents heart from adequately filling with blood, causing less blood to be pumped through the body
- most often caused by other heart problems, such as:
- coronary artery disease
- high blood pressure
- an enlarged heart
- heart valve disease
- scar tissue that forms around the heart after a heart attack or heart surgery
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About the UPMC Cardiac Electrophysiology Program
The UPMC Cardiac Electrophysiology Program is the largest in western Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the United States.
We treat cardiac arrhythmias, such as tachycardia, and other heart disorders associated with a high risk of sudden death.
What distinguishes our program?
- Our subspecialty centers — for evaluating and managing atrial arrhythmias, and infected implanted pacemakers and other heart-rhythm devices.
- Our program leaders — pioneers of novel ablation procedures for restoring normal heart rhythm.
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