The normal rhythm of the heart is a sinus rhythm, in which impulses are created in the sinus node - a site where the upper vena cava enters the right atrium. A healthy person has a heart rate of 60 to 80 beats per minute.
Heart tachycardia is an increase in heart rate, more than 90 beats per minute. In some people, it may not be felt, while others clearly feel the rapidity of the heartbeat.
Sinus tachycardia of the heart - an increase in the number of cardiac contractions in the sinus node. In this case, the duration of the intervals between contractions of the heart (rhythm) does not change.
Paroxysmal tachycardia is a paroxysmal increase in heart rate, in which the rhythm generator is located in the atria or ventricles.
Causes of heart tachycardia
The increase in heart rate does not always indicate the presence of the disease. Tachycardia occurs in healthy people with physical activity, emotional stress, high air temperature, under the influence of drugs, coffee, tea, alcohol, with a sudden change in the position of the body, etc. In this case we are talking about a physiological tachycardia.
Pathological tachycardia develops due to congenital or acquired cardiac pathology (extracardiacal) or other diseases (intracardial).
Extracardiac tachycardia can be caused by:
- endocrine disorders;
- disorders of the vegetative system;
- neuroses;
- anemia;
- acute vascular insufficiency;
- acute pain attack, etc.
Cardiac factors of tachycardia:
heart failure; severe angina; myocarditis; cardiosclerosis, etc.Symptoms of heart tachycardia
Physiological tachycardia is characterized by an increase in cardiac contractions as a response to the action of external factors. After cessation of exposure, the heart rate gradually becomes normal. However, a person does not feel any unpleasant symptoms.
A rapid heartbeat may indicate a pathology in combination with other symptoms:
- pain, a feeling of heaviness in the chest;
- dizziness;
- feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath;
- loss of consciousness, etc.
With sinus tachycardia, gradual onset and termination are noted, and with paroxysmal - a sudden increase in heart rate and the same sudden normalization.
Features of heart tachycardia in children
The normal frequency of heart contractions in children is higher than in adults. The younger the child, the higher the rate of his pulse. So, from birth to the two-day age the normal pulse rate is 120-160, at the age of 6-11 months - 110-170, after 5 years - 60-130, and at 12-15 years - 60-120 beats per minute. Slight fluctuations in heart rate in the child are normal and indicate a good ability of the heart to adapt to the changing needs of the body.
Sinus tachycardia in children is an increase in heart rate in accordance with the age norm. Manifestations of it are similar to those observed in adults. There are many reasons for this:
- increased body temperature in infectious diseases;
- heart diseases;
- increased thyroid function;
- anemia, etc.
There is a chronic tachycardia in children, in which problems with the palpitations occur periodically. Often, it is caused by congenital heart anomalies and can be accompanied by convulsions, suffocation, depression of pressure.
Tachycardia of the heart during pregnancy
Sinus tachycardia during pregnancy is usually a variant of the norm,
Treatment of sinus tachycardia of the heart
The principles of treatment of sinus tachycardia are determined by the causes of its appearance. It is necessary to eliminate the factors contributing to increased heart rate: exclude tea, coffee, nicotine, alcohol, spicy food, protect yourself from emotional and physical overload. For the normalization of cardiac contractions, antiarrhythmic drugs are used. The underlying disease is eliminated by medication or surgical intervention.