Tachycardia (Fast Heartbeat)

What is Tachycardia?

Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat. A fast heart rate is normal when you exercise. Your heart rate also increases when your body is stressed by illness, such as when an infection causes you to run a fever.

Some types of tachycardia can lead to serious symptoms and even life-threatening complications. For example, uncontrolled tachycardia can make your blood pressure so low that your body doesn't get enough oxygen.

Your Lee Health treatment team will include doctors trained in diseases of the heart and heart surgery. The team will consider your wishes as you and your doctor decide together on the most appropriate treatment.

What are the symptoms?

Your doctor may ask you whether you have been diagnosed with any conditions that can trigger your rapid heartbeats, such as coronary artery disease or a thyroid problem.

The most common tests for tachycardia are:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this test, your doctor puts sensor patches with wires attached (electrodes) on your skin to measure the timing and duration of each electrical phase in your heartbeat.
• Echocardiogram. Your doctor puts a device (transducer) on your chest, and sound waves bounce off your heart and produce video images of your heart's size, structure, and motion.
• Coronary angiogram. To get a detailed look inside the blood vessels of your heart, the doctor injects a dye that shows up on an x-ray and then makes a series of x-ray images.
• Blood tests. These tests help identify thyroid problems or other blood chemistry abnormalities that may lead to tachycardia.
• Stress test. To find out if exercise triggers or worsens your tachycardia, you will exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle while your doctor closely watches your heart activity with an electrocardiogram (ECG).
• Electrophysiology (EP) testing and mapping. This test involves threading thin, flexible tubes (catheters) with electrodes at the tips through your blood vessels into your heart to precisely map the spread of electrical impulses through your heart.
• Holter monitor Your doctor may ask you to wear this portable ECG device for a day or more to record your heart's electrical activity.
• Event monitor. If your irregular heartbeats come and go from time to time, your doctor may ask you to wear a portable ECG event monitor at home that you start when symptoms occur. You also may have an implanted recorder.

What is Lee Health's approach to Tachycardia?

Lee Health has extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating tachycardias using the latest technique appropriate for each individual.

Our integrated team includes doctors trained in medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment for diseases of the heart including, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and cardiac and cardiovascular surgeons.