What is Tachyarrhythmia?
The condition Tachyarrhythmia literally means “tachy” (from tachycardia) for increased rate and “arrhythmias” for changes in the heart rhythm or irregular heart rhythm. This heart condition is basically caused by the abnormal electrical impulses to the heart.
This condition can be diagnosed with an electrocardiogram or ECG. The rhythm disturbances and the characteristics of the patterns of the heart rhythm can be observed in the monitor. Auscultation can also be a form of assessment but is not entirely specific, it can only justify for tachycardia – increased heart rate. Another known test is the stress test, which will assess for any heart condition that it can detect for any exercise-induced heart changes such as arrhythmias. Holter monitor is also another material used for the diagnosis of any heart condition. This is done by hooking the Holter monitor unto the patient and shall be placed for 24 hours for complete monitoring. The patient shall be a tasked or assigned to record every activity he does in order to know what the heart rhythm changes were during the activity. The best test, considered today, for tachyarrhythmia is electrophysiologic study. This shall involve induction of local anesthesia in order to place the electrodes in the corresponding heart chambers. The conduction system shall be assessed with the recording of the electrical signals.
The condition can be classified by the following types:
- Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
- Monomorphic or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
Tachyarrhythmia Symptoms
As mentioned, the condition involves increased heart rate and irregular heart rhythms. According to this condition, it has different types and corresponding presentations:
Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation
Rapid heart activity that may exceed to 200 – 350 beats per minute. There is chaotic heart rhythm observed in the ECG monitor.
Supraventricular tachycardia
There is increased heart rate of at least 250 beat/min up to 350 beat/min. There shall be narrowing of the QRS complex, which shall be observed in the ECG monitor.
Ventricular tachycardia
There is wider QRS complex and a rapid heart rate (150-250 beat/min). Irregular heart rhythm is noted.
Tachyarrhythmia Causes
There are a lot of possible causes for tachyarrhythmia. Basically, the heart has a decreased or an insufficient electric conduction resulting to altered heart rate and rhythm. The conduction system may be affected and these are the following factors known to cause arrhythmias:
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Foods
Coffee, chocolate, and overeating would trigger for an arrhythmia or tachyarrhythmia. Coffee contains caffeine that can trigger or induce heart contractions to be more rapid than it should be. While chocolate at the same time has this content that causes the problem. Overeating can stimulate for gastric content to come back up, which is also a noted to cause for heartburn and for heart rate and rhythm changes.
Smoking
Long term exposure to nicotine may provide serious arrhythmias.
Medications
Some over-the-counter drugs which are abused may cause for heart problems and heart rate irregularities. Those who take prescription drugs for a heart problem may also have an adverse effect of tachyarrhythmia, most especially if the treatment regimen is not followed religiously. There are also cough and colds agents that are proposed to cause for arrhythmias.
Underlying condition
There are instances that cardiovascular conditions are most probably the root cause of the disease process. This underlying disease play a great factor for it precipitates the discussed problem. Those with congenital heart defects are most affected. Those who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid gland disease are one of the sufferers of tachyarrhythmia. Increased lipid levels in the blood can trigger for heart conditions and blood-related problems. Those with damage heart valves and atherosclerosis are also easy victims of tacchyarrythmias.
Environment
This shall involve chemicals or pollutants that can directly cause for arrhythmias.
Oxidant stress
This involves the increase exposure to free radicals which is very much helpful in damaging our normal cells and healthy tissues.
Tachyarrhythmia Treatment
The treatment for tachyarrhythmia is clearly aimed for management and to reduce the severity of the situation. It is highly advisable that the patient is subjected for hospital admission, in order to continuous assessment. Close supervision is the ideal treatment for tachyarrhythmia. Here are the medical remedies for tachyarrhythmia:
Antiarrhythmic drugs
Sodium channel blockers, beta blockers, potassium channel blockers and calcium channel blockers. These agents would help in the decrease and eventually in the regulation of electricity conduction of the heart. Intravenous lidocaine (used as local anesthetic) may be used in order to have an emergent effect.
Ablation
This includes passing of an electrode to the large blood vessel then providing high-energy waves.
Cardioversion
In emergency cases, where there is prominent irregular heart rate and tachycardia, cardioversion shall be the final or even the immediate resort of the doctor.
