The term tachycardia refers to heart rhythm and heart rate. Heart rate is the number of heartbeats in one minute, with 60 to 100 beats per minute being normal. When it exceeds 100 beats per minute, it is considered tachycardia. It can be considered normal (physiological) or pathological, depending on the cause that originates it. On this occasion, Dr. Rodrigo León, cardiologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma, will give us more information on the subject.

Causes

There are multiple causes that produce tachycardias, and can be differentiated into physiological or pathological causes.

Physiological causes: These are external stimuli that cause the release of adrenaline in the body, which accelerates the heart. For example:

• Scares
• Pain
• Exciting moments
• Physical activity

Pathological causes: These occur when there is an alteration in the conduction tissue of our heart; that is, an alteration in the network that conducts electrical impulses throughout the heart.

Symptoms

The symptoms generated by tachycardia are:

• The sensation of fast palpitations in the chest, sometimes felt up to the neck
• feeling short of breath
• Chest pain in the form of tightness
• Loss of consciousness

Risk factors

Risk factors are considered those that are related to structural diseases in the heart that generate tachycardia. These are the following:

• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Tobacco
• Alcohol in excess
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• Dyslipidemia
• Excessive sports physical activity
• Age

Treatment

Physiological tachycardias do not require medical treatment, sometimes you just have to control the external factor that generates them. The opposite of pathological tachycardias, which require initial treatment with drugs. If the patient does not improve despite medication, interventional procedures are chosen, such as an electrophysiological study and catheter ablation.

It is important to remember that early detection and treatment, in the initial phases, are essential for a successful recovery. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance to periodically perform cardiological check-ups; men should do it from the age of 30 and women from the age of 35, even more so if they have diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism.

Our specialist recommends leading a healthy lifestyle, doing regular physical activity (3 to 5 times a week, for at least 30 minutes), having a healthy diet (without excess calories, saturated fats and salt), avoiding harmful substances (such as tobacco and other types of drugs), among others.

Dr. Rodrigo León
Cardiologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma