In various age groups, sinus tachycardia can occur. An ECG (electrocardiogram) is the main diagnostic method by which it is possible to detect heart rhythm disturbances. Refusal of timely therapy can lead to the development of dangerous complications. The most unpleasant is severe heart failure.
Description of the pathological process
Sinus tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia in which the frequency and regularity of heart contractions is significantly impaired. They say about the development of the pathological process if the sinus rhythm exceeds 100 beats per minute. The sinus node is the main element that provides the rhythm of the heart. If his work is disrupted, the whole body suffers. Blood flow is reduced, and systems receive insufficient oxygen for normal functioning.
Tachycardia is a variant of the norm with significant physical exertion or emotional shock (excitement). If tachycardia is observed in calm situations, you need to seek help from a cardiologist. Unpleasant symptoms can indicate the development of serious diseases of the cardiovascular system. Manifestations of tachycardia can be observed with a lack of oxygen (in a poorly ventilated room), after consuming a large amount of coffee. In preschool children, the feeling of their own heartbeat is a variant of the norm.
Healthy people can also show sinus tachycardia. An ECG can fix the violation at the time of the release of a large amount of adrenaline into the blood. This situation is observed against the background of activation of the sympathetic nervous system against the background of the influence of an external factor. As soon as its action ceases, the heart rate gradually returns to normal.
What does sinus tachycardia on ECG mean? This means that the patient needs to undergo an additional examination by a cardiologist. Deviation from the indicators does not always mean that you had to face a disease. Violations can be observed against a background of fear. Especially often, problems in diagnosis are observed in small patients. The ECG procedure for a child is already an emotional test. A preliminary diagnosis is made if the heart rate exceeds 120 beats per minute. If the indicators are slightly lower, the ECG procedure is repeated after some time.
Causes of the disease
ECG sinus tachycardia can be detected in any patient. But most often, the diagnosis is made to older people or those who already suffer from various heart disorders. Tachycardia may be an early sign of heart failure. If you suspect this disease, you must undergo a comprehensive medical examination. In elderly patients, tachycardia can develop against the background of myocarditis, cardiometry, angina pectoris.
In patients of young and middle age, sinus tachycardia may develop against the background of a bacterial infection. ECG often reveals abnormalities in bacterial endocarditis. This is an inflammation of the connective membrane of the heart. The disease is manifested by symptoms of general intoxication, chills, chest pain. Endocarditis often develops in debilitated immunocompromised patients. In this case, the chronic foci of infection are most often present in the body.
In some patients, sinus tachycardia (S-type) may be a normal variant. An ECG reveals a slight increase in heart rate in a calm state. However, the patient at the same time feels absolutely normal, other studies also do not reveal violations. In this case, tachycardia is an individual feature of a particular organism.
Neurogenic arrhythmias deserve special attention. ECG sinus tachycardia occurs in primary dysfunction of the cerebral cortex, as well as disorders of the autonomic nervous system. Pathology often develops in young people, prone to neurosis, depression.
In acute diseases, temporary sinus tachycardia of the heart may be observed. An ECG will show abnormalities if the patient has a fever. The heart rate increases on the background of tonsillitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, sepsis, any focal infection. With an increase in body temperature, the circulatory system works for wear. As a result, the heart rate increases. The situation normalizes after the onset of full recovery.
Some medications can also affect the sinus node. Antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, some hormone-based medications will help increase heart rate.
Sinus tachycardia in children
Heart palpitations are common in babies. Therefore, sinus tachycardia of the heart can not always be a reason for panic. What it is? Why does the child feel a heart rhythm even in a calm state. Only a qualified pediatric cardiologist can answer this question precisely after a thorough examination of a small patient.
There is no reason to panic if the symptoms of tachycardia are observed after active games of the child or fear. With an increase in body temperature against a background of flu or a cold, an increased sinus rhythm (tachycardia) will also be observed. As soon as the irritating factor passes, the baby's heartbeat returns to normal.
What to do if during a preventive examination a baby in a calm state has sinus tachycardia on an ECG? Signs of such a plan can talk about heart defects that were not previously detected in a small patient. Most often, tachycardia in children is caused by congenital malformations, which lead to disruption of the heart and major vessels. Violations still develop in utero. Statistics show that various forms of heart defects are found in 1% of newborns. Moreover, in most cases, babies can lead a full-fledged lifestyle. However, you will have to be observed by a pediatric cardiologist.
Against the background of other pathological processes in the child's body, sinus tachycardia of the heart can also develop. What it is? This means that heart rhythm disturbance is due to the presence of infection in other organs and systems of the baby. Tachycardia often develops against the background of anemia, endocrine pathologies, diseases of the nervous system.
Tachycardia and heart failure
If bouts of sinus tachycardia are recurring periodically, treatment should be started immediately. It must be remembered that an increase in the number of heart contractions is one of the first signs of heart failure. The pathological process in the absence of timely therapy can lead to the development of dangerous complications, even death.
Heart failure is a condition in which the contractility of the myocardium (the main heart muscle) is significantly reduced. As a result, congestion appears in the blood circulation, accompanied by a significant deterioration in the patient's well-being. Heart failure is rarely an independent disease. Most often, this is a consequence of other disorders of the vascular system. In adults, pathology can develop against the background of ischemic disease. In children, heart failure can progress rapidly against congenital malformations of the organ.
With arterial hypertension, heart failure develops over the years. In this case, sinus tachycardia after physical exertion on the ECG may be noticeable. In a calm state at the initial stage, violations are not yet noticeable.
Negative factors such as overweight, alcoholism, and smoking will provoke the rapid progression of tachycardia and heart failure.
Diagnostic measures
The main diagnostic method is ECG for sinus tachycardia. The figure that appears after the study can be seen below. Non-invasive electrophysiological test makes it possible to assess the bioelectric potentials of the heart. All manipulations are carried out using cutaneous electrodes. ECG is an affordable method that has been used in cardiology for decades.
If serious violations of the heart are suspected, daily ECG monitoring is performed. With this study, the work of the heart is observed over a long period. The patient gives in to physical activity or is in a calm state. Particular attention is paid to the work of the heart in a state of sleep. For monitoring, a special portable device is used, which is fixed on the patient’s body and does not limit it in actions. All types of cardiac arrhythmias are detected using a computer program. Such a diagnosis is quite informative and completely safe for the patient.
Echocardiography is another popular method that is widely used in the study of heart disease. This is a non-invasive way to examine the activity of the heart using ultrasound. Such a study makes it possible to identify disorders of the vascular system that are not noticeable on the ECG and do not manifest themselves clinically. Thus, it is possible to study the structure of the heart muscle and the surrounding space.
To identify intracardiac pathology, magnetic resonance imaging of the heart can be prescribed. The method is based on scanning organ tissues with radio waves. Thanks to high resolutions, it is possible to consider the detailed structure of the cavities and valves of the heart muscle. MRI is the main diagnostic method to determine the type of heart disease.
In the process of researching patients with tachycardia, it is important to exclude blood diseases, endocrine disorders, and pathologies of the nervous system. Therefore, additional consultation of related specialists may be required. In addition, the patient must undergo general blood and urine tests.
Signs of sinus tachycardia
Symptoms of the disease depend on its severity. The general condition of the patient, the presence of chronic pathologies, the usefulness of the entire cardiovascular system also matters. At the initial stage, the patient may not suspect at all that he is developing sinus tachycardia. Symptoms usually appear when an irreversible process has begun, and the heart muscle is not functioning properly.
A cardiologist should be consulted if the heartbeat is periodically heard in a calm state, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the chest area appears. The following can also be attributed to alarming signs: a feeling of lack of air (shortness of breath), weakness, an increased sense of anxiety, insomnia, decreased performance and appetite, and a deterioration in mood. These symptoms may indicate that insufficient oxygen enters the bloodstream due to malfunctioning of the heart muscle. It is possible that a diagnosis of sinus tachycardia of the heart will be made. What it is has already been described above.
The manifestation of tachycardia also depends on the degree of sensitivity of the nervous system of a particular patient. In some cases, the disease may be accompanied by angina attacks. This is a sharp pain in the chest area caused by a lack of blood supply. With the development of such a phenomenon, assistance to the patient should be provided immediately. Against the background of tachycardia, signs of heart failure, such as enlarged liver, swelling on the arms and legs, swelling of the saphenous veins, etc. can also be exacerbated.
With severe sinus tachycardia, the blood supply to various body systems is disturbed. As a result, the patient has frequent dizziness, fainting. With damage to the vessels of the brain, convulsions can be observed. Prolonged tachycardia leads to the development of hypotension (lowering blood pressure).
First aid for tachycardia
Help to the patient is necessary with pronounced tachycardia with pain. Of great importance is the self-control of the patient himself. During an attack of tachycardia, you need to calm down and try to call someone for help. It is necessary to ensure the influx of fresh air - open the window or go outside. Close clothes should be removed, the collar on the shirt should be unfastened. Nothing should impede normal breathing.
The drug “Corvalol” will quickly restore normal heart activity. This is a calming drug with antispasmodic action on a plant basis. The drug helps to normalize the patient's condition, relieves unpleasant manifestations of tachycardia. But you should not count on a long therapeutic effect. The correct therapy will be prescribed by the doctor. Therefore, during an attack of severe tachycardia, it is necessary to call an ambulance.
Already at home, a diagnosis of sinus tachycardia can be made. Full treatment begins only after a thorough examination in the cardiology department.
Even before the ambulance arrives, a cold compress on the forehead will help normalize the patient's condition. You can also wash yourself with cool water. A strong artificial cough also helps normalize heart rate.
It is important to find and establish the cause of tachycardia in a timely manner. The signs described above may also indicate myocardial infarction. Therefore, in no case should you try to conduct therapy yourself at home.
Medication for sinus tachycardia
The principles of treatment of the disease are determined primarily by the causes of the development of the pathological process. The doctor should find out what sinus tachycardia on the ECG means, what other violations from the side of the cardiovascular system are present. The therapy is carried out by a cardiologist in conjunction with other specialists. Treatment of secondary tachycardia should be aimed at eliminating the underlying disease.
Particular attention is paid to sinus tachycardia due to heart failure. Cardiac glycosides are necessarily prescribed. Widely used Digoxin. The medication has a vasodilating and moderately diuretic effect. The drug helps to normalize the work of the heart - it reduces the heart rate, increases the stroke volume of the heart muscle. When taken orally, the drug is absorbed quickly enough from the gastrointestinal tract. The therapeutic effect is noticeable within half an hour.
In the complex treatment of sinus tachycardia, sedatives, tranquilizers and antipsychotics are widely used. With their help, it is possible to gradually normalize well-being, reduce the manifestations of insomnia, and normalize the heart rate.
General recommendations
After the conclusion of the ECG "sinus tachycardia", the patient will have to reconsider his lifestyle. This is especially true for patients in whom tachycardia is accompanied by other dangerous diseases of the cardiovascular system. First of all, you will have to forget about bad habits. It is strictly forbidden to smoke and drink alcohol.
Tachycardia and heart failure is not a reason to be limited in social contacts and normal lifestyles. The patient can attend work, do what he loves. A moderate exercise will only benefit. Of course, one cannot overwork. Gymnastics, cycling, walking in the fresh air - all this should be fun.
Proper physical activity increases cardiac performance. For the patient individually, a training program can be developed to strengthen the cardiovascular system and the defenses of the body as a whole. Before starting training, it is recommended to perform an ECG with a load. Sinus tachycardia is an occasion to develop the right training program, taking into account the patient's disease.
People with heart disease should pay special attention to their diet. A patient with tachycardia needs to eat regularly, to prevent starvation. Servings should be minimal. Excessive stress on the gastrointestinal tract can also cause heart rhythm disturbance. Eating before bedtime is not recommended. Preference should be given to low-calorie foods with a high content of magnesium and potassium.
After studying the sinus rhythm on an ECG, tachycardia may not always be detected. However, the described diet will benefit healthy patients. Those who adhere to it, the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease is minimized.
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With sinus tachycardia, therapy with tincture of hawthorn for 25 days will come to the rescue. To prepare the medicine, 150 g of dried fruit is poured with a liter of vodka. The product should be infused for a week in a cool, dry place. A teaspoon of tincture should be consumed twice a day after meals.
Tea based on hawthorn will also be beneficial. Pour dry fruits with boiling water, add a little sugar to taste. This drink is especially useful before bedtime. You can forget about insomnia.
It has long been recognized as a sedative of valerian. The plant is widely used in the complex treatment of sinus tachycardia. A tablespoon of chopped roots (available at the pharmacy) is poured with boiling water and insisted in a thermos for several hours. Such an infusion should be consumed three times a day, 100 ml each. The course of therapy is three weeks. Such therapy is especially useful for tachycardia provoked by stressful situations.
Motherwort also calms the heart rate well. This plant is Valerian’s first competitor. A teaspoon of motherwort is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted until it cools (15-20 minutes). On the day you need to drink three cups of such tea. You can add sugar to taste.
It is widely used as a medicine against tachycardia and the following prescription. Ten cloves of garlic are carefully ground, mixed with the juice of ten lemons. The finished mixture is added to half a liter of fresh honey. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and allowed to infuse throughout the day. The medicine is taken in several teaspoons once a day.
Treatment prognosis
Do not panic if sinus tachycardia on the ECG is detected. Decryption by a qualified specialist will make it possible to understand what is associated with a violation of the heart rhythm. In any case, with timely request for help, the forecast will be favorable. But refusal of treatment will lead to the development of heart failure and other unpleasant complications.