What is tachycardia, how to treat it?

Many are interested in the question of what is tachycardia. This is a pathological condition associated with a change in heart rate. It poses a special danger to primary school children and the elderly, as long-term extreme resistance of the vascular wall can lead to cardiac arrest or sudden death syndrome.

What is tachycardia?

The condition of the heart muscle of the human body, characterized by an increased heart rate (HR) of more than 100 beats per minute, is called tachycardia. In itself, it is not a disease, it is primarily a symptom. It happens physiological or pathological. Physiological (normal tachycardia) is characterized by an increase in heart rate due to a natural physical condition with increased physical activity of a person or hormonal effects as a result of fear or excitement. It is also caused by the intake of certain energy drinks, alcohol, caffeine and certain medications. This condition does not threaten human health and is natural.

Pathological (increased tachycardia) is characterized by an increase in the heart rate at rest, which may indicate impaired functional systems of the body, especially cardiovascular. Typical symptoms of pathology are an increase in heart rate of more than 90 - 100 beats per minute at rest, pulsation of the vessels of the neck, dizziness. Symptoms of increased tachycardia, first of all, indicate the onset of the development of serious diseases. When manifestation, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination in order to prevent the development of pathology and the appointment of timely treatment.

Causes

The main causes of tachycardia in humans in medicine are two:

1. Intracardial tachycardia - this type of disease is associated directly with internal damage to the cardiovascular system, as well as with cardiac pathologies.
2. Extracardial tachycardia is an external factor of the disease, namely it is caused by great physical exertion, appears with stress, vegetovascular dystonia, infectious diseases, as well as with a sharp increase in body temperature.

The causes of tachycardia are various and are characterized by a huge spectrum of occurrence. Sometimes this condition is the norm and is caused by various emotional outbursts and physical activity. External tachycardia can also be caused by the use of narcotic substances, nicotine, alcohol, energy drinks, and medications.

Internal tachycardia is characterized by a wider range of causes, and it usually needs treatment. The main occurrence of this type of tachycardia is associated with impaired functioning of the heart muscle. There are cases of tachycardia, characterized by an undetected etiology, and it belongs to the group of idiopathic. The reason for this type of pathology is not recognized by medicine. It is believed that it occurs in practically healthy people and is not dangerous in itself.

Other reasons

Tachycardia can occur as a physiological phenomenon during stressful, emotional and physical exertion, with an increase in body temperature, tobacco use or when taking alcohol.

In patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, sinus tachycardia occurs due to pathological conditions of the heart:

• coronary artery disease;
• high blood pressure;
• acute heart failure;
• chronic heart failure;
• cardiomyopathy;
• congenital heart defects;
• as well as myocardial infarction.

In addition, the condition can be observed with the loss of large volumes of circulating blood, lowering the level of hemoglobin. More often tachycardia is observed in women.

Neurogenic variety

What is neurogenic tachycardia? This is a condition to which young people are more susceptible. The causes of this type of tachycardia can serve as a violation of the autonomic nervous system:

• neurosis;
• psychoses
• cardiopsychoneurosis.

Heart palpitations can cause fever in various infectious diseases (tuberculosis, tonsillitis, SARS).

There is also pharmaceutical tachycardia, the cause of which is the intake of certain groups of drugs (diuretics, hormones, caffeine, drugs that lower blood pressure, and others).

Pathology classification

Change in rhythm and heart rate over 90 beats / min. called tachycardia. Such a heartbeat is considered normal if it was preceded by a strong emotional stress or a change in physical activity.

The manifestation of a pathological state at rest leads to a decrease in blood circulation, weakening the flow of oxygen to organs and tissues.

There are 2 types of tachycardia, based on the location of the focus of development:

• sinus;
• paroxysmal.

Violation of the transmission of an electrical impulse from the sinoatrial node to the ventricles is characterized by a nodular, or sinus. Most often signals the onset of heart failure or a disorder of the left ventricle.

The paroxysmal form at the site of localization is divided into supraventricular and ventricular. The main factor in the development of such pathologies is the duplication of the starting impulse and the cyclization of excitation.

What is gastric tachycardia?

The cause of this pathology is the occurrence of an excitation source in the His bundle and Purkinje fibers, accompanied by inflammatory or dystrophic myocardial damage. The supraventricular type develops during excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The source of the pathology are dystrophic changes, the effect of medications (quinidine), the formation of abnormal transmission of nerve impulses of the heart.

Pathology diagnostics

Tachycardia in most cases is diagnosed by taking an electrocardiogram of the heart. When establishing different types of pathologies, there are different specifics.

The main indicators in the diagnosis of different types of tachycardia:

1. The diagnosis of sinus tachycardia is made with a high pulse and the absence of changes in the regularity of the teeth on the ECG.
2. The diagnosis of sinoatrial reciprocal tachycardia is made in the presence of a picture of the suddenness of the beginning and end of arrhythmias.
3. The diagnosis of atrial tachycardia is made in the presence of a picture of alignment of the teeth on each other with a high heart rate of up to 200 beats per minute. Also a sign is blockade of pulses in the AV node without reducing the duration of an arrhythmia attack.
4. The diagnosis of atrioventricular nodular reciprocal tachycardia is made in the presence of simultaneous activation of the active parts of the atria and ventricles during arrhythmia attacks.
5. Supraventricular tachycardia in combination with signs of early ventricular arousal syndrome.

The diagnosis of these tachycardia is made with a rapid decrease in the potential difference in the ventricles, after the cessation of the arrhythmia attack, which leads to their early excitation.

Methods of treating pathology

Modern medicine uses the following methods to treat tachycardia:

1. Pacemaker This is a device implanted under the skin. When an abnormal heartbeat appears, it returns the normal rhythm to the heart with an electric impulse.
2. Cardioverter defibrillator. It is used when there is a risk of an attack of tachycardia, which can affect the patient's life. With the help of surgical intervention, an implant is mounted in the sternum, which tracks any changes in the heartbeat. In which case, it will generate a current that restores normal heartbeat.
3. Surgical changes. To eliminate the additional path through which the electric impulse passes, an open heart operation must be performed. The specialist creates a labyrinth consisting of scar tissue. Due to the inability to conduct electric current, it will prevent the passage of irregular electrical impulses that provoke some types of tachycardia. Usually this method is used when others have proven ineffective.

The use of these devices for tachycardia has only positive reviews, because they help to regulate the state of health and general well-being.

Medication for tachycardia

Treatment of tachycardia is carried out on an outpatient basis and in a hospital. A complex of drugs for the correction of pathology is represented by several groups of sedatives, sedatives and strengthens the heart muscle funds. The following tachycardia tablets are used:

1. Soothing - help reduce stress on the nervous system, reduce blood flow, ease pressure on the capillary networks: Corvalol, Validol, Corvalment, Corvaltab.
2. Sedatives - inhibit the work of higher nervous activity, reduce muscle tone, help restore the natural level of blood pressure, cope with sleep disturbances: Motherwort, Phenazepam, Glycid, Valerian, Novopassit, Persen, and Barboval "," Gidazepam. "
3. Cardiac - affect the cause of the disease. They reduce the heart rate, restore the natural level of blood pressure, strengthen the heart muscle, and prevent the rupture of capillary networks: Strofantin, Digoxin, Korglikon, Magne B6, Asparkam, Panangin.
4. Calcium blockers - a trace element such as calcium, additionally stimulates the work of nerve fibers, muscle, vascular tissue, and in large quantities causes involuntary convulsive contractions of large fibers. By blocking the entry of this trace element into the blood, it is possible to stop the attack for a short time, reduce the overall tension of the chest wall, and normalize heart rate. This is Verapamil, Isoptin.
5. Beta-blockers as drugs for tachycardia. In the event that the disease is accompanied by a sharp jump in pressure, medicinal formulations are additionally prescribed that lower the limiting values ​​of blood pressure and restore the heart rhythm: Concor, Bisoprolol, Propranolol, Metoprolol, Carvedilol.

Drug treatment of tachycardia is a long process that requires constant monitoring by medical professionals. Self-administration of familiar medications, a combination of potent blockers with traditional methods, or their improper use can lead to disability, death of the patient.

Folk remedies

Drug treatment of tachycardia at home is unacceptable, but treatment with folk remedies as an initial measure of therapy has worked well. It will help to quickly reduce and normalize the heart rate. But at the same time, you need to know the rules for using folk recipes. The following folk remedies are recommended for use:

1. Oat juice. This juice is an effective tool if this disease is accompanied by high blood pressure. Oat juice is squeezed from the aerial parts of the plant and consumed half a glass 3 times a day.
2. Tea with hawthorn. If you take this tea during the day, then bouts of increased heart rate will soon leave you. Hawthorn is poured with other herbs with boiling water and used instead of tea leaves.
3. Cornflower tincture. One teaspoon of cornflower is brewed in a glass of boiling water and consumed half a glass before meals.
4. If you have high blood density, then in this case, melding of yellow clover with other herbs will help to cope with the symptoms of tachycardia. Patients using this plant observe the disappearance of signs of tachycardia, as well as the normalization of pressure. The clover is brewed and taken as tea.
5. Brewing aromatic lemon balm and its use during the day instead of a tea drink.
6. An effective recipe is a mixture of lemon, honey (in a glass), almonds (18 kernels) and tincture of valerian or hawthorn (10 grams each). All mix and take a spoon on an empty stomach 15 minutes before eating. The course of treatment is repeated once a year.
7. Kombucha infused with other herbs: heather, motherwort, digitalis, marsh bog. The recipe includes 40 grams of all aromatic herbs. Brew them in a volume of 3 liters and add to Kombucha. Preparation of tincture lasts up to 8 days. Drink it 100 grams 3 times a day before meals.

Also in the treatment of tachycardia by folk methods, alcohol tinctures are used:

1. Hawthorn on alcohol. Take 20 grams of fruit per 200 grams of alcohol and insist half a month. Take a teaspoon of tincture diluted in a glass, 3 times a day before meals.
2. Elecampane on alcohol. Take 100 grams of dry matter and insist in half a liter of alcohol for a crescent. Apply a teaspoon 3 times a day before meals.

An effective way to treat this disease is to inhale and rub the essential oils into the heart. The recipe is to mix any essential oils, while their amount should not exceed ten pieces. Essentially, essential oils have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, which helps to cope with the attack.

The choice of an effective folk remedy is selected empirically. Lighter herbal remedies will come in handy in the prevention of the disease, and alcohol tincture will help at any stage of the disease. In this case, do not abuse their use, because the active substances in herbs can lead to intoxication or severe relaxation. At the same time, if you drive a car, then these tinctures will have to be abandoned.

These are the main recommendations, but do not forget about the quality of the diet. It should include many fruits and berries, vegetables and fresh herbs, foods rich in vitamins and minerals. In order for the above measures to be effective, it is necessary to load the body with physical exercises, namely, it is recommended to carry out morning exercises and jogging. The effectiveness of folk remedies will depend on their combination, but in any case they will not harm you. In this case, it is worth keeping in mind that it is not recommended to skip taking a folk remedy. Remember, regularity in this matter is the key to success.

First aid

If a person has an attack of tachycardia, the pulse rate has accelerated, and now it becomes more than one hundred and twenty beats per minute, then the following must be done:

1. Call an ambulance, especially if tachycardia is not the first time.
2. Give the patient medications for tachycardia.
3. Breathe deeper - loosen tie, collar, open windows.
4. Calm down and take, if possible, a horizontal position, continue to breathe deeply and evenly.
5. If possible, wash your face with cold water. Or, for a couple of seconds, lower your face into a basin with very cold water, and then the pulse will begin to calm down.
6. Try to click on the eyeballs until the sensation of pain appears. There is such a Danyini-Ashner reflex that helps slow down the heart rate when clicking on the eyeballs. However, if the patient wears contact lenses, then they must be removed before pressing.

As you can see, there are many reasons why tachycardia appears in most of the population in adulthood. Therefore, starting from a young age, preventive measures should be taken.