Sinus Tachycardia Of The Heart - What Is It? What To Do?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Sinus tachycardia of the heart: how is it treated?

What is tachycardia?

Sinus tachycardia is a rapid heartbeat. In an ordinary person with a normal temperature, when lying down, the number of heartbeats is about 60-80, and when a person is in a standing position, there are about 100 beats. If the blows exceed these indicators, then this is already tachycardia.

Sinus tachycardia is not a disease, but only a physiological reaction of the body to physical activity or emotional excitement. Sometimes doctors diagnose chronic inadequate sinus tachycardia. Such a violation is said in the case when, even at rest, the heart rate in a person does not decrease to 90-100 beats, or when, with a slight physical or emotional stress, the heart rate rises significantly.

To cope with the violation, you need to revise your diet, adjust your lifestyle. Sometimes medications are required, but a doctor must recommend them. This will avoid serious complications of the violation.

Content:

• Causes of sinus tachycardia
• Sinus tachycardia symptoms
• Types of tachycardia
• Diagnostics
• Sinus tachycardia treatment
• How to stop tachycardia in 30 seconds?
• General recommendations

Causes of sinus tachycardia

Tachycardia can be considered a symptom, not a disease, since it appears due to various diseases. The cause of tachycardia can be disorders of the endocrine system, disorders of the autonomic nervous system, hemodynamic disorders and various forms of arrhythmias.

Tachycardia can appear as a completely normal reaction to great physical and emotional stress, as well as with an increase in body temperature, due to the intake of alcoholic beverages, from smoking. Heartbeat can also increase from low blood pressure, from low levels of hemoglobin in the blood, i.e. anemia, from infectious diseases, especially purulent ones, from a malignant tumor, increased functionality of the thyroid gland, or from taking certain medications.

During pregnancy, sinus tachycardia is a variant of the norm, since at this time the volume of plasma in the woman's body increases. Because of this, the vessels experience an increased load, the heart rate increases. It is important that a pregnant woman is regularly seen by a cardiologist. This will allow you to bear and give birth to a healthy baby.

Sometimes sinus tachycardia is a defense mechanism that the body activates in various pathologies, among them:

• Disruption of hormone production. Often, tachycardia develops when there are disruptions in the production of progesterone, estrogen, thyrotropin.
• Oxygen deficiency in the body. In this case, hypoxia can be both chronic and acute.
• Depression and neurosis.
• Intoxication of the body.
• Anemia.
• Frequent bleeding. They are able to develop with endometriosis, with endometritis and other disorders in the work of the female reproductive system and not only.
• Cardiovascular diseases.

Heavy menstruation that lasts more than 5-7 days in women often causes sinus tachycardia. Also, some drugs are capable of provoking tachycardia, in particular: diuretics, hormonal drugs, antidepressants.

The mechanism of development of tachycardia is reduced to an increase in the automatism of the pacemaker cells of the sinus node. This happens against the background of a decrease in vagal influences on the heart, but with an increase in sympathetic influences.

Less commonly, sinus tachycardia is caused by inflammation of the heart muscle. The disorder develops when the inflammatory response is concentrated in the area that surrounds the pacemaker activity of the right atrium.

Chronic sinus tachycardia is the result of primary pathology of pacemaker cells, or dysregulation of the sinus node, which is carried out by the autonomic nervous system.

Sinus tachycardia symptoms

Sinus tachycardia has practically no specific symptoms. It manifests itself in the same symptoms as ordinary tachycardia. However, there is a significant characteristic of this disorder - this is anamnesis data, which makes it possible to trace the increase and decrease in heart rate. Other tachycardias show up unexpectedly, but the attack also ends unexpectedly. In this case, it is said about the paroxysmal nature of the violation.

In people with sinus tachycardia, lethargy and weakness increase. From time to time, patients complain of weakness in the legs. Working capacity deteriorates, the body's endurance suffers. This is especially noticeable among those categories of citizens whose work is associated with the application of physical force (laborers, porters, storekeepers).

Even minor physical activity can cause severe fatigue. It is because of chronic fatigue that most people consult a doctor. Passing an ECG and taking anamnesis allows you to make a diagnosis.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath with sinus tachycardia can develop regardless of the person's level of physical activity. Sometimes it even happens during a night's rest when the body is at rest. If the heart rate rises to 140 beats per minute, the person wakes up as he feels suffocated. Oxygen deficiency can occur during the daytime. At the same time, the patient did not experience preliminary loads.

During an attack of shortness of breath, a person may experience pain in the chest, he suffers from shortness of breath, and may stab in the chest on the left side.

Convulsions

With tachycardia, convulsions are explained by the fact that the limbs suffer from insufficient blood supply. The spasm can be concentrated in the calf area, but sometimes the patient's arms, neck, back, and abdomen are cramped. The feet and hands become cold during seizures, sometimes they acquire a bluish tint, or turn pale.

If the capillaries burst, then spider veins appear on the skin. Often spider veins appear with varicose veins. Therefore, you need to undergo a thorough examination and find out the causes of the pathological symptom.

Heartache

Pain can vary. Some patients complain of stabbing and burning sensations, others indicate heaviness and pressure. Some patients say that their pain is dull. It is concentrated behind the chest.

Sometimes the pain is weak, barely noticeable. It can occur several times a day. Painful sensations last no longer than 7 minutes. As a rule, the pain does not cause severe discomfort, so the person is not in a hurry to see a doctor.

It is impossible to endure pain in the heart, regardless of its intensity. This symptom is a good reason to see a doctor. In some cases, heart pain becomes the only symptom of the most serious pathologies that can be life threatening.

Low blood pressure

Blood pressure in people with sinus tachycardia is often low. The patient complains of dizziness, "flies" begin to flicker before his eyes, migraine often occurs. In severe cases, fainting occurs, which can last from 15 seconds to several minutes.

Panic attacks

Panic attacks are a symptom that often characterizes sinus tachycardia. Patients are haunted by fear, but it is not the only symptom of the disorder. A person is in a state of heightened anxiety all the time, he may experience hallucinations.

Panic attacks are a serious reason for contacting a specialist and starting treatment.

Types of tachycardia

Tachycardia is divided into two forms: physiological and pathological. In the first case, an increased heart rate is due to physical exertion, excitement, etc. In pathological tachycardia, an increase in heartbeats is caused by a disease, for example, febrile syndromes, malfunctions of the endocrine system, nervous and mental disorders, alcohol poisoning of the body. Tachycardia also occurs due to a decrease in motor function for a long time, as well as from failures in the work of the heart, after which heart failure may develop.

It is necessary to determine what kind of tachycardia the patient suffers - chronic or paroxysmal. In the latter case, the doctor must find out if the patient suffers from attacks of paroxysmal sinus tachycardia. When a patient has an attack of sinus tachycardia, he cannot accurately determine the beginning and end of the attack. An accurate diagnosis can be made only with the help of electrocardiography, which must be carried out directly during the attack. Many people with tachycardia do not notice it, and some may complain of a fast heartbeat. Tachycardia can be identified by listening to the heart and pulse. Treatment for sinus tachycardia is mainly aimed at removing the factors that caused it.

Diagnostics

During the examination, the doctor assesses the condition of the patient's dermis, listens to the heart rhythm, determines the presence of wheezing. It is important to measure blood pressure and heart rate.

After the examination, the doctor will direct the patient to take tests and undergo instrumental techniques:

• Blood sampling for biochemical analysis. This will eliminate the inflammatory response in the body.
• Delivery of urine for general analysis. This study will rule out diabetes mellitus as well as kidney failure.
• 12-lead ECG. This study has a leading role in identifying tachycardia. It allows you to detect your heart rate and rhythm.
• Echocardiography The diagnostic procedure is aimed at identifying intracardiac pathology. In this regard, MRI of the heart is quite informative.
• Valgus tests: Valsava, massage of carotid sinuses, Ashner.
• Performing a transesophageal atrial electrocardiogram.
• Taking a daily ECG according to Holter. This is a safe study that makes it possible to establish various violations of the heart rhythm. There is a fixation of the activity of the heart in the conditions of conducting ordinary life.
• Electrophysiological examination of the heart is aimed at studying the propagation of an electrical impulse through the myocardium, makes it possible to identify the mechanism of development of tachycardia.

It is important to clarify the reason that led to the development of the pathology. The doctor can give the patient a referral to determine the level of thyroid-stimulating hormones in the blood, to pass the EEG of the brain, etc.

The doctor without fail specifies information about the patient's place of work, about the conditions in which his labor activity takes place. This information gives the doctor the opportunity to suggest the cause that provoked sinus tachycardia and prescribe pathogenetic treatment.

Which doctor should I go to?

If a person notices signs of sinus tachycardia in himself, you need to see a doctor. A cardiologist is involved in the identification and treatment of cardiac pathologies. Sometimes the help of a phlebologist, endocrinologist, vascular surgeon may be required.

Sinus tachycardia treatment

Most often, sinus tachycardia does not require any therapy. Treatment, first of all, comes down to lifestyle correction. A person needs to stop drinking alcohol, smoking, and drinking drinks with a high caffeine content.

Medicines are prescribed when sinus tachycardia leads to bouts of angina pectoris, or causes a deterioration in the patient's well-being.

Rarely severe tachycardia requires radiofrequency catheter ablation. They resort to this method of treatment only when the violation cannot be corrected by methods of conservative therapy. During the operation, a pacemaker is placed in the sinus node area.

Beta blockers

Beta blockers help to reduce the level of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the body. These hormones are responsible for the development of stress, which negatively affects the condition of the heart muscle.

The drug of choice is Bisoprolol. Patients respond well to therapy, but sometimes severe side effects can develop. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe drugs in this group.

Non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists

The drugs in this group include Diltiazem and Verapamil. Their reception allows you to reduce the contractile activity of the heart muscle, reduce heart rate, slow down the conduction of the atria and ventricles of the myocardium.

Both Diltiazem and Verapamil are capable of producing multiple medicinal and side effects. Therefore, the dosage is selected on an individual basis.

Ancillary drugs

To eliminate the cause of the development of tachycardia, the doctor can prescribe medications to the patient that do not directly affect the disturbances in the work of the heart. However, full recovery is impossible without them.

Cause of sinus tachycardia	Group of drugs	Name of the medicinal product
Neurosis, psychosis, stress, depression	Herbal and synthetic sedatives	Afobazol, Tenoten, Persen, Valerian, Motherwort, dragee "Evening"
Hyperthyroidism	Drugs that suppress the production of thyroid hormones and thyrotropin	Thiamazole, Propylthiouracil, Tyrosol, Mercazolil, Metizol, Carbimazole
Angina and other infections	Broad spectrum antibiotics	Zinnat, Azithromycin, Amoxiclav, Clarithromycin, Augmentin, Amoxicillin, Flemoklav
Anemia	Iron preparations	Venofer, Heferol, Iron gluconate 300, CosmoFer

Sometimes patients need to take medications that are aimed at restoring the volume of circulating blood in the body. In rare cases, blood transfusion is required. If the patient has symptoms of dehydration of the body, it is necessary to replenish the fluid reserves with the help of saline solutions (Rehydron).

How to stop tachycardia in 30 seconds?

Tachycardia is characterized by an increased heart rate. This feeling is familiar to many people. There are two effective tricks that can get rid of the problem in half a minute.

Immersion

When a person's body temperature drops, the heart begins to beat less frequently. The nervous system thus controls the processes of adaptation to cold. The heart will slow down if you put your face in cold water. After all, it is the head that is closer to the heart than other organs.

In order to cope with tachycardia, you need to follow these recommendations:

• Cool water is collected in the container. The lower its temperature, the faster it will be possible to cope with the attack. Therefore, to enhance the effect, ice can be added to it.
• Before lowering your face into the cup, you need to hold your breath, pinching your nose with your fingers. Then you should sharply lower your face into the prepared liquid. The exposure time is 10-15 seconds.
• You can draw water in your palms and rinse your face with it.
• Alternatively, you can massage your face with ice cubes. The temporal region should be especially carefully worked out.

Valsalva maneuver

This procedure allows you to influence the vagus nerve. It is he who is responsible for the heart rate.

To implement this technique, you need to follow these recommendations:

• Take a deep breath and tighten your abdominal muscles.
• Pinch your nose with two fingers, close your mouth and eyes.
• Try to exhale through your mouth and nose without opening them. At the same time, you need to strain the abdominal muscles.

If a person's tachycardia is combined with pain in the heart, or there is a feeling of suffocation, then none of these techniques can be applied in practice. In such situations, it is necessary to call a medical team.

If the heart begins to beat more often against the background of physical activity, after playing sports, or with increased emotional excitement, then such a reaction of the body is quite normal.

In the event that tachycardia develops for no obvious reason, it is necessary to consult a doctor. This condition may indicate a serious pathology.

General recommendations

Regardless of what medications are prescribed to a patient with sinus tachycardia, he will need to follow the doctor's recommendations regarding lifestyle and nutrition. You need to eat often, but in small portions. It is important to minimize the consumption of fatty and high-calorie foods. It is recommended to give up sugar, foods that contain flavor enhancers and other harmful components.

Be sure to go for a walk as often as possible. Physical activity should be increased, but aggressive sports should not be practiced. Patients with sinus tachycardia can go to the pool and take yoga classes.

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the air in the living space. The humidity level should not drop below 40%. It is imperative to ventilate the room.

Sinus tachycardia is a disorder that requires timely diagnosis and treatment. To achieve recovery, you need to follow all the recommendations of the attending doctor, as well as lead a healthy lifestyle. Physical inactivity, the use of junk food, smoking - all this will lead to the fact that the effect of the therapy will not be achieved.

The author of the article: Molchanov Sergey Nikolaevich | Cardiologist

Education: Diploma in "Cardiology" received at the PMGMU. I. M. Sechenov (2015). Here I completed my postgraduate studies and received a diploma "Cardiologist".