Tachycardia
By: Ashtyn Bray
Tachycardia
A heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute
How It Happens
The rapid heartbeat does not allow enough time for the heart to fill before it contracts so blood does not get pumped throughout the body
Causes
- Lack of oxygen to areas of the heart due to lack of coronary artery blood flow
- Cardiomyopathy in which the structure of the heart becomes distorted
- Medications
Symptoms
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Unconsciousness
- Cardiac Arrest
Treatments
- May require immediate electrical defibrillation
- Medication (prescribed for home use and/or administered by healthcare professionals)
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Surgery