 Show ECG strip showing a normal heartbeat ECG strip showing tachycardia Tachycardia refers to a heart rate that’s too fast. How that’s defined may depend on your age and physical condition. Generally speaking, for adults, a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute (BPM) is considered too fast. View an animation of tachycardia. Types of tachycardiasAtrial or Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)Atrial or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a fast heart rate that starts in the upper chambers of the heart. Some forms of this particular tachycardia are paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). With atrial or supraventricular tachycardia, electrical signals in the heart’s upper chambers fire abnormally. This interferes with electrical impulses coming from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. The disruption results in a faster than normal heart rate. This rapid heartbeat keeps the heart’s chambers from filling completely between contractions, which compromises blood flow to the rest of the body. A profile for atrial or SVTIn general, those most likely to have atrial or supraventricular tachycardia are:
Atrial or SVT is less commonly associated with heart attack or serious mitral valve disease. Symptoms and complicationsSome people with atrial or supraventricular tachycardia may have no discernible symptoms. Others may experience:
In extreme cases, those suffering with atrial or SVT may also experience:
Treatment for Atrial or SVTIf you have atrial or SVT, it’s possible that you won’t need treatment. But if the episodes are prolonged, or recur often, your doctor may recommend treatment, including:
In patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, medications or ablation may be needed to control paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). Sinus TachycardiaSinus tachycardia is a normal increase in the heart rate. In this condition, the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, sends out electrical signals faster than usual. The heart rate is faster than normal, but the heart beats properly. Causes of sinus tachycardiaA rapid heartbeat may be your body’s response to common conditions such as:
Other, less common causes may include:
Approach to treatmentYour doctor should consider and treat the cause of your sinus tachycardia, rather than just treating the condition. Simply slowing the heart rate could cause more harm if your rapid heartbeat is a symptom of a more serious or long-term problem. Ventricular TachycardiaVentricular tachycardia is a fast heart rate that starts in the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles). This type of arrhythmia may be either well-tolerated or life-threatening, requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The seriousness depends largely on whether other cardiac dysfunction is present and on the degree of the ventricular tachycardia. Explaining the problemIn cases of ventricular tachycardia, electrical signals in the heart’s lower chambers fire abnormally. This interferes with electrical impulses coming from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. The disruption results in a faster than normal heart rate. This rapid heartbeat keeps the heart’s chambers from filling completely between contractions, which compromises blood flow to the rest of the body. Causes of ventricular tachycardiaVentricular tachycardia is most often associated with disorders that interfere with the heart’s electrical conduction system. These disorders can include:
Range of symptomsSymptoms for ventricular tachycardia vary. Common symptoms include:
Treatment optionsThe cause of your ventricular tachycardia will inform your treatment options. Possible approaches include:
Printable Arrhythmia Information SheetsWritten by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. How can I quickly lower my heart rate?“Close your mouth and nose and raise the pressure in your chest, like you're stifling a sneeze.” Breathe in for 5-8 seconds, hold that breath for 3-5 seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat several times. Raising your aortic pressure in this way will lower your heart rate.
At what heart rate should you go to the hospital?If you're sitting down and feeling calm, your heart shouldn't beat more than about 100 times per minute. A heartbeat that's faster than this, also called tachycardia, is a reason to come to the emergency department and get checked out. We often see patients whose hearts are beating 160 beats per minute or more.
Why my heart rate is very high?Stress, exercise, or even too much alcohol or caffeine can cause your heart to beat faster than normal. But if your heart races a lot—or if you notice your heartbeat is often irregular—then you should see a doctor.
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What to do if my heart rate is high
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