$Unique_ID{BRK01094}
$Pretitle{Circulatory System}
$Title{What is "Tachycardia" and What Can be Done for it?}
$Subject{heart beat rapid tachycardia}
$Volume{G-3}
$Log{
Figure 1*0001404.scf
Figure 2*0001406.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is "Tachycardia" and What Can be Done for it?


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QUESTION:  My mother has been taken to the hospital several times because her
heart, all of a sudden starts beating out of control.  She called it "tack"
something and said that her heart beat was 200 beats per minute.  Could you
please tell me more about this disease?  What should she do?

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ANSWER:  Your word "tack" comes from the Greek "tachy" which means "swift" and
the name of the medical condition is "tachycardia" or the rapid beating of the
heart.  Generally this term is applied to any heart rate over 100 beats a
minute.  There are many types of tachycardia, depending upon their cause,
which is usually determined by carefully examining the heart and evaluating
the electrocardiogram (EKG).  It is called "paroxysmal" when the condition
starts suddenly without warning.  The patient may feel faint and weak, but
rarely passes out completely.  The patient should lie down immediately and
remain quiet and calm, to offset the effects of a lowered blood pressure which
may be present during the attack of this rapid heart beat.  There are a number
of techniques called "vagal maneuvers" that may be attempted by trained
personnel to break the rapid rhythm.  The patient may attempt a forcible
exhaling effort against a firmly closed mouth and glottis to increase the
pressure in the chest area (Valsalva's maneuver) or the carotid sinus, located
on the side of the neck may be massaged.  I stress this should only be
attempted by trained personnel while the heart is being monitored by an EKG.
Frequently this is all that is required to restore the heart beat to normal.
When this is unsuccessful various medications, including verapamil or
edrophonium may be used.  Digoxin may also be used when emergency treatment
fails, and it is possible to return the beat to normal using electrical
stimulation (electrical cardioversion).  Although this condition may be seen
in younger people with no evidence of heart disease, in older people, like
your mother, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease may be present.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
