Palpitations means tachycardia.

Written by Liu Yong
Cardiology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Tachycardia, as the name suggests, means that the heart beats fast. How many beats per minute constitute a fast heartbeat or tachycardia? Clinically, it is generally considered that a heartbeat exceeding 100 beats/min can be termed as tachycardia. There are various types of tachycardia, such as sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, or ventricular tachycardia. There are also atrial tachycardia and junctional tachycardia. The origin of tachycardia varies, and its clinical significance is completely different. Therefore, it is essential to identify the nature of the tachycardia in order to treat it effectively. How to confirm the diagnosis? In this case, it is best to obtain an electrocardiogram during an episode. If the electrocardiogram at the moment of occurrence is not available, it is recommended to wear a 24-hour Holter monitor to determine the cause further. Only after identifying the cause can targeted treatment be administered.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Can someone with tachycardia do heavy work?

If the patient experiences tachycardia, it is recommended that the patient avoid strenuous physical labor, as engaging in heavy physical activity at this time may increase the cardiac load, further exacerbating myocardial ischemia, leading to an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption. When this condition occurs, it is important to rest and not engage in heavy physical labor. It is also advisable for the patient to visit a hospital to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) checked to rule out coronary heart disease and arrhythmias that may be causing the sinus tachycardia, as sometimes this condition needs to be managed. If the heart rate is too fast, it may sometimes worsen symptoms of heart palpitations.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Can you run with tachycardia?

If the patient experiences this type of tachycardia, it is not recommended for the patient to run, as running can exacerbate the rapid heart rate, leading to tachycardia. If this occurs, it can be actively managed to control the ventricular rate. It is best to find the cause of tachycardia, especially if it is a pathological disease, particularly supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia, which sometimes requires active management to improve myocardial oxygen consumption. In such cases, running is not advisable. Running increases cardiac output, leading to myocardial ischemia, thereby exacerbating symptoms and further bringing significant discomfort to the patient. Rest is recommended.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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What is the pulse rate for tachycardia?

Under normal circumstances, each heartbeat of a healthy individual generates one pulse, with the pulse rate being equal to the heart rate. During tachycardia, the pulse rate increases. If the heart rate and pulse rate are not the same, it indicates arrhythmia. This discrepancy between pulse rate and heart rate can be caused by severe arrhythmias, such as ventricular premature beats, atrial premature beats, atrial fibrillation, and significant atrioventricular block. This condition occurs because the strength and speed of heartbeats vary, with some weak heartbeats not being strong enough to be reflected in the pulse, leading to an inconsistency between heartbeats and pulse. This condition requires an electrocardiogram.

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Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
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"Tachycardia" means heart beats too fast.

We define a heart rate over 100 beats per minute as tachycardia, which can be sinus tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, junctional tachycardia, among others. Moreover, tachycardia can be physiological or pathological. For instance, a person experiencing tachycardia during intense physical activity or emotional excitement without any organic disease, and if this tachycardia is sinus tachycardia, then it is considered related to the intense activity or emotional state. On the other hand, conditions like anemia, hyperthyroidism, or heart failure can also lead to tachycardia. Whether tachycardia is physiological or pathological, and whether it is sinus or caused by other pacemakers in the heart, should be determined by a specialist.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Is tachycardia related to being overweight?

Tachycardia generally has no relation to obesity. Clinically, tachycardia can be categorized into sinus tachycardia, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, and other types, none of which have a definitive relation to obesity. There are many causes of tachycardia, such as fever, hyperthyroidism, and anemia. Additionally, certain structural heart diseases and pulmonary diseases can also lead to tachycardia. While obesity itself introduces a range of issues like hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and other metabolic abnormalities, which might affect the heart rate, this impact is usually not severe.