Atrial tachycardia Symptoms & Treatment
Atrial Tachycardia Treatment in Hyderabad | Dr. Sarat Chandra
Atrial tachycardia, characterized by a rapid rhythm in the upper chambers (atria) of the heart, is classified as an arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat. The heart rate can go above 100 beats per minute. Atrial tachycardia is a type of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Your atria are the upper sections of your heart where these events occur.
Although there are various potential reasons behind this condition, it is typically not exceedingly dangerous. Experienced cardiologists can treat or control atrial tachycardia by prescribing medication and other ways.
On whom does atrial tachycardia have an impact?
Atrial tachycardia can occur in anyone as a common occurrence. Nonetheless, specific forms of atrial tachycardia have a greater probability of occurring during different stages of life.
What is the frequency of occurrence of atrial tachycardia?
As individuals grow older, atrial tachycardia prevalence increases although it is already a relatively common condition. In India, approximately 200000 instances of brief atrial tachycardia are reported annually.
What occurs in the event of atrial tachycardia?
In a condition of atrial tachycardia, the atria contract at a faster pace compared to the ventricles. This could be caused by a malfunctioning cell or a flawed electrical signal. Typically, this occurs in three different ways:
Your heart rhythm is set by a different group of cells or even a single cell that dominates over the regular peacemaking cells. An uneven distribution of sodium, potassium, and calcium can lead to this occurrence.
Triggered activity: Chemical imbalance in heart muscles cell can trigger abnormal rhythm or heartbeats.
On occasion, an event or stimulus can cause an activated response.
Focal– The onset of this atrial tachycardia originates from a distinct focal point in your heart. Safe typically. If such a situation prolongs, it may cause problems.
It is possible that there are multiple focal points in certain instances. The medical term for this condition is multifocal atrial tachycardia. Diagnosing this particular form of atrial tachycardia may be simpler, but attempting to treat it could pose more difficulties. Common reasons are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and similar respiratory problems.
Micro-reentrant- This category of atrial tachycardia operates much like reentry, but its impact is felt over a broader region. The reason behind it is typically due to the signal having to navigate either a portion of your cardiac muscle or a scar tissue region.
Which signs indicate the presence of atrial tachycardia?
Atrial tachycardia may occur without any noticeable symptoms, primarily when it only occurs briefly. Adults typically experience the following symptoms:
- Heart flutters
- Racing or pounding heartbeat
- Symptoms of feeling disoriented
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting
- Losing consciousness
- Angina causing chest discomfort
- Breathlessness
Symptoms of atrial tachycardia can occur in both infants and children. They have the following symptoms:
- Rapid breathing
- Vomiting
- Feeding problems
What is the reason behind atrial tachycardia leading to quick breathing?
Several factors could be attributed to the occurrence of atrial tachycardia.
A few of them include:
Heart disease in different forms, including coronary artery disease.
- Cardiac arrest
- COPD
- Electrolyte issues
- Alcohol
- Adverse effects of certain medications
Caffeine and other substances that cause stimulation include illegal drugs used for pleasure.
What is the process for diagnosing atrial tachycardia?
Presenting symptoms of a heart rhythm issue suffices for a healthcare practitioner’s diagnosis of atrial tachycardia.
Your cardiologist may order blood tests to determine whether the condition is due to thyroid disorders, heart disease, or other conditions. The doctor may also order ECG, echocardiogram, and stress test. Electrophysiological study (EP) also helps in knowing electrical activity and the pattern of electrical signals during heartbeats.
Additional examinations involve using a tiny monitoring device (Holter monitor) to capture irregular heartbeats, heart rate, and rhythms during daily activities. It is used for a few days or weeks. If there are strong indications of atrial tachycardia but standard tests have not been successful in confirmation, your healthcare provider may choose to sedate you and insert catheters into your heart within a laboratory setting to identify and/or stimulate this atypical heart rhythm.
Atrial Tachycardia Treatment
During an episode of atrial tachycardia, vagus nerve stimulation can help control rapid heartbeats. Your cardiologist may ask you to do certain specific actions – such as bearing down, putting an ice pack on your face, and coughing. These actions can affect the vagus nerve to manage heartbeats. The doctor will also prescribe medicines.
If atrial tachycardia doesn’t get better with medication or vagal maneuvers, a procedure called cardioversion is helpful. In this procedure, the doctor delivers a shock to the heart through patches or paddles on the chest to restore a normal heart rate.
Pacemaker: This device detects an abnormal heartbeat and sends an electrical pulse to correct the heart rhythm. The device is implanted in the chest area. The procedure is done with the ablation of the AV node for people with atrial tachycardia.
For the best atrial tachycardia treatment in Hyderabad, meet Dr. Sarat Chandra.