How To Know If You Have Tachycardia?

Tachycardia is a very common type of cardiac rhythm disorder in which it is seen that the resting heart rate becomes faster than what it should have normally. So, how do you know if you have tachycardia? Let us look at this in detail.

It is normal to have a rapid heartbeat when you perform exercise or any stressful work but during the resting condition, it should not be more than 60-100 beat per minutes. Increased heart rate happens when there is any abnormality in the heart and that condition is called tachycardia.

Tachycardia is a common problem and can be due to physiological or pathological causes. One of the main complications of pathological tachycardia is the possibility of developing cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.¹ Hence, early recognition is important to manage tachycardia well and prevent complications.

How do you know if you have tachycardia? This is a common question bothering many people. Knowing about the symptoms of tachycardia and the ways in which it is diagnosed can help a great deal in this matter.

Although in some cases it is seen that people get no indication or symptoms that they are suffering from tachycardia yet, in general, you may feel the following symptoms if you have tachycardia.

So, if you experience the following symptoms, it is necessary for you to know if you have tachycardia.

• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Rapid palpitation
• Rapid pulse rate
• Lightheadedness
• Unconsciousness in extreme cases

These symptoms should prompt a suspicion and you must seek medical opinion to know if you have tachycardia.

If you experience any of the symptoms that are mentioned above, it is very essential to diagnose whether you have tachycardia or not immediately. The following are some tests that physicians would advise to determine whether you have tachycardia.

Electrocardiogram (ECG). An electrocardiogram is a very common type of test that is mainly used for detecting tachycardia. It is a painless test which can easily record the heart’s electrical activity of the patient with the help of some small sensors called electrodes. These electrodes are attached to the chest as well as the arms of the patient for recording the time and strength of the electrical signals when it passes through the heart of the patient. Looking at the pattern of the signal, doctors can find out whether the patient has tachycardia or not. Apart from that, doctor, can find out the type of tachycardia that the patient is suffering from. Thus, one of the easiest ways in which you would know if you have tachycardia and get a diagnosis from the physician.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Diagnose Tachycardia. Cardiac MRI is another useful test that is mostly performed for detecting tachycardia. This test shows the moving and still picture of how blood flows through the heart of the patient. This helps doctors to easily detect if there is any kind of irregularities in the heart of the patient.

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan for Diagnosing Tachycardia. This is another useful test performed for detecting tachycardia. In this test, several X-ray images are provided. With the help of these X-ray images, the doctors can study the heart through the detailed cross-sectional view of it and thereby they can come to the conclusion whether the patient has tachycardia or not.

Coronary Angiogram. This is a type of test which is mainly performed to detect if there is any blockage in the heart of the patient. It is often seen that when there is a blockage in the heart, the patient suffers from a rapid heartbeat. This makes it important to know if you have tachycardia, as it might point to something even more serious.

So, it sometimes becomes essential to perform this test for detecting tachycardia. With the help of this test, the doctor gets a detailed view of blood flow through the heart and blood vessels. Apart from that, dye and special X-rays are used in this test for showing the inside of the coronary arteries. This help doctors to determine the abnormalities in a much more clear way.

Tilt Table Test. This is another type of test which can be performed for detecting tachycardia. In this test, the patient is asked to lie on a special table. Then the table is tilted when the patient tries to get up. With this test, doctors observe the heart and nervous system of the patient as they respond when they try to change the position.

Stress Test to Diagnose Tachycardia. This type of test is mainly performed to determine how the heart of the patient functions while doing exercise. In this test, doctors place the electrodes on the chest of the patient and ask them to do exercise or walk on the treadmill and then the doctor monitors how the heart of the patient functions. This test helps the doctor in a great way to find out whether the patient has tachycardia or not. This too is an important test to know if you have tachycardia and the way your heart performs during exertion.

In many cases, it is observed that tachycardia shows no symptoms or complications. If tachycardia is left untreated, it can be very dangerous to the health that may disrupt the normal function of the heart and thereby lead to serious complication. So, if you ever feel rapid heartbeat, it is very essential to diagnose the problem. If you do not receive proper treatment of tachycardia at the right time then it may lead to stroke, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest or even death. Now that you are aware of the ways to know if you have tachycardia, you can seek appropriate medical advice.

References:

Also Read:

• Atrial Tachycardia: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
• Role of Caffeine in Causing Tachycardia & Its Effects on Patients with Fast Heartbeat
• What Can Be Done For Tachycardia?
• Can Dehydration Cause Tachycardia?
• What are the Symptoms of Tachycardia?
• What are the Main Causes of Tachycardia?
• What Medications Are Used To Treat Tachycardia?