ventricular tachyardia?

Question

i am 21 yr. old and just been diagnosed with having ventricular tachyardia!! I am scared to death at the thought of having this condition, i have an apptmt. to see a cardiologist next week, but i'm terrified of what I might have to go thru to get this fixed , anyone else have this condition or know anything about it?

Answer 1

Ventricular tachycardia


Definition:
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) is a rapid heart beat that originates in one of the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. To be classified as tachycardia, the heart rate is usually at least 100 beats per minute.

Description:
A rapid heart rate can originate in either the left or right ventricle. Ventricular tachycardia which lasts more than 30 seconds is referred to as sustained ventricular tachycardia. A period of three to five rapid beats is called a salvo, and six beats or more lasting less than 30 seconds is called nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Rapid ventricular rhythms are more serious than rapid atrial rhythms because they make the heart extremely inefficient. They also tend to cause more severe symptoms, and have a much greater tendency to result in death.

Although generally considered to be among the life-threatening abnormal rhythms, harmless forms of sustained V-tach do exist. These occur in people without any structural heart disease.

Causes and symptoms:
Most ventricular tachycardias are associated with serious heart disease such as coronary artery blockage, cardiomyopathy, or valvular heart disease. V-tach is often triggered by an extra beat originating in either the right or left ventricle. It also occurs frequently in connection with a heart attack. V-tach commonly occurs within 24 hours of the start of the attack. It must be treated quickly to prevent fibrillation. After 48 to 72 hours of the heart attack, the risk of ventricular tachycardia is small. However, people who have suffered severe damage to the larger anterior wall of the heart have a second danger period, because V-tach often occurs during convalescence from this type of heart attack.

Sustained ventricular tachycardia prevents the ventricles from filling adequately so the heart can not pump normally. This results in loss of blood pressure, and can lead to a loss of consciousness and to heart failure.

The individual with V-tach almost always experiences palpitation, though some episodes cause no symptoms at all.

Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is easily made with an electrocardiogram.

Treatment:
Any episode of ventricular tachycardia that causes symptoms needs to be treated. An episode that lasts more than 30 seconds, even without symptoms, also needs to be treated. Drug therapy can be given intravenously to suppress episodes of V-tach. If blood pressure falls below normal, a person will need electric cardioversion ("shock") immediately.

Prognosis:
With appropriate drug or surgical treatment, ventricular tachycardia can be controlled in most people.

Prevention:
A person susceptible to sustained ventricular tachycardia often has a small abnormal area in the ventricles that is the source of the trigger event. This area can sometimes be surgically removed. If surgery is not an option, and drug therapy is not effective, a device called an automatic cardioverter-defibrillator may be implanted.


Atrial
Having to do with the upper chambers of the heart.

Cardiomyopathy
A disease of the heart muscle.

Cardioversion
A electrical shock delivered to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Coronary artery
The artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle itself.

Electrocardiogram
A visual representation of the heart beat.

Fibrillation
Rapid, uncoordinated, quivering of the heart.

Palpitations
Uncomfortable feeling of the heart beat in the chest.

Valvular
Having to do with the valves inside the heart.
For Your Information

Books:
McGoon, Michael D., ed. Mayo Clinic Heart Book: The Ultimate Guide to Heart Health. New York: William Morrow and Co., Inc., 1993.


Organizations:
American Heart Association. 7320 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231. [phone]. http://www.americanheart.org

Answer 2

First, are you sure they said "ventricular" tachycardia, or did they maybe tell you "supraventricular" tachycardia, and you were too nervous at the time to hear the difference? Both can be treated, but one is more serious than the other.
If it is supraventricular tachycardia, the MD will likely try first to manage it with medications and lifestyle changes (no caffeine,etc.). If this doesn't work, they may recommend an Ablation procedure, where the MD "burns" out the extra electrical circuit in your heart (This is usually done with anesthesia and it shouldn't hurt)
If it is indeed ventricular tachycardia, they may also try meds, but more likely will suggest you have either an ablation, or a special pacemaker called an Implantable defibrillator that can correct the ventricular tachycardia when it happens.
Find more information on the Heart Rhythm Society webpage.

Answer 3

My girlfriend, Becky has what is called runs of v tach.. She is about 26 years old and was having really bad palpitations. We thought it was because she worked nites and was getting too tired. Well, since we all nurse, we decided to hook her to a monitor one nite at the hospital whle everything was slow, and Wow, we were freaking out watching her heartbeat on the monitor. She was evaluated by a cardiologist and he put her on medication. She takes meds now for it.
Just to let you know there are 2 kinds of tachycardia. One is from the top of the heart which is less serious its usually called supraventricular, atrial or sinus tachycardia. The other is more serious and requires attention and is called ventricular tachycardia which is what you are saying you have I dont want to say anymore because I think you may have the 2 confused and I know your already worried enough, but it is treatable, so go to the doctor and he will take good care of you.

Answer 4

It's not as serious as it sounds. Tachycardia is rapid heart beats. It may not be heart related at all, it could be stress or anxiety. I wouldn't worry. See what the cardiologist says. He may recommend a beta blocker to help you stablize your heart beats. This will take some getting used to though. I would request a low-dose until your body adjusts to it as it does make you tired. Good Luck!

Answer 5

tachycardia is a fast heart rate. this can be controlled either by meds or other therapies. the cardiologist will give you all the info you need. while i am in healthcare, i am not a heart specialist, but i think you are going to be fine if you take care of yourself and do as the dr says

Answer 6

What condition are we talking about. WPW? I would have to see the ECG and diagnose the cause of the tachycardia before I could talk treatment. I might be purely medicinal.

Answer 7

u ll probably undergo some electrophysiological therapy , a thin wire is inserted through a large vessel at ur inguinal area, up to the heart, and they ll ablate the part that causes the extra "electricity" that triggers ur ventricle to pump fast