What does a faster than normal heartbeat indicate?

Answer 1

This article will help you out in understanding your condition:

Definition

Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid heart beat initiated within the ventricles, characterized by 3 or more consecutive premature ventricular beats.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Ventricular tachycardia is a potentially lethal disruption of normal heartbeat (arrhythmia) that may cause the heart to become unable to pump adequate blood through the body. The heart rate may be 160 to 240 (normal is 60 to 100 beats per minute).

Ventricular tachycardia can occur in the absence of apparent heart disease. It can also develop as an early or a late complication of a heart attack, or during the course of cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, myocarditis, and following heart surgery.

Healed heart attacks form scar tissue which can lead to ventricular tachycardia. This can occur days, months, or years after the heart attack.

Ventricular tachycardia can also result from anti-arrhythmic medications (an undesired effect) or from altered blood chemistries (such as a low potassium level), pH (acid-base) changes, or insufficient oxygenation.

A common mechanism for ventricular tachycardia is reentry (re-stimulation of the electrical conductive pathway from a single initial stimulus). Ventricular tachycardia is classified as nonsustained (often defined as lasting less than 30 seconds) or sustained.

"Torsade de pointes" is a form of ventricular tachycardia with a specific variation in the conduction of the ventricular stimulus.

Ventricular tachycardia occurs in approximately 2 out of 10,000 people.

Symptoms

* Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
* Light-headedness or dizziness
* Fainting
* Shortness of breath
* Chest discomfort (angina)

Note: Symptoms may start and stop suddenly. In some cases, there are no symptoms.

Answer 2

Ventricular tachycardia is ≥ 3 consecutive ventricular beats at a rate ≥ 120 beats/min. Symptoms depend on duration and vary from none to palpitations to hemodynamic collapse and death. Diagnosis is by ECG. Treatment of more than brief episodes is with cardioversion or antiarrhythmics depending on symptoms. If necessary, long-term treatment is with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Answer 3

You need to give more information. Your age? Other health problems? If you are young and a doctor has said you have a fast heartbeat you should have had some blood work done. If this isn't the case, go see your doctor. I had this problem and it was hyperthyroidism.

Answer 4

Could be a potassium deficiency or too much sodium in your system. Could also be heavy metal poisoning though that's very unlikely -- could be many things including an amino acid imbalance, not enough exercise, high blood pressure or something similar........

Answer 5

normally in healthy adult men or women heart beats at rate of 72/minute.if it beats faster then 100/minute then we can say it is beating faster that is tachycardia.consult your physician as early as possible.