Fast heart beats. What are the causes of rapid heart rate and what can you do to reduce it at home? Increased heart rate and low blood pressure

Rapid heartbeat is medically called tachycardia. This is a pathological phenomenon indicating a physiological restless state. If tachycardia occurs against a background of excitement, fear, or physical exertion, then it does not pose a threat. But for no apparent reason, a violation poses a danger, as it impairs the flow of blood into the heart muscle and increases its oxygen consumption, which, in turn, can cause an attack of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.

Causes of rapid heartbeat

This phenomenon can be caused by a large number of factors. Sometimes tachycardia is temporary and the rhythm is restored by itself without any measures.

But in some cases this indicates serious pathological processes in the body. The most common reasons include fear, anxiety and excitement.

Very often, an increase in heart rate is observed with low or high blood pressure. Some medications also increase your heart rate. The reasons may lie in allergies, fever, or excessive caffeine consumption.

This phenomenon can also be considered as a symptom of diseases of the endocrine and autonomic nervous system. Usually the patient has problems with the adrenal glands, for example, tumor lesions. During pregnancy, the appearance of a strong heartbeat is considered normal and is physiological in nature, since the rapid rhythm is associated with an increase in the volume of circulating blood.

Causes and treatment for high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat

Increased heart rate and increased blood pressure are the first signs of tachycardia. First of all, you need to take a comfortable position and relax. After a few minutes the pulse will return to normal. Vasiliev’s method can help with low blood pressure: inhale, cover your mouth and nose with your hand, try to exhale.

A glass of cold water will help you calm down: the liquid, passing through the esophagus, puts pressure on the heart and normalizes its functioning. For the same purpose they resort to washing cold water. If the cause is hidden in stress, then meditation and aromatherapy help well.

With a frequent pulse, a decoction and tincture of motherwort helps normalize the condition, and with severe symptoms- “Validol”, “Corvalol”, “Anaprilin”. Eating foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids (fish, seafood) has a good effect on the body.

Increased blood pressure and rapid heartbeat may occur due to magnesium deficiency, so your doctor may recommend vitamin complexes. And those who take medications should pay attention to their side effects.

Rapid heartbeat and other low blood pressure conditions

Tachycardia is very often observed when pressure decreases, for example, in case of heavy blood loss, anaphylactic, traumatic shock. A decrease in this indicator and an increase in another may indicate vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, nausea, dizziness, and pallor occur.

Lack of air and increased heart rate may occur due to decreased blood pressure. Then there is pain in the heart area, innervating the stomach, unreasonable anxiety, and a feeling of fear. These two conditions cause headaches and constant dizziness.

Frequent heartbeat occurs in a child

Very often, children experience temporary tachycardia caused by emotional overstrain (joy, fear, fear, stress), but it may also indicate a disease of cardio-vascular system. A child's heart rate may increase due to elevated temperature and weather conditions. It is worth noting that the younger the baby, the higher the number of heartbeats per minute.

When rapid heartbeat, chest pressure and shortness of breath occur due to emotional or physical stress, these phenomena usually go away on their own. Otherwise, myocarditis, rhythm disturbances, and heart failure may be suspected. To eliminate this violation, you need to do a cardiogram.

Acute attacks that last several hours and are accompanied by pain in the heart, lack of air, nausea and dizziness are called paroxysmal tachycardia. Such conditions can occur even in infants.

At the same time, they may experience fainting, convulsions and cold sweats. It is very important to calm your baby during an attack. An older child should be given a glass of cold water and induced to vomit. If the attack continues, you must call an ambulance.

What to do if your heart beats fast

To identify the cause of the disorder, you need to consult a cardiologist, do an electrocardiogram, take a blood test for hormones, and undergo an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and heart. If all tests are normal, then secondary tachycardia occurs.

In this situation of frequent heartbeat, various medications, antidepressants and herbs with a sedative (calming) effect (mint, rosehip, lemon balm, valerian) are prescribed. Usually the course of treatment is long - from 3 to 6 months.

Constant stress and intense physical activity are common causes of rapid heartbeat. In this case, provoking factors are avoided as much as possible, the situation is changed, since constant load on the heart leads to atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction.

What can you take if your heart beats fast?

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the disorder. It is worth noting that this phenomenon almost always accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, a number of measures are aimed at relieving these symptoms.

There are several treatment methods, such as taking pills, injections and IVs, as well as prescriptions traditional medicine. The former are prescribed when the root cause is a disease, the latter - for stress, insomnia, and nervous experiences.

Tachycardia can be treated with herbal infusions of motherwort, valerian, caraway, and fennel seeds. Various preparations are usually taken before meals several times a day for a long time. Of course, you need to limit the patient from stressful situations.

You should consult your doctor before taking any medicine when you experience rapid heartbeat. The specialist will definitely prescribe a series of tests and studies to determine the condition of the body, the presence of diseases and contraindications to taking a particular drug.

Treatment, as a rule, consists of taking two groups of medications - antiarrhythmic and sedative:

• Antiarrhythmic - act directly on the cardiovascular system, normalizing the pulse. The most famous drugs in this group are Flecainide, Verapamil, Adenosine;
• Sedatives. The basis of such preparations are natural herbs. The task of this group of medications is to calm the nervous system. The most famous are based on motherwort and valerian, “Diazepam”, “Novo-passit”.

What can you take from tablets if your heart beats fast?

This form medicines- the most common. Typically, the doctor prescribes the following groups of drugs:

• Cardiac glycosides. They should be taken by people who have tachycardia due to heart failure (eg. “Dogoxin”);
• Beta blockers. The drugs are used to reduce the effect of hormones that cause stress (eg “Atenolol”, “Concor”);
• Antioxidants. They complement the main therapy (eg “Mexicor”, “Preductal”);
• Sedatives. Act as a sedative for palpitations. Usually prescribed to patients with emotional instability.

Any of the above medications must be prescribed by a doctor, as some are not available without a prescription. In addition, the specialist must establish the dose and duration of the course, as well as warn about side effects and tell what to do if the latter appear.

People may not pay attention or, on the contrary, often feel that their heart is beating too fast. In some cases, palpitations can be in the form of a short attack, which goes away on its own within a few minutes, in others, the heart works very actively almost every day. The frequency of contractions of the heart muscle more than 100 times per minute is considered too high, but when can we say that tachycardia and rapid heartbeat are a reason for concern?

The human heart works very hard throughout almost his entire life; as a rule, the number of beats per minute is no less than 50 times and no more than 150. The norm for a healthy person is the number of beats per minute in the range of 60-80, but in some cases our “fiery the engine is capable of operating at maximum speed, but there may not be any medical deviations in this. Tachycardia is a rapid heartbeat, more than 90 beats per minute, when is this phenomenon a cause for concern, and in what situations is it normal? Tachycardia is usually divided into a natural physiological phenomenon in some cases, as well as a pathological condition. A rapid heartbeat can cause quite a lot of stress in a person. discomfort, however, this is not always an indispensable sign of some kind of illness. However, since the heart is extremely important organ human body, all malfunctions in its operation must be monitored and thus, tachycardia or rapid heartbeat can be considered as a cause for concern.

There are many reasons why tachycardia occurs, considered as a normal physiological phenomenon, but it is very important to distinguish them from causes that are pathological. In particular, a person may experience palpitations due to:

A) Fright, fear. strong excitement or other sudden outburst emotional state. Every person has experienced this phenomenon more than once in their life and this is normal.

B) Tachycardia may be caused by taking certain medicines. in particular, certain cold medications cause heart palpitations.

IN) Everyone knows that caffeine and others stimulants can cause an increase in the number of contractions of the heart muscle; many use this effect for a short-term surge of vigor, increasing performance, relieving drowsiness, etc.

G) As a rule, the heartbeat becomes faster when fever, heat .

D) Tachycardia may occur as one of the symptoms food allergies .

E) Tachycardia occurs when anemia .

AND) The heart begins to beat faster when lack of oxygen in the blood .

H) At diseases thyroid gland .

Thus, tachycardia, as a pathological phenomenon, can occur at rest, so a rapid heartbeat in such a situation is a serious cause for concern. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, the heart begins to work at an increased rhythm in other cases, for example, with overwork, strong physical activity, with strong drunkenness. Tachycardia often affects people who are overweight, elderly, have high blood pressure, etc. A lack of many essential microelements in the body can also cause a periodic increase in heart muscle contractions.

This phenomenon is very dangerous for the reason that tachycardia can become a symptom of arrhythmia - disturbances in rhythm, heart rate, and malfunctions of this important muscle. Only a specialist who will examine the patient can determine whether there is cause for concern if a person has tachycardia quite often. The most serious reason for immediate consultation with a doctor should be such symptoms accompanying tachycardia as: darkening in the eyes, dizziness, loss of consciousness, general weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain. Based on observations and examination, a specialist will be able to give an accurate answer to the question of whether a rapid heartbeat is a sign of any disease. In general, if a person feels that his heart begins to beat too actively quite often and for no particular apparent reason, this may be a reason to seek advice, at least there will be no harm from it.

Tachycardia that occurs in a child can be a very important reason for concern, since it is especially harmful in childhood. Frequent cases of tachycardia in a child can provoke serious heart disease, but it should be understood that in children, frequent pulse fluctuations can be completely natural and normal. The needs of a child’s body constantly change as they grow, and the heart muscle strives to adapt to them, which is reflected in changes in heart rate. The younger the child is, the higher his pulse is, which is considered normal. A newborn up to 2 days old can have a heart rate of up to 160 beats per minute, and this will be normal. Usually by 1 year the frequency of strokes is 100-150 (sometimes more), by 5 years 60-120.

Children are always active, mobile, very emotional, and a frequent increase in heart contractions is considered natural for them, but if the permissible norms are exceeded, we can talk about tachycardia in the child. There are cases of chronic tachycardia in children, then there are constant problems with heart rate. This mainly happens due to congenital anomalies heart, deviations.

Frequent cases of tachycardia in unexpected situations can be a serious cause for concern, which can lead to disastrous consequences. For example, an attack can occur while driving a car or other transport, while swimming, or at moments when there is no one to come to the rescue. If tachycardia is accompanied by loss of consciousness, unpredictable consequences are possible; attention should be paid to this.

Contacts

T achycardia (rapid heartbeat)

Tachycardia– an increase in heart rate, perceived by the patient as a palpitation, is often the first sign of developing heart failure. Tachycardia is any heartbeat exceeding 100 beats per minute.

If a patient experiences palpitations, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can clarify the cause of the tachycardia and prescribe the appropriate regimen and treatment. Together with your doctor, rule out ventricular tachycardia and all forms of heart damage, thyroid pathology, pulmonary dysfunction, and so on. Only a doctor can distinguish paroxysmal atrial extrasystole from more serious forms of cardiac arrhythmia. An example of a more serious type of arrhythmia is ventricular tachycardia. This is when one ventricle begins to beat rapidly in a slightly irregular rhythm. (The ventricle is the chamber of the heart that pumps blood back to the arteries.) The amount of blood returned by the heart to the arteries may be significantly reduced, causing you to feel weak, sweating, and even faint.

Sometimes palpitations occur in practically healthy people with unstable nervous regulation. In such cases, valerian root preparations in the form of infusion or tincture, and rational exercise are effective. It should be remembered that drugs containing belladonna (atropine) can increase tachycardia.

Tips for treating tachycardia .

1) Slow down. Think of an increased heart rate as a red light warning you to “Slow down! Relax! In fact, rest is the best mechanism for stopping an attack.

2) Try the vagal maneuver. The heart rate and force of contraction of the heart are regulated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) nerves. When your heart beats strongly, it means you dominate sympathetic system(this is the system that forces your body to increase speed). All you have to do is turn on the control: a more seasoned, softer parasympathetic network. If you stimulate the vagal nerve, you will give rise to chemical process, which affects the heart in the same way that slamming on the brakes affects your car. One way to enable this network is to do deep breath and push it down as if you were pushing.

3) Get to the right carotid artery. Gentle massage of the right carotid artery is another vagal maneuver. Your doctor should show you the correct amount of pressure and the correct point. You need to massage the artery where it connects to the neck and as low as possible under the jaw.

4) Rely on the dive reflex. When marine mammals dive into the coldest waters, their heart rates automatically slow down. It's theirs natural way save your brain and heart. You can trigger your own dive reflex by filling a basin with ice water and submerging your face in it for a second or two. Sometimes this interrupts the tachycardia.

5) Quit your coffee habits. This includes cola, tea, chocolate, diet pills or stimulants in any form. Abuse of stimulants may put you at risk of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

6) Nurture your hypothalamus. The way your heart works depends on what's going on in your head, especially the midbrain. This is why it is necessary to support the hypothalamus when it needs it—through appropriate diet, exercise, and a positive attitude—to maintain stability and control of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system has two subsystems: the sympathetic, which basically speeds up everything in the body except digestion, and the parasympathetic.

Stress, poor nutrition and pollutants can cause your hypothalamus to lose control of the autonomic nervous system and allow it to slip into high mode, or sympathetic overload. You can help your hypothalamus maintain control.

Eat healthy foods regularly and avoid overindulging in sweets. If you skip a meal and then fill your stomach with chocolate or soda, your pancreas will work harder to take care of the increased sugar intake. Then, due to excess insulin, your blood sugar will become too low. In this case, your adrenal glands will release adrenaline to mobilize glycogen stores in the liver. Adrenaline stimulates a sharp increase in heart rate and a feeling of panic.

Adapt your diet to your metabolism. People with a fast metabolism should eat more protein foods. Protein foods take longer to digest and this helps prevent your blood sugar levels from falling too low. When blood sugar drops, it triggers the process described above.

Relax. There is a relationship between atrial paroxysmal tachycardia and such characteristics of individuals as a tendency to pedantry, a desire to move up, and a focus on external success. These are mostly the same people who suffer from migraines. For people of this type, the cardiac conduction mechanisms become abnormally dilated. This is due to chronic overstimulation by adrenaline. When people are under severe stress, the autonomic conduction of the heart fails and the rhythm is lost. To compensate, learn a progressive relaxation program, practice biofeedback, or learn to visualize serenity, relaxation, calm, and peace.

7) Take the micronutrient magnesium. Magnesium is a cell protector. In heart muscle cells, magnesium helps regulate the effects of calcium. When calcium enters a cell, it stimulates muscle contractions within the cell itself. Magnesium is most important for enzymes in the cell that push calcium out. This creates rhythmic contraction and relaxation, which makes the heart more resistant to stimulation. Magnesium is found in foods such as soybeans, nuts, beans and bran.

8) Maintain potassium levels. Potassium is another micronutrient that helps slow down the heart and the excitability of muscle fibers. This microelement is found in vegetables and fruits, so it is not difficult to get enough of it. But you can deplete it if your diet is high in sodium or if you take diuretics (diuretics) or overuse laxatives.

9) Do exercises. You can achieve a lot if you exercise. When you do exercises that increase your heart rate, the heart rate then tends to return to a higher rate. low level. People who do not exercise usually have a heart rate of about 80. When they start jogging a little, their heart rate increases to 160-170. Then, after some training, your resting heart rate can reach 60-65. Exercise also increases your resistance to the release of excess adrenaline. And this will reduce your irritability.

Get well!

Rapid heartbeat - what to expect.

31.03.2012 |

The heart is a hollow muscular organ that plays a major role in human activity. Its work is constant and is associated with rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the atria and ventricles (atrial systole and ventricular systole), followed only by short period relaxation (diastole). It is involved in blood circulation, delivering blood from the veins of the greater and lesser circles to the arteries, which carry it to all organs and tissues (providing them with nutrition).

Veins, in turn, drain blood from tissues and bring it to the heart, which contributes to adequate saturation of our body with oxygen. Energy reserves are maintained throughout the day. And the slightest disruption in activity, such as increased heart rate, may indicate a disturbance in the heart regulation system, and therefore in the entire body, in connection with which it is worth thinking about why the heart reacted in this way and what are the reasons for such a reaction.

Causes of rapid heartbeat

The normal human heart rate is 60-80 beats per minute. Rapid heartbeat, tachycardia, is characterized by an increase in heart rate above 90 per minute. It can occur under the influence of various external influences, which does not always indicate a disease. This happens during an emotional outburst or under the influence of physical stress - this increase is short-term and passes without consequences, because it is a compensatory reaction of the heart, a physiological norm. Palpitations may occur against the background of other diseases of the cardiovascular system:

• Heart defects;
• Cardiac ischemia;
• Arterial hypertension;
• Myocarditis;
• Cardiomyopathy;
• Myocardial dystrophy;
• Anomalies of heart development.

Increased heart rate due to hormonal and endocrine disorders:

• Menopause;
• Myxedema;
• Thyrotoxicosis;
• Pheochromocytoma.

Possible disturbances in the rhythm of cardiac activity when toxic lesions or overdose of various drugs (cardiac glycosides, caffeine containing, sympathomimetics, antiarrhythmic drugs and etc.)

Vegetative-vascular dystonia- disease of the nervous system autonomic system, which may cause increased heart rate. Neuropathologists call neurocirculatory dystonia, which manifests itself in a cardiac type. Occurs more often in females. Heart attacks are disturbing before bedtime and even during sleep, sometimes in the morning; in addition, some kind of fear, anxiety, dizziness, difficulty breathing, sleep disturbance, poor appetite, irregular bowel movements, a feeling of a lump in the stomach, and that’s not all the symptoms. You shouldn’t be scared, perhaps these are manifestations of your active life and you should just relax, restore your sleep and rest routine, light gymnastics, physical exercise and fresh walks before bed and everything will get better!

But. You should definitely do an electrocardiogram and consult a specialist to exclude somatic pathologies.

Sinus tachycardia - increased heart rate over 90 beats, occurs against the background of a violation of impulse formation, can be caused by emotions, fever, anemia, heart failure, and the effects of medications. The number of heartbeats can reach 120-140 per minute, and during physical activity in athletes it can reach 190-200 beats per minute. If the tachycardia is persistent and continues at rest (central hemodynamics and blood supply to the myocardium are disrupted), this leads to myocardial ischemia (coronary heart disease - IHD) Important. Do not overstrain the heart muscle with numerous sports exercises gyms, you can give dosed and moderate loads with rest intervals.

Arterial hypertension - a disease associated with a rise in blood pressure above the limits physiological norm(140/90 mm Hg), and an increase in heart rate is also possible. In this case, we measure the pressure with a tonometer, treat hypertension, take antihypertensive drugs - selected individually by the doctor, take the drug daily and the heartbeat is restored!

Sinus arrhythmia - characterized by irregular alternation of sinus impulses. More often sinus arrhythmia associated with the act of breathing. The heart rate increases when you inhale and decreases when you exhale. Arrhythmia is observed in acute myocarditis, myocardial infarction, as a result of damage to the sinus node, and with long-term treatment with cardiac glycosides. Palpitations are eliminated with the help of antiarrhythmic drugs.

Extrasystole - a disorder of the heart, in which the rhythm of the heartbeat is disrupted and the entire heart or its individual parts contract prematurely. Extrasystole is divided into organic and functional. Organic ones arise against the background of diseases such as myocarditis, myocardial dystrophy, cardiosclerosis. Functional - these are neurogenic manifestations that occur in practically healthy people, but with an unstable nervous system. The cause of this disease is inadequate physical activity.

After drinking alcohol- heartbeat occurs as a result of a compensatory-adaptive reaction to an external stimulus, that is, alcohol, cardiac output increases and arterial pressure, blood flow through the vessels accelerates, peripheral circulation increases, and a blush appears on the cheeks. Cardiac activity will recover after alcohol withdrawal.

But. If there is palpitations, a feeling of lack of air, redness appears on the face, neck, arms, back and chest- it’s better not to drink anymore, because it occurs allergic reaction, which is fraught with consequences and requires urgent emergency care. Be sure to contact a specialist and get checked! Alcohol is harmful to the entire body as a whole, primarily to the heart, when large doses drunk is possible and sudden death, so don't get carried away.

At pregnancy- increased heart rate often occurs along with shortness of breath, in the first trimester of pregnancy, as the body begins to adapt to bearing the fetus, providing adequate nutrition for the intrauterine development of the unborn baby. There is a restructuring of the hormonal level, as well as all systems in general, in connection with which initially every pregnant woman must be examined. She should be especially attentive to her health during the first weeks of pregnancy. Observe hygiene procedures, as well as all appointments supervised by a doctor, do not forget about a balanced diet, daily routine and intake of vitamins. Multivitamins are suitable for pregnant women, including Magne B6, which will have a positive effect on cardiac activity, reducing tachycardia. Drops of motherwort or motherwort in tablets that you can drink before bed will help a lot. Less worries, the body will rebuild itself and everything will return to normal in the future!

Heart rate healthy children depends on age. The youngest children of the first year of life have a pulse rate of 130-125 beats per minute, at the age of 5-7 years - 100-90, older 8-10 years - 85-80, at 11-15 years - 85-70 beats per minute. Nowadays, parents do not always pay due attention to some signs that indicate the child has diseases associated with the cardiovascular system and not only or do not attach any importance to them, it is very important to observe the child’s daily behavior, which will help to suspect something. something is wrong and consult a doctor.

What a child may complain about:

• Heartbeat;
• Pain in the heart area;
• Rapid breathing (shortness of breath);

Rapid heartbeat can occur in a healthy child, more often during emotional stress (fear, fright, joy, etc.) during physical exertion, in hot weather, but when any factor causing tachycardia is canceled, everything returns to normal. More persistent tachycardia is observed in some diseases of the cardiovascular system - myocarditis, heart failure, rhythm disturbances, and can also occur with an increase in body temperature - overheating or fever. If palpitations are accompanied by pain in the heart area (cardialgia), circulatory disorders and pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) may occur.

But such symptoms are more often observed in children with an unstable nervous system without any heart disease - this is observed more in adolescents against the background of the formation and restructuring of the body. It is best during this period to provide the child with the opportunity to engage in light physical exercise, swimming, walking, pay more attention, listening to his ideas and under no circumstances shout! Rapid breathing and heart rate indicate heart failure, which may occur during physical activity or be permanent. If symptoms appear in paroxysms with the appearance of blue skin (cyanosis), this will indicate a congenital heart defect (tetralogy of Fallot, etc.) It is difficult to determine the manifestations of cardiac and vascular diseases in the youngest, in children in the first months of life, but the manifestation of attacks should alert causeless anxiety, pallor, lethargy, screaming, which may indicate the presence serious illness hearts.

We need to remember about such a disease as paroxysmal tachycardia. attacks of rapid heartbeat occur suddenly and reach numbers up to 180 beats per minute. Children will complain of discomfort in the heart area, tightness in the chest, pain in the epigastric region, sometimes attacks are accompanied by dizziness, fainting, and vomiting. The child is pale, there is shortness of breath, pulsation of the jugular veins. The heart sounds are pure, clear, the boundaries do not change. Against the background of tachycardia, a pendulum-like heart rhythm may be observed (the intervals between sounds become the same). The pulse is low, blood pressure is reduced. The duration of the attack can range from several seconds to several days. An electrocardiological study will help establish the diagnosis. Sometimes such children are diagnosed with a syndrome that indicates an abnormal development of the heart.

To relieve an attack of paroxysmal tachycardia, use mechanical impact on the autonomic nervous system, vagal tests:

• Aschner-Danini test (massage or pressure on the eyeballs);
• they also use the Valsalva maneuver (the child strains at the height of a deep sigh with the glottis closed and the nose pinched);
• Chermak-Goering test (massage of the sinocarotid zone);
• inducing vomiting.

Medication with best effect Beta-blockers are used; novocainomide or obzidan are also good for relieving attacks. If attacks recur - in a relapsing form, they are used for prevention sedatives, the dose of which is selected individually with a doctor, taking into account age standards and body weight.

To determine the underlying disease, as well as the manifestation of its symptoms, it is very important to be examined. In addition to mandatory blood and urine tests, the main studies that help to exclude cardiac pathology are instrumental methods- electrocardiogram, x-ray examination of the heart, as well as echocardiography - an ultrasound method of examination (ultrasound of the heart).

Using echocardiography, you can determine all cardiac activity, structure, structure, volume, size of the ventricles and atria, examine the heart valves, give functional assessment; assess the interatrial and interventricular septum; discover pathological formations in the heart - tumors, blood clots.

An electrocardiogram is very important in the diagnosis of rhythm and conduction disorders. Holter monitoring of electrocardiograms during the day will show changes throughout the day and night and will help make the correct diagnosis.

Transesophageal electrogram of the heart - performed for differential diagnosis supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.

From laboratory methods plays important role determination of cardiac markers (CPK, troponin), which helps to exclude myocardial infarction.

Various tests are used with dosed loads on the heart muscle, but this is all individual and according to indications (they will help determine whether there is organic lesions myocardium).

To exclude organic diseases of the central nervous system, if necessary, additional research methods are prescribed (Dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck, computed tomogram).

Prevention of heart disorders

It is best to take care of yourself until symptoms appear rather than treat yourself already. chronic diseases hearts.

How to achieve this.

Just stick healthy image life, which means:

• Change your daily routine, be at work more often fresh air, fight physical inactivity.
• Refuse bad habits- smoking, drugs, alcohol.
• Figure correction - reduction of body weight (in the presence of obesity).
• When playing sports and pumping up muscle mass, do not overdo it with proteins and steroids.
• Increasing physical activity through therapeutic exercise.
• Limiting food intake table salt up to 5-10 mg per day, less spicy, peppery, fried foods and sweets.
• Elimination of stressful situations and conflicts.
• Healthy sleep - for children at least 10 hours of sleep at night + 1-2 hours during the day, for adults at least 8 hours.
• It is not advisable for children to watch TV or play computer games for a long time - this is especially true for children with signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia!
• It is very important to eat properly, in a balanced manner and on time. It is best to include seafood in your diet to improve the functioning of the heart muscle. These are shrimp, mussels, squid, seaweed, crabs. Suitable sea fish (herring, trout, salmon, hake, salmon). These products contain fatty polyunsaturated acids, necessary components of cardiac regulation, while the risk of developing a heart attack, acute coronary syndrome, atherosclerosis will be significantly reduced, arterial hypertension, angina pectoris, the heart rhythm will be restored.

Treatment of tachycardia Rapid heartbeat is a symptom of many diseases of the cardiovascular system. First of all, you need to start treatment aimed at the underlying disease. To stop an attack of palpitations, sedatives are used, such as tinctures of valerian, motherwort, valocordin, Corvalol, and Presen. If your heartbeat bothers you in the evening, you can take 20-30 drops of barboval with a small amount water.

Treatment of paroxysmal tachycardia: During an attack, a child can be given valerian tincture to drink at the rate of 2 drops per year of life. In children older in age You can try to stop the attack by allowing hard pieces of bread to be swallowed. Then drink in small sips cold water, induce vomiting, use vagal tests. If these remedies are ineffective and the condition worsens, urgent hospitalization is necessary. The child must be monitored and registered, systematically checked by a cardiologist.

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia:

Preference is given to non-drug treatment methods:

• physical therapy;
• reflexology;
• dosed physical activity;
• psychotherapy;
• massage;
• physiotherapy;
• balneotherapy;
• spa treatment;
• relaxation methods.

Helps very well breathing exercises. During the period of exacerbation, at the same time when the heartbeat quickens, they prescribe sedatives, you can use benzodiazepines (diazepam, gidazepam) for a short time, 1 tablet in the evening, if depressive symptoms are observed, take antidepressants (aminotriptyline) 2 tablets a day - you can take 1 tablet in the morning, 1 in the evening; in more stable cases - antipsychotics (eglonil, sonapax), very severe anxiety - alprazolam, clonazepam or phenazepam in combination with beta-blockers (propranolol).

If heart pain, tachycardia and headaches occur, sometimes in combination with migraine, calcium antagonists (verapamil) are used. Good drug The choice for strengthening the heart muscle and reducing the heart rate is kratal, prescribed 1 tablet 2-3 times a day.

It is very important, having started drug therapy, to follow it to the end, not to quit if you do not immediately feel a complete recovery - this does not happen, you need to complete the full course of treatment, since many drugs do not have their effect immediately, neglecting treatment will only worsen your condition .

For tachycardia caused by thyrotoxicosis. Beta blockers will help.

For palpitations associated with heart failure You can use cardiac glycosides or beta-blockers in small doses.

Sinus arrhythmia, tachycardia also does not require special treatment if this is a physiological reaction, but with further manifestations, antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed (procainamide, disopyramide, ajmaline).

Extrasystole organic nature is treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, but in small doses; for supraventricular extrasystole, proparonol (anaprilin) ​​is used in a dose of 10-40 mg 3-4 times a day, verapamil 40-80 mg 3-4 times a day.

Arterial hypertension with attacks of rapid heartbeat, they are treated with combination drugs, for example, Enzix-Duo, which contains an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic (enalapril 10 mg and indapamide 2.5 mg). The drug is taken in the morning and evening at the same time; depending on the blood pressure, the dose of enalapril can be increased to 40 mg per day; it is also good to use a beta-blocker (bisoprolol, atenolol) throughout the day. In cases with severe attacks of tachycardia and the addition of other symptoms, immediate hospitalization to a cardiology center.

Contraindications and side effects from heart medications:

• Pregnant women should take medications with caution and under the supervision of a doctor.
• Not allowed during breastfeeding.
• Not with pronounced manifestations of an allergic nature - individual sensitivity.
• Not suitable for those with acute renal and liver failure.
• Dyspeptic disorders, drowsiness, allergic manifestations, bronchospasm, tinnitus are possible.

Side effects will be minimal and insignificant if you do not self-medicate, but seek help from a specialist who will select a specific treatment regimen in individual doses, calculated only for your condition.

Folk remedies

1. Tincture against increased heart rate: boil water (300 ml), add 3-4 tablespoons of Adonis herb, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, then leave to brew in a cool place for 20 minutes. After that, strain the herbs and you can take it. It is recommended to drink one tablespoon daily.

2. Soothing teas and cardiovascular teas containing:

• Mint;
• Melissa;
• Linden;
• St. John's wort;
• Valerian;
• Hawthorn;
• Mountain arnica;
• Horsetail;
• Thyme;
• Hop cones.

They help if you take them 2 times a day, you can add infused herbal tea to your regular daily tea.

3. Dry motherwort powder 1g, take 3 times a day.

4. Alcohol tincture with magnolia grandiflora: leave 100g of crushed magnolia leaves per 500 ml of alcohol for a week in a warm place (not in the refrigerator). Strain and take 10 drops 3 times a day with water, preferably before meals.

5. Mix 1 liter of honey with squeezed lemon juice (up to 10 pieces), add grated garlic (5-7 heads), let it brew for a week - take 3 teaspoons per day. This recipe not only normalizes heartbeat, but also cleans blood vessels.

6. Herbal decoction:

• 1 tablespoon of chamomile;
• 1 tablespoon fennel fruit;
• 1 tablespoon peppermint;
• 1 tablespoon valerian root;
• 1 tablespoon of cumin fruits per half liter of water.

Take one glass once in the evening, duration - one week.

7. A glass before bed helps a lot. warm milk with honey, you can add 1 tablespoon of cognac.

A stressful situation has arisen, you are upset, you feel like your heart will jump out of your chest? A rapid pulse - more than a hundred beats per minute - weakness and dizziness indicate an attack of tachycardia. They will help to cope with it and normalize the heartbeat special drugs. Heart pills regulate the rhythm, reduce the pulse, and improve the condition.

How to treat tachycardia

During an attack of tachycardia, due to chaotic contractions, there is an uneven flow of blood into the ventricles of the heart. This causes disruption and can lead to heart failure. Care should be taken when choosing medications for treatment. Tablets for tachycardia and palpitations are prescribed taking into account the reasons that caused increased heart rate. Self-medication in this situation is unacceptable. Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of pregnant women, because there are many contraindications.

Treatment of tachycardia with tablets depends on the reasons that caused the heartbeat. For sinus disease, the root of which is stress and heavy physical activity, it is prescribed sedatives- Relanium, Seduxenus. Ventricular tachycardia treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. With the paroxysmal type of the disease, tablets do not help - injections are required for accelerated action. It must be borne in mind that only a cardiologist prescribes treatment. Drugs for cardiac tachycardia that are useful in one form of the disease may be dangerous in another.

Rapid heartbeat during pregnancy

When a woman is expecting the birth of a child, the body experiences double stress. Tachycardia occurs frequently at this time. If it is caused by the mother’s nervousness, it goes away quickly - you just need to calm down. Prolonged attacks are dangerous for the development of the fetus. What to take for palpitations during pregnancy, when many medications are prohibited? Doctors prescribe safe:

• magnesium preparations that restore heart muscle tissue - Panangin, Magne B6;
• sedatives - Valerian, Motherwort;
• drugs to reduce heart rate - Propranolol, Verapamil.

At low pressure

Tablets for tachycardia and palpitations must be taken urgently during an attack if you have low blood pressure. If vascular tone is not increased at this time, cerebral edema occurs. The tricky part is that pills that lower your heart rate often lower your blood pressure. Careful selection of medications is required. How to lower your heart rate with low blood pressure? In such a situation, cardiologists prescribe:

• Grandaxin – has a calming effect;
• Mezapam – relieves nervous excitement;
• Phenazepam – has an anticonvulsant effect.

With high blood pressure

What should people with high blood pressure take for tachycardia? In this case, the main task is to reduce the tension in the vessels so as not to cause their rupture. If pills for palpitations are not taken regularly, depression, loss of strength and cessation of cardiac activity may occur. Attacks of tachycardia with high blood pressure are rare, but represent great danger. In this situation, help:

• Diroton;
• Corinfar;
• Enap;
• Verapamil.

Microelements for the heart

Important influence Vitamins and microelements influence the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Their deficiency can cause serious problems. Stress, poor nutrition, physical inactivity lead to irregular heartbeat and rapid pulse. In these conditions, vitamin-mineral complexes are used for prevention and treatment. When combined with moderate exercise, proper nutrition, they help regulate the functioning of the heart.

The list of minerals that support the functioning of the heart and blood vessels includes:

• magnesium, improving metabolic processes, preventing the formation of blood clots;
• calcium, which normalizes heart contractions;
• phosphorus, which helps transmit nerve impulses;
• selenium, which protects heart tissue and blood vessel walls;
• potassium, which ensures the conduction of nerve impulses.

With tachycardia and palpitations, taking vitamins plays an important role. They help protect health and restore the heart. Vitamins support its functioning and improve the condition of blood vessels. The list includes:

• C – strengthens the walls of blood vessels, myocardium;
• A – improves metabolic processes;
• E – protects heart tissue from damage;
• P - helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
• F – strengthens cardiac tissue;
• B 1 – stimulates heart contractions;
• At 6 – normalizes lipid metabolism.

These heart-healthy substances are used in the form of vitamin-mineral complexes. Popular drugs for palpitations:

• Asparkam - has an antiarrhythmic effect, can be prescribed as an independent remedy, in the form of tablets for tachycardia.
• Vitrum Cardio – activates lipid metabolism.
• Directs – improves contraction of the heart muscle.
• Cardio Forte – treats heart pathologies.

Antiarrhythmic drugs

Arrhythmia and tachycardia cannot be treated independently. Medicines that help reduce rapid heart rate are used only as prescribed by a doctor. An examination and correct diagnosis are required. It is necessary to identify contraindications to the use of drugs. For each case, it is important to use your own tablets for tachycardia and palpitations. The task of antiarrhythmic drugs when affecting the patient’s body is to restore the rhythm. It can be solved using:

• beta blockers;
• inhibitors calcium channels;
• potassium blockers;
• membrane stabilizing drugs.

Beta blockers

Among tablets for tachycardia and palpitations, beta-blockers occupy a special place, and all thanks to their active effect on the patient’s body. The drugs Egilok, Anaprilin, Ritmilen are taken in a course. In case of illness they help:

• reduce the strength and frequency of heart contractions;
• relax the walls of blood vessels;
• reduce blood pressure;
• reduce oxygen consumption by cardiac muscle cells;
• improve exercise tolerance;
• reduce the risk of developing arrhythmia.

Calcium channel inhibitors

Drugs used for increased heart rate that prevent calcium from entering the vascular cells, dilating them - calcium channel inhibitors. When using these tablets, blood flow improves, muscle tone decreases, and normal heart rate is restored. The drugs are taken under the strict supervision of a cardiologist, because a sharp decrease in heart rate is possible, which can cause heart failure. Recommended drugs.

Normally, in an adult, the heart beats 70-90 times per minute. A faster heartbeat is called. This condition can be both physiological and pathological in nature - many diseases (and not only heart diseases) are accompanied by rapid heartbeat.

Causes of rapid heartbeat

The heart is main body of cardio-vascular system. It, like a pump, pumps blood through the vessels, ensuring the supply of oxygen, energy and building material, hormones and other biologically active compounds to the tissues.

If a person is healthy and calm, his heart beats 70-90 times per minute and covers the needs of every cell of the body. If the body develops pathological process, the heart immediately reacts by increasing or decreasing contractions. In this regard, when examining patients, doctors always determine the pulse rate (it corresponds to the heart rate) - this is the easiest way to assess the functionality of the heart.

However, as mentioned above, the cause of tachycardia is not always a pathological process; quite often in adults there is so-called physiological tachycardia. The main reasons for the physiological increase in heart rate include:

• Emotional stress and. Stressful situations are always accompanied by increased synthesis of biologically active compounds. These substances make the heart beat faster. As soon as hormonal background returns to normal, heartbeat returns to normal.
• Physical exercise. Working muscles need more oxygen and energy, so the body signals the heart to beat faster and it beats.
• Binge eating. Full stomach puts pressure on the heart and lungs, which is why tachycardia occurs.
• Pregnancy. Many expectant mothers suffer from low blood pressure, which can cause heart palpitations.
• . , tachycardia, are the most common companions of the menopause.
• Environmental influence. The heart begins to beat faster under conditions high temperature and lack of oxygen, for example, in a stuffy room or in transport.
• Drinking caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, including cardiac activity. Several cups of strong alcohol, drunk in a row, can make the heart beat 100 or more times per minute.
• Increased body temperature. Each extra degree of body temperature is approximately 10 heartbeats. Accordingly, in a person with a severe fever (more than 39 degrees), the heartbeat can reach 120 per minute or higher.

Diseases that cause the heart to beat faster

Now let's look at the causes of pathological tachycardia. They are usually divided into two groups:

• Extracardiac– not related to the heart.
• Intracardiac– all kinds of cardiac pathologies.

The following reasons are considered extracardiac:

Intracardiac causes of palpitations are not so numerous, but in most cases it is much more difficult to influence them. Cardiac causes of tachycardia include:

• Cardiomyopathy.
• Extreme degree of ischemia of the heart muscle -.

Why is a rapid heartbeat dangerous?

If the heartbeat increases rarely and then under the influence of various physiological factors, there is no need to worry - there will be no disruptions in the functioning of the body. If tachycardia occurs frequently and continues long time, sooner or later problems will definitely start.

If the heart contracts too frequently, the heart is not completely filled with blood; therefore, less of it enters the bloodstream per cardiac output. That is, cardiac activity gradually becomes inferior - the heart cannot perform its function of providing the body with oxygen and nutrients, and all tissues begin to suffer from this.

The brain and heart muscle are the first to feel the lack of oxygen.(it is supplied with blood through the arteries branching from the aorta). Moreover, the more pronounced the tachycardia, the harder it is for the myocardium: it has to work more actively, and therefore more oxygen is needed, but there is none. Therefore, in such conditions of blood supply the risk of developing acute ischemia myocardium –.

What to do if your heart beats fast

First of all, you need to sit down, calm down, drink water. If after 10-15 minutes the heartbeat does not return to normal, you should consult a therapist or cardiologist. If palpitations are accompanied by a feeling of “lack of air” and severe weakness, it is better to immediately call an ambulance.

Before doctors arrive, you must do the following:

People suffering from tachycardia should always have with them the medications prescribed by their doctor to relieve attacks.

Examination for tachycardia

To determine the cause of palpitations, the patient needs to contact a cardiologist and undergo a comprehensive examination:

• Do , and .
• Donate blood for and for thyroid hormones.
• Visit a neurologist and endocrinologist.

In controversial cases (when the patient has complaints, and all tests and studies are relatively normal), it may be necessary to conduct a daily ECG recording. This diagnostic method allows you to detect attacks of tachycardia, which are not always detected during a visit to a medical facility.

Principles of treating palpitations

Physiological tachycardia usually goes away on its own. But the tactics for treating pathological rapid heartbeat are determined by the cause of this condition. In some situations (for example, when a patient is diagnosed with a serious cardiac pathology), it is possible to significantly improve the patient’s well-being only through surgery—mainly minimally invasive operations are used.

To stop attacks of rapid heartbeat, doctors prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs to patients. medicines. They come in three classes:

• TO first include Novocainamide, Lidocaine, Propafenone and other drugs that block sodium and activate potassium channels in the myocardium.

Tachycardia is the medical name for rapid heartbeat when the heart rate exceeds 90 beats per minute and can even reach 150-220.

Everyone experienced interruptions in the functioning of the heart in the form of rapid heartbeat and lack of air. This happens in healthy people during severe anxiety, fear and other emotional shocks. This is a normal response of the cardiovascular system to stress. But such symptoms do not always have physiological causes. During physical activity, the heart begins to beat faster in all people, and everyone knows that this is how it should be. But if there is not enough air during the heartbeat, and this repeats periodically even with minor exertion, you need to be examined. In such cases, the cause is most likely a disease.

There are pathological and physiological tachycardia. In the first case, rapid heartbeat is a sign of a disease; it can appear at rest; in the second, it is a natural phenomenon that accompanies emotional and physical stress.

In addition, it comes in two types:

1. Sinus. Cardiac impulses are generated in the right atrium in the sinus node - the physiological pacemaker. Characterized by an accelerated sinus (normal) rhythm. The cardiogram shows that the time of systole (contraction of the heart muscle) and the time of diastole (resting state) are significantly shortened, the rhythm remains regular.
2. Paroxysmal. It is characterized by paroxysms - attacks of palpitations with a heart rate from 140 to 220 beats per minute. They start suddenly and end unexpectedly, sometimes of different durations, while the regular rhythm is maintained. Impulses are generated outside the sinus node and are called ectopic. Their source may be the ventricles, atria, or atrioventricular junction. Ectopic rhythms may occur as replacements when the activity of the sinus node ceases or weakens. This occurs in ischemic, sclerotic, inflammatory processes in the sinus node and other parts of the conduction system, with autonomic disorders.

Physiological tachycardia

Rapid heartbeat is normal reaction cardiovascular system under certain loads. Physiological tachycardia is always sinus. The main reasons for its occurrence:

Fear, excitement.

Under such loads, the heart begins to beat faster, but the pace normalizes when the load stops. Heart rate increases gradually and decreases smoothly. In these cases, a rapid heartbeat does not have any effect negative influence to your health and no treatment is required. In case of stress, fear, anxiety, you can help the body recover with the help of sedatives.

When you exercise, your heart rate always increases. This is how the heart provides the muscles with an increased need for oxygen.

Pathological tachycardia

Usually occurs suddenly. Its causes are diseases and pathological conditions, among which:

• Cardiovascular disorders and diseases circulatory system(myocarditis, hypertension, heart defects, anemia, myocardial infarction, cardiosclerosis and others).
• Disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
• Endocrine pathologies associated with disruption of hormone production ( diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, pathological menopause and others).
• Neuroses, severe stress.
• Bleeding, blood flow disorders.
• Some infections and inflammations (acute and chronic).
• Violations in electrolyte balance blood due to a deficiency of elements that ensure the functioning of the heart muscle (magnesium, potassium).
• Malignant tumors.
• Alcoholism, smoking.
• Constant lack of sleep, stress and fatigue.

Treatment

Treatment consists of eliminating palpitations, as well as influencing the primary diseases that caused it.

First, the doctor must find out where the impulse occurs and why the heart rate increases. Treatment of ventricular and atrial tachycardia is carried out different drugs(usually these are antiarrhythmic and sedatives). In some cases it may be necessary surgery.

First aid for a heart attack

Actions consist of calling a doctor and providing assistance before his arrival. It is recommended to do the following:

• if possible, lay the patient down so that he is comfortable and can breathe deeply and evenly;
• open the windows, unbutton the collar, loosen the tie and remove other items of clothing that impede deep breathing;
• wash your face with cool water.

To eliminate palpitations, sedatives (valerian, corvalol, valocordin) are often used. If you don't have them at hand, you can do the following:

• Tighten the muscles of your legs and abdomen for 10-15 seconds, then relax. Repeat after two minutes.
• Take a deep breath, hold your breath for a few seconds, exhale slowly.
• Massage the tips of the little fingers on your hands.

During pregnancy

During this period, women often experience increased heart rate. Usually the heart rate exceeds the norm by 20-25 units. This is associated with weight gain, changes hormonal balance and metabolism, deficiency of magnesium and iron. In addition to rapid heartbeat, the woman complains of dizziness, lack of air, and chest pain.

At normal pressure A pregnant woman does not need to take any medications. I recommend doctors to the expectant mother don’t worry, walk more often, eat more fruits, do gymnastics and breathing exercises. At high blood pressure, headaches and shortness of breath, tablets may be prescribed.

Despite the fact that tachycardia is allowed during pregnancy, the heart rate must be monitored

In children

A rapid pulse can be caused by the same reasons as hypertension. To normalize your heart rate, you need to lower your blood pressure.

When the heartbeat is dangerous

It is considered dangerous and requires treatment if:

• does not go away for a long time;
• is intense in nature;
• combined with arrhythmia;
• occurs for no apparent reason.

In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor. An ambulance should be called if tachycardia is accompanied by severe shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, and pale skin.

Conclusion

In some cases, resting tachycardia cannot be called a disease, since it is inherited and is a feature of the body. As a rule, a person has no complaints, and no violations are revealed during the examination. If the heart rate is slightly elevated, no treatment is necessary. But in some cases, doctors recommend taking medications to lower the heart rate and ease the work of the heart, since tachycardia can lead to faster wear and tear.