What is Heart Palpitations (Tachycardia)? Why It Happens and How Does It Happen?

Work of the heart; It is a complex function performed by valves, chambers, and electrical conduction nodes (nodes). The node in the upper part of the electrical foci is called the "sinoatrial node (SA node)" and it stimulates the chambers in the upper part of the heart by electrically stimulating them to contract. When the electrical current starting from this point reaches the “atrioventricular node (AV node)” located between the large chambers in the lower part of the heart, contraction of these structures is also performed. The AV node also slows down electrical conduction slightly and gives the heart time to fill up with blood. Afterwards, events such as filling the heart and pumping blood throughout the body occur. Changes in the functions and interrelationships of this electrical system can cause a variation in the pattern of heartbeats.

What is Heart Palpitations (Tachycardia)?

Tachycardia, which is felt as heart palpitations, refers to the heart beating rather fast compared to its normal rhythm. Normal heart rhythm varies between 60-100 beats per minute for adults. The answer to the question of what tachycardia means is a heart rate above 100 beats per minute. It is considered normal to develop palpitations in stress situations such as exercise, trauma, and illness, or when excited. However, heart palpitations may occur alone, without any physiological cause. The fast work of the heart also means that the muscle tissue in this organ needs more oxygen. Significant increase in oxygen starvation over time may cause the death of these cells and the development of a heart attack. The heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. As a result of a lack of oxygen and nutrients in other tissues of the body, various symptoms associated with tachycardia may occur:

• Difficulty breathing
• Drowsiness
• Rapid heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Sudden weakness
• Fainting
• Loss of consciousness

Although there are many possible signs and symptoms, tachycardia patients are usually detected during routine examinations in health institutions.

What are the Causes of Tachycardia?

Tachycardia usually occurs as a result of disruption of the heart's electrical transmissions that control the pump function. The causes of heart palpitations that may result in this way can be summarized as follows:

• Reactions after the use of certain drugs
• Mineral (electrolyte) imbalances in the blood
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Tobacco use
• Thyroid gland diseases
• Lung problems
• Anemia (anemia)
• Heart palpitations due to physical or psychological stress

Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine-containing products with or after meals may result in post-meal palpitations or nocturnal heart palpitations. Congenital abnormalities related to the heart are among the causes of heart palpitations at a young age.
If it is caused by various heart diseases such as heart failure, valve disease or coronary artery disease, the complaint of heart palpitations that starts when lying down may occur. In some cases of tachycardia, however, one should be careful because rapid heart palpitations may occur without any underlying cause.

What are the Types of Tachycardia?

Types of tachycardia are quite diverse. The classification of tachycardia disease is carried out according to which part of the heart is effective without the acceleration of the heartbeat:

• Sinus Tachycardia

Heart palpitation sinus, which occurs as a result of the acceleration of the electrical signals coming out of the sinoatrial node without any change in the functioning of the heart. known as tachycardia. In sinus tachycardia, the heart rate rises above 100 per minute. Conditions such as psychological causes of heart palpitations such as anxiety, compulsive exercise, fever or consumption of beverages containing caffeine are among the causes of sinus tachycardia.

• Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

Supraventricular tachycardia, contraction of the heart the electrical signals that provide the return of the heart by following a different path than normal and the upper parts of the heart It is a heart palpitation that occurs due to repeated stimulation. During an attack of SVT, the heart rate of people can reach a rate of 180-220 per minute.

• Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia refers to the exposure of large chambers (ventricles) in the lower part of the heart to excessive electrical stimulation and high-speed contraction. The acceleration of the heartbeat adversely affects the filling of these chambers with enough blood, and therefore a lower amount of blood is pumped to the body. Caution should be exercised, as the duration of ventricular tachycardia may occur in a few seconds or may continue for longer periods of time, causing an extremely fast and irregular heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, resulting in cardiac arrest.

• Atrial Tachycardia

Atrial tachycardias occur as a result of electrical impulses coming out from an inappropriate point between the atria, which are small chambers in the upper part of the heart. As a result of the repetition of these electrical signals, an increase in the rate of contraction of the atria occurs. Children with congenital (congenital) heart disease form the group in which this type of heart palpitation is most common. During atrial tachycardia, where the contraction rate of the atria varies between 100-250 beats per minute, symptoms such as lightheadedness or fainting may occur. is the term. When this sudden heart palpitation occurs, the adult heart rate can rise to 130-230 beats per minute. Although most paroxysmal atrial tachycardia conditions are not considered a life-threatening problem, it is recommended to be careful because the underlying cause of this problem may also be conditions such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

• Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

Multifocal atrial tachycardia is a type of heart palpitation where abnormal electrical impulses that accelerate the heart's work originate from 3 or more points in the upper part of the heart. This type of tachycardia most commonly occurs in elderly individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Heart Palpitation (Tachycardia) T How is the treatment?

Thanks to various applications that can be done after heart palpitations occur, the heart rate can be slowed down. The first of these methods is the application of a technique called vagal maneuver. The basic principle of the vagal maneuver method is to stimulate the nerve called vagus and slow down the heart rate with the effect of this nerve. Practices such as pushing, splashing cold water on the face, applying gentle pressure to the area where the carotid vein (carotid vein) is, or trying to exhale through the nose while the nostrils are closed can stimulate the vagus nerve and slow the heart rate.
For palpitations that cannot be controlled with vagal maneuvers, doctors may prescribe drugs called antiarrhythmics. These drugs basically ensure that the heart rhythm returns to normal and the working speed is kept under control.
In cases of persistent heart palpitations in which the complaint of tachycardia in the heart is due to extra electrical pathways, a treatment method called catheter ablation can be applied. In this procedure, the catheter, which is advanced into the vein from the groin, arm or leg region, is delivered to the heart through blood vessels. With the electrodes at the end of this medical device, the electrical pathway that causes the flutter is burned, thus preventing signal transmission from this point.
In some cases of continuous heart palpitations, it may be necessary to use devices called pacemakers. Pacemakers, which are small devices, are surgically implanted under the skin. This device, which detects the irregular heartbeat that occurs during the work of the heart, helps the heart beat to return to normal by sending signals to the heart.
Heart palpitations (tachycardia) means the acceleration of the heartbeat. If you experience this situation, which may lead to the formation of some harmful habits or various ailments, it is recommended that you apply to health institutions and seek support from specialist physicians.

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