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Ventricular Tachycardia what is it?

By Anonymous December 12, 2018 - 4:38pm
 
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What is Ventricular Tachycardia

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HERWriter Guide

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing!

Tachycardia is a rapid heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. Sinus tachycardia, from the heart's sinus node, is a normal response to exercise, illness, or stress.

There are several types of abnormal tachycardias or arrhythmias . These can come from two places:

Atria (the two smaller chambers on the top of the heart)—called supraventricular tachycardias
Ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart)—called ventricular tachycardia
This condition can be life-threatening. But, it can be treated. If you think you or someone you know has this condition, get emergency help.

This condition is caused by abnormal electrical impulses that control the heart.

Risk Factors
These factors increase your chance of having tachycardia. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following:

Heart disease, especially a prior heart attack
Cardiomyopathy —damage to the muscle wall of the lower chambers of the heart
Electrolyte abnormalities—too much or too little calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium in the blood
Myocardial ischemia—insufficient blood flow to heart muscle tissue
Hypoxemia—not enough oxygen in the blood
Acidosis—too much acid in the body’s fluids

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

Medications
The following medications are used to treat this condition:

Beta-blockers (eg, atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol)
Calcium channel blockers (eg, diltiazem, verapamil)
Anti-arrhythmics, such as flecainide (Ambocor), procainamide (Procanbid), amiodarone (Cordarone), and sotalol (Betapace)
Ablation
Ablation is done during an electrophysiology study. Radiofrequency energy or cold energy is used to destroy the abnormality and possibly cure the problem.

Cardioverison
An electric shock is applied to the heart to stop the abnormal rhythm. This treatment may be done for life-threatening rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation . It is also done for milder arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation .

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
An ICD can be surgically placed into your body. This device monitors your heartbeat. It can apply a shock to correct an irregular heartbeat.

I hope this information helps=
Susan

December 12, 2018 - 5:43pm
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