Tachycardia – Causes, Symptoms and When to Seek Emergency Room Treatment

Tachycardia is a resting heart rate that is over 100 beats per minute. Most healthy people have resting heart rates of 60 to 100 beats per minute, but this can vary according to a person’s physical condition and age.

In severe cases, the heart may beat as many as 400 times per minute, which can prevent the heart from effectively pumping blood throughout the body.

A person who has Tachycardia may not experience any symptoms, but some patients feel dizzy, out of breath, or have chest pain. Long-term Tachycardia may contribute to fainting spells, heart failure, blood clots, and death.

If you suspect Tachycardia, you should visit the emergency room immediately.

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SignatureCare Emergency Center has emergency room locations in the Houston, Bellaire, Mission Bend/Sugar Land, Austin, Stafford, Sugar Land, Paris, Midland, Odessa, Texarkana, College Station/Bryan, Killeen, Spring, Atascocita/Humble, Lewisville, Pflugerville, and other TX cities. Our ER near you is fully-equipped to take care of you and can treat Tachycardia. Make an appointment today, call, or visit the closest emergency room immediately.

Causes of Tachycardia

Tachycardia occurs when something interferes with the electrical impulses that control the heart’s pumping action. The pulse may still be at regular intervals, but those intervals will be closer together.

Many things can cause Tachycardia, including:

• Heart disease
• Congenital heart defects
• High blood pressure
• Fright
• Exercise
• Anemia
• Fever
• Smoking
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Recreational drug abuse
• Hyperthyroidism
• Medication
• Caffeine
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Cardiomyopathy
• Certain lung diseases

In minor cases of Tachycardia, you may not need treatment or medication. However, if your condition is causing your heart to work inefficiently, you may notice that you feel fatigued, experience chest pressure, or become breathless. This means that your body is not receiving the oxygenated blood that it needs to function properly.

When to Visit Emergency Room for Tachycardia Treatment

Most people experience occasional bouts of heart palpitations, and these alone should not be a cause for concern. However, if you think that Tachycardia is causing dizziness, fatigue, or tightness in your chest, go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Keep an eye out for these telling symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Heart failure
• Extremely fast heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heart beat

If you experience unusual heart rate, please visit one of our emergency rooms. Our ERs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your emergency room needs and health concerns, and we have all of the equipment necessary to diagnose and treat most medical conditions. Our board-certified physicians will get you taken care of within the comforts of our fully-stocked facility.