Elevated Heart Rate Most Likely Caused by Medical Condition

May 6, 2011

Increased Heart Beat Covid

Dear Mayo Clinic:

What is sinus tachycardia? What causes it? How is it treated?

Answer:

Sinus tachycardia is the term used to describe a faster-than-normal heartbeat — a rate of more than 100 beats per minute versus the typical normal of 60 to 70 beats per minute. Well over 99 percent of the time, sinus tachycardia is perfectly normal. The increased heart rate doesn't harm the heart and doesn't require medical treatment.

You’re stressed. Let’s be real, with everything going on with the new coronavirus, there’s an. A rapid or fast heartbeat is when your heart is beating faster than normal. A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Tachycardia is considered a heart rate of greater than 100 beats per minute. If you are exercising, or performing any kind of activity, your heart will normally beat faster. Just like caffeine, Theobromine is an active stimulant which is known to fasten up the heart rate. The more you consume, more the heart rate fastens. You should also add the Theobromine in your food diet to increase heat rate. Eat chocolates after eating your food.

The term sinus tachycardia has nothing to do with sinuses around the nose and cheeks. Rather, it comes from the sinus node, a thumbnail-sized structure in the upper right chamber of the heart. This structure controls the heart rate and is called the heart's natural pacemaker.

The sinus node signals the heart to speed up during exercise or in situations that are stressful, frightening or exciting. For example, a 10- to 15-minute brisk walk typically elevates the heart rate to 110 to 120 beats per minute. Also, the sinus node increases the heart rate when the body is stressed because of illness. In all of these circumstances, the heart rate increase is a normal response.

Likewise, the sinus node signals the heart to slow down during rest or relaxation.

We see patients who are concerned because their heart rate stays elevated in the range of 100 to 130 beats per minute. Almost always, there is a medical reason that the sinus node keeps signaling for the faster rate. Possibilities include anemia, an underlying infection, elevated thyroid hormone, or reaction to medication. Addressing those conditions would likely bring the heart rate back to a normal rate. Other factors may be involved, too, such as overdoing caffeine. For example, I saw one patient who was eating several chocolate bars a day. The caffeine in the chocolate was elevating her heart rate.

Increased Heart Beats

Rarely, the sinus node can jump-start the heart rate with no apparent cause — no stress, illness or high activity level. This is termed inappropriate sinus tachycardia. About half of the time, this phenomenon occurs after recovery from a serious illness, usually a viral illness. And most often, those affected are women in their 20s and 30s.

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia doesn't cause heart damage, though patients may feel uncomfortable with the elevated heart rate. Some patients may have other associated symptoms such as fatigue, headache, chest discomfort, shortness of breath or light-headedness. When symptoms are problematic, treatment can include beta blockers that block the action of adrenaline and help slow the heart rate. Very rarely, the heart may maintain very high rates of 160 to 180 beats per minute. More involved treatment options are available to control this condition.

For some patients, the elevated heart rate is the only symptom. Some have a lifelong history of sinus tachycardia in the 110 beats per minute range, and they lead a normal, healthy life. And often the inappropriate sinus tachycardia will improve in time without treatment.

We encourage patients with prolonged sinus tachycardia to improve their overall fitness level. The more fit you are, the lower your resting heart rate. The elevated heart rate could slow with improved conditioning.

Patients who have concerns about an elevated heart rate should check with their physician. Other conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, can cause a racing heart. Atrial fibrillation should be treated, as it increases the risk of stroke and can damage the heart.

— Stephen Hammill, M.D., Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a heart condition featuring episodes of an abnormally fast heart rate.

Fast Beating Heart For No Reason

The heart will suddenly start racing, then stop racing or slow down abruptly.

Episodes can last for seconds, minutes, hours or (in rare cases) days. They may occur regularly, several times a day, or very infrequently, once or twice a year.

The heart rate may be as high as 250 beats per minute, but is usually between 140 and 180 (a normal heartbeat should be 60-100 beats per minute at rest).

What it means

• 'Supraventricular' means that the problem occurs in the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
• 'Tachycardia' means an abnormally rapid heart rhythm.

What happens

When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls contract (tighten and squeeze) to force blood out and around the body. They then relax, so the heart can fill with blood again. This process is repeated for every heartbeat.

In SVT, the heart muscle is contracting so fast that it cannot relax between contractions. This reduces the amount of blood being pumped around the body, which can make you feel dizzy and short of breath.

You usually feel heart palpitations (noticeable heartbeats) and a fast pulse.

Why it happens

SVT is caused by abnormal electrical impulses that start suddenly in the upper chambers of your heart (the atria). These impulses override your heart's natural rhythm.

It is often a short circuit in the electrical system of your heart that causes these spontaneous impulses. The short circuit causes an electrical signal to travel continuously around in a circle. Each time the signal completes the circuit, the impulse spreads out to the rest of your heart, forcing it to beat rapidly.

SVT attacks often happen for no obvious reason. However, they may be triggered by a change in posture, exertion, emotional upset, coffee or alcohol.

Who is affected

Increased Heart Beating

SVT can occur in anyone at any age, but it often occurs for the first time in children or young adults.

Outlook

Increased Heart Beat During Pregnancy

In the vast majority of cases, attacks of SVT are harmless, do not last long and settle on their own without treatment.

Why Heart Beat Increases

If necessary, SVT can be treated with drugs that correct the abnormal heart rate. It can also be permanently treated with a very effective surgical procedure called catheter ablation, which interrupts the abnormal electrical circuits.