From the sinus node, electrical impulses travel across the atria, causing the atrial muscles to contract and pump blood into the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). This content does not have an English version. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Complications of tachycardia depend on the type of tachycardia, how fast the heart is beating, how long the rapid heart rate lasts and if you have any other heart conditions. To figure out if this is the case, Burris recommends keeping a food diary and seeing if your heart rate is increasing in response to any particular food. You might be at risk of developing palpitations if you: Unless a heart condition is causing your heart palpitations, there's little risk of complications. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. March 30, 2020. "If this does not improve your heart rate immediately, then it's safe to rule it out as a cause," she tells Bustle. But episodes lasting more than a few seconds can become a life-threatening medical emergency. Atrial fibrillation may be temporary, but some episodes won't end unless treated. For instance, it's normal for your heart rate to rise during exercise or as a response to stress, trauma or illness. The rapid heart rate doesn't allow the ventricles to fill and contract efficiently to pump enough blood to the body. But in tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh), the heart beats faster than normal due to conditions unrelated to normal physiological stress.
Seek emergency care for anyone experiencing these symptoms. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. "Heart racing is a very common complaint," Shephal Doshi, MD, director of cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at Providence Saint Johnâs Health Center, tells Bustle. Hyperthyroidism. Make a donation. Seek emergency medical attention if heart palpitations are accompanied by: Often the cause of your heart palpitations can't be found. Crawford MH, ed. One obvious reason your heart may be pounding is that you're feeling anxious. American Heart Association. A number of conditions can cause a rapid heart rate and tachycardia symptoms. Mayo Clinic. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of tachycardia. Even if you don't have a history of anxiety, the condition can be situational. These include: In some cases, the exact cause of tachycardia can't be determined.