Non-drug treatment of tachycardia

In most cases, supraventricular tachycardia are not dangerous to life and health. Mild forms of arrhythmia, such as isolated premature beats, do not require treatment. However, in rare cases, the arrhythmia becomes dangerous and requires immediate, sometimes prolonged, treatment.

Usually, doctors recommend to stop an episode of tachycardia by a reflex action on the vagus nerve. This will help slow the heart rate.

• Hold your breath for a few seconds.
• Lower face in cold water.
• Coughed.
• Tighten your abdominal muscles and potuzhtes as defecation.

If this method proves ineffective, take a horizontal position and relax. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Usually it helps to restore normal heart rhythm and to reduce the heart rate.

If symptoms persist, as soon as possible, seek medical help. If episodes of palpitations frequently, you must undergo a medical examination.

Use the following tips to control supraventricular tachycardia:

• Learn how to count the pulse. Periodically check the pulse, make sure that it is normal (50-100 beats per minute).
• Always consult a physician before taking any non-prescription cough medicine Cough medicine - when they should be used? , Colds, or pain relievers.
• Regularly involved in fitness. Moderate exercise strengthens the heart muscles and increases the tone of the heart, as well as reduce overall blood pressure and heart rate.
• Learn to relax and manage stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis . Popular relaxation techniques include muscle relaxation, deep breathing, meditation Meditation - treats the body and the spirit   and yoga.
• Do not run other diseases always follow the advice of a doctor.
• Quit smoking.
• Reduce intake of caffeine.
• Do not use drugs, even light - they stimulate the heart, which can lead to tachycardia.
• Keep track of your weight. Obesity increases nagurzku heart.
• Limit fat, cholesterol and salt.
• Reduce your intake of alcohol.

Specific treatment

If supraventricular tachycardia is accompanied by low blood pressure, chest pain, or congestive heart failure, the patient is considered to be unstable. In such cases, there is a threat to the health and lives of patients, so it needs immediate treatment. Your doctor may prescribe electrotherapy (cardioversion) to restore a normal heart rhythm. If the patient's condition is stable, there are several options for normalizing heart rhythm:

• Reflex effect on the vagus nerve

Coughing, breath-holding, immersing the face in cold water, and the tension of the abdominal muscles - all methods of reflex action on the vagus nerve - the longest of the cranial nerves, which are branches of the heart and supply it with fibers, slowing down the heartbeat. Increased vagal tone stimulates the release of substances that reduce the heart rate.

• Carotid sinus massage

Carotid sinus - an extension of the common carotid artery at the site of its division into outer and inner .  The carotid sinus located baro- and chemoreceptors in the excitation which dilates blood vessels, decreases blood pressure and slows the heart rate .  The pressure level in the sharing of the common carotid artery has a reflex effect on the heart rate and blood pressure .  Thus, the massage of the carotid sinus leads to a decrease in heart rate and pressure .  Carotid sinus massage is performed with the patient lying on his back, clutching his right carotid artery .  Less effective pressure on the eyeballs .  Carotid sinus massage is carried out for 5-10 minutes .  Typically, the heart rate normalization method is used to treat young healthy people, because the elderly, in this case at risk of stroke .

• Medication

Your doctor may prescribe adenosine (adenokard) - short-acting drug, which reduces the heart rate. This medicine works very fast. Adenosine has a number of side effects, including facial flushing, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet . If a single dose of the drug did not stop an attack of supraventricular tachycardia, the doctor may increase the dose. Adenosine successfully suppresses attack of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in more than 90% of cases.

• Blockers

When adenosine was ineffective, use other drugs, such as calcium channel blockers (digoxin), or beta-blockers.
  Your doctor will make a treatment plan based on the specific cause of SVT and the individual patient.

• Installing pacemaker

Pacemaker - an electronic device, which it generates electrical pulses that cause contraction of the heart muscle, i.e. It serves as the sinoatrial node. Most pacemaker implantation performs a cardiologist in a specially equipped laboratory, not a surgeon in the operating room.

• In special cases, smothering arrhythmia or eliminate pathological pathways used chemicals or radiofrequency ablation (ablation catheter) (eg, the syndrome of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome).

Preventing episodes of tachycardia - prevention

The following treatments and prophylaxis to help prevent or eliminate episodes of tachycardia.

• Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is conducted using a thin flexible Katerere conductor, which is inserted through a blood vessel into the heart. As this conductor is fed an RF pulse that destroys tissue site responsible for the abnormal rhythm. For the destruction of this site may be used heat, cold, or radio-frequency energy. This procedure is very effective, especially for supraventricular tachycardia. Radiofrequency ablation is also used to treat atrial fibrillation and flutter.

• Medication

Regular use of anti-arrhythmic drugs to help prevent a rapid heart rate. Also, the doctor may prescribe other drugs - or alternatively, or in combination with anti-arrhythmic drugs - e.g., calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (kardizem) and verapamil (Kala), or beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) and esmolol (breviblok).

• Installing pacemaker

Pacemaker - a small device that is implanted under the skin. If you have an abnormal heart pacemaker emits an electrical impulse, which helps the heart back to a normal rhythm.

• The implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator

If there is a risk of an attack of tachycardia, which represents a threat to the life of the patient, the doctor recommends the implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator - a small device (about the size of a cell phone) used for the treatment of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia severe. It is surgically implanted in the chest and constantly monitors the heart rate of the patient, detecting any abnormalities of the heart. ICD generates an electric current to restore a normal heart rhythm.

• Surgical intervention

Sometimes, in order to eliminate the additional path of electrical impulses needed open-heart surgery. The surgeon may create a maze of scar tissue. Scar tissue is not electrically conductive and thus prevents the passage of irregular electrical impulses that cause certain types of tachycardia. Typically, this surgery is only applicable in cases where other therapies were ineffective, or if the patient has other cardiac dysfunction

Preventing blood clots

Some patients suffering from tachycardia, an increased risk of blood clots that can cause a stroke Stroke - a serious brain injury   or a heart attack. Your doctor may prescribe blood thinners, such as dabigatran (pradaksa) or warfarin Warfarin - indirect anticoagulants   (Coumadin), to reduce the risk.

Treatment of the underlying disease

If tachycardia contributes to the development of other disease - for example, some forms of heart disease or hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: increased secretion of thyroid hormone   - Treatment of the underlying disease can prevent or decrease the tachycardia episodes of illness.

Help & support

If you have a plan of conduct in case of an attack of tachycardia (rapid heartbeat episode), you will feel calmer and better control of the situation. Discuss with your doctor the following questions:

• When and how to apply a reflex effect on the vagus nerve;
• When to call a doctor;
• When to seek emergency medical care.

Prevention of tachycardia

The most effective method of preventing tachycardia - reducing the risk of heart disease. If you already have heart disease, monitor them and stick to the treatment plan to reduce the risk of tachycardia.

Prevention of heart disease

Try to eliminate the risk factors that can lead to heart disease. Follow these steps:

• Engage in fitness and healthy foods. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, or do exercises and eat a healthy low-fat food. Your diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains;
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease;
• Watch for blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Change the way of life and take medicine to normalize blood pressure (hypertension) or cholesterol;
• Quit smoking. If you smoke and can not quit this habit on their own, talk to your doctor and discuss other methods of getting rid of the habit;
• Limit alcohol intake. If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. In some diseases it is recommended to give up alcohol completely. If you can not control the consumption of alcohol, talk with your doctor practices struggle with alcoholism;
• Do not take recreational drugs. Do not take stimulants, including cocaine;
• Take non-prescription medication with cautious. Some medications for colds and coughs contain substances stimulant that can cause heart palpitations. Ask your doctor what medicines you are contraindicated;
• Limit your caffeine intake. If you consume beverages containing caffeine, do so in moderation;
• Control stress. Avoid unnecessary stress and learn to calm down in a stressful situation to develop natural mechanisms to deal with stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis ;
• Have regular check-up. Have regular medical checkup and discuss any symptoms you are disturbing your doctor.

Control and treatment of diagnosed heart disease

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, you can reduce the risk of tachycardia or other arrhythmia:

• Follow the plan. You need to understand the nature and the value of your treatment plan, and to take all prescription medications;

• Tell your doctor immediately about any changes. If the symptoms have changed, increased or new symptoms appear, immediately inform your doctor.