If a tachycardia episode happens frequently, it may be a sign of a systemic disease or abnormal heart function, according to research.Tachycardia can cause your heart rate to go up past 100 beats per minute while you rest.Tachycardia can involve the upper and lower chambers of the heart.There is an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.Home remedies and strategies can help lower your heart rate when you occasionally have a "racing" heart.
Step 1: Take a break for a few minutes.
Most people experience short episodes of tachycardia on rare occasions due to high levels of stress, a sudden fright or an anxiety attack.If this sounds like it's the cause of your racing heart, then you should take a break for five to 10 minutes.It could be turning off a scary movie or taking your mind off of a financial problem.Taking deep breaths and resting can lower your heart rate.Normal resting heart rate is defined as between 60 and 100 beats per minute.The threshold for defining a tachycardia is greater than 100 beats.Tachycardia doesn't always cause symptoms, but when it does, you can feel a racing heart or palpitations in your chest.Other symptoms can include lightheadedness, dizziness, and chest pain.
Step 2: Try some relaxation techniques.
If you manage how you react or respond to stress, you can prevent tachycardia and hyperventilation.Stress-relief techniques like yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, visualization and meditation are helpful for promoting relaxation and better emotional health.If you want to join a stress-relieving class, ask at your local gym, community center or health clinic.Get out of an abusive relationship, change your job, and spend less time with negative people are some of the positive changes you can make to limit the stress in your life.Control anxious thoughts about your finances.Increased heart and breathing rates are caused by the release of hormones that prepare your body for a fight or flight.Some people need up to 11 hours of sleep for optimal health, but you should get at least eight hours per night.A lack of sleep can cause anxiety and heart palpitations.
Step 3: The vagal maneuver is used.
Vagal maneuvers are simple actions that you can do with your body that affect the vagus nerve, which is the main one regulating your heartbeat.The Valsalva technique and coughing can affect the vagus nerve.If done correctly, these simple maneuvers can slow your heart rate down as soon as you realize you're having an episode.Ask your doctor to show you some of the maneuvers.The Valsalva maneuver involves holding your breath and bearing down as if you are having a bowel movement.It is a simple procedure that can change the rhythm of electrical impulses in your heart.The body slows its heart rate when it is plunged into cold water in an attempt to preserve itself.For at least 30 seconds, put very cold water or an ice pack on your face.You can try to cough.
Step 4: Do not use substances that can cause tachycardia.
If you're having periodic heart palpitations and feel that your heart is racing, there are a number of substances that can cause this.Coffee, black and green tea, most soda pop, energy drinks and chocolate contain some form of caffeine.It stimulates brain activity, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and doesn't give you energy.Consuming nicotine from cigarette smoking can increase your resting heart rate and blood pressure.Chronic alcoholism tends to cause fluctuations, whereas binge drinking alcohol on the weekends increases heart rate.Females who drink lots of coffee and smoke a lot are more likely to have Tachycardia.
Step 5: Discuss the cause of your tachycardia with your doctor.
There are three different types of tachycardia.They are caused by different things, and discovering which type of tachycardia you are suffering from will help your doctor decide on the appropriate treatment.SVT begins in the upper chambers of the heart.The most common type of tachycardia found in children is caused by anxiety, fatigue, smoking, drinking alcohol, or caffeine.It can be caused by a fever, anxiety, medication or recreational drugs, fright, strenuous exercise, or severe emotional distress.Ventricular Tachycardia begins in the lower chambers of the heart and can be life threatening.If you experience rapid heart beat, seek immediate treatment.Ventricular tachycardia can be caused by a lack of oxygen in the heart, medication, or sarcoidosis.
Step 6: Ask your doctor about the side effects of your medication.
Some medications can cause bouts of Tachycardia as a negative side effect.Anti-arrhythmic drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, digitalis, asthma medications, steroid therapy and most cold/cough remedies are known to increase heart rate.Ask your doctor if you can have a side effect from your medication.It's not possible to predict how many drugs may interact with each other due to the complex chemical interactions in the human body.The list of drugs' side effects should be read carefully.If you suspect a medication is causing bouts of tachycardia, don't stop taking it without the supervision of your doctor, it may cause worse symptoms.It's a good idea to stop taking a medication and then switch to another.
Step 7: Control cholesterol levels.
Cardiovascular disease increases blood pressure and makes your heart work harder.High blood cholesterol is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, a condition in which arteries become blocked from plaque build up.Clogged arteries can cause high blood pressure, which can translate into higher than normal heart rate.Ask your doctor if lifestyle changes and medication can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.Normal blood cholesterol levels are not as high as healthy blood pressure is.Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts if you want to reduce saturated and trans fats in your diet.If lifestyle changes don't lower cholesterol levels, then medication may be needed.Cholesterol-lowering drugs include statins, niacin-based drugs, bile-acid resins, fibric acid derivatives and cholesterol absorption inhibitors.There are many medications for high blood pressure.
Step 8: Discuss anti-arrhythmic medication with your doctor.
If no other cause of your tachycardia can be found and lifestyle changes don't help, then medication is likely to be needed.cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and heart valve disease are some of the primary causes of tachycardia.If given via injection, anti-arrhythmic medications can quickly reduce heart rates.Diltiazem, Verapami, and esmolol are some of the medications that may be prescribed and used in combination with anti-arrhythmic drugs.A doctor or nurse at the hospital may inject a quick-acting anti-arrhythmic drug into a vein to treat an acute case of tachycardia.If a patient is at risk for tachycardia, they may be given a slow-acting oral anti-arrhythmic medication to take at home.
Step 9: If it's appropriate, consider catheter ablation.
When an extra electrical pathway is responsible for chronic tachycardia, Catheter Ablation is recommended.It involves placing a catheter in a groin, neck or arm vein and moving it to the heart, where the extra electrical pathway is destroyed by either heat, cold or radio frequencies.It's very effective for ventricular tachycardia.It can be used to treat flutters and arrhythmias.There is a risk of damaging veins and dislodging emboli that can cause a heart attack or stroke.It may affect the electrical system of the heart.Your doctor can use a variety of tests to detect a ventricular tachycardia.
Step 10: If a surgical procedure is recommended, think about it.
For some people, surgery may be the only effective option for controlling tachycardia.There are a couple of different devices that can be implanted into your chest that are effective for treating tachycardia.Open-heart surgery can be used to destroy extra electrical pathways or repair heart damage.A pacemaker is a small device placed under the skin that sends electrical impulses to the heart when it senses abnormal heartbeats.The heart can resume normal rhythms and rates.bradycardia is a slow heart beat that can be treated with a pacemaker.It is usually combined with a heart rate control medication and/or RFA of the tachycardic focus when it is used for tachycardia.The ICD is a cellphone-sized device that is connected to the heart with wires.When it senses an abnormal heart rate, an ICD delivers electrical shocks.Ask your doctor which device is best for you.