Sinus Tachycardia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Sinus Tachycardia is a condition when the heart beats faster than normal. Sinus tachycardia occurs when the sinus node or sinoatrial node, the heart's natural pacemaker, triggers electrical impulses that are abnormally fast.

We can have normal or abnormal sinus tachycardia. Normal sinus tachycardia refers to a physiological increase in heart rate that occurs in response to certain factors, such as stress, exercise, pain, or fever.

Meanwhile, abnormal sinus tachycardia has no known cause. If you do, you may experience an increased heart rate all the time, even at rest.

 
Sinus Tachycardia

1. Recognize Sinus Tachycardia, From Normal to Abnormal

Tachycardia refers to an increase in heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute (bpm). The sinoatrial node is a specialized collection of electrical cells in the right upper chamber of the heart. These cells act as a natural pacemaker by sending electrical impulses to the surrounding tissues. This impulse causes the heart to contract.

A properly functioning sinoatrial node regulates the rhythm and rate of our heart. According to the American Heart Association, the heart rate is usually in the range of 60–100 bpm at rest. However, it is often lower in athletes.

You can develop sinus tachycardia for many reasons. The underlying cause will determine the likely outcome of someone with this condition.

Types of sinus tachycardia include normal and abnormal sinus tachycardia.

Normal sinus tachycardia

Normal sinus tachycardia involves a known cause for the increased heart rate. According to the publication StatPearls, causes of normal sinus tachycardia can include:

• stress.
• Painful.
• Worry.
• Sport.
• Stop consuming alcohol.
• Low blood sugar levels.
• Dehydration.
• Use of stimulants, such as caffeine.

The causes of sinus tachycardia may be a part of our daily lives, although people experiencing these symptoms of anxiety may see a doctor.

Abnormal sinus tachycardia

Abnormal sinus tachycardia occurs for unknown reasons. This can cause a faster heart rate, even when resting. According to a March 2017 report in the journal Internal Medicine, doctors sometimes misdiagnose abnormal sinus tachycardia as a symptom of a mental health condition, such as depression.

The main difference between an abnormal sinus tachycardia and a normal sinus tachycardia is that an abnormal sinus tachycardia usually has no known cause and occurs at rest or when the heart responds disproportionately to movement.

2. Cause Sinus Tachycardia

Reported by Mercy Health, while the exact cause of abnormal sinus tachycardia is unknown, it can be caused by several problems. The most common causes include:

• Problems with the sinoatrial node.
• Triggers that cause the heart rate to increase.
• Nerve dysfunction that causes decreased heart rate.

Common triggers of sinus tachycardia include:

• Heart failure or heart attack.
• Mitral valve prolapse.
• Pulmonary embolism.
• Lung disease.
• Infection from viruses.
• Worry.
• Dehydration.
• Anemia.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Low blood pressure.
• Sepsis.
• Mercury poisoning.
• Electric shock.
• Drug withdrawal.
• hypoxia.

Sinus tachycardia risk factors:

• Anemia.
• Diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine.
• High blood pressure.
• Thyroid problems, such as an overactive or underactive thyroid.
• Sleep apnea.
• Smoke.
• Using stimulant drugs.
• Psychological stress.
• 
  

3. Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms of tachycardia. Reported by the Cleveland Clinic, if there are symptoms, they often don't last long. Symptoms may include:

• Faster heart rate.
• Palpitations
• Faint.
• Chest pain.
• Dizzy.
• It's hard to breathe.
• Dizzy.

Abnormal sinus tachycardia symptoms can include:

• Hard to breathe.
• Fatigue.
• Inability to handle physical exercise.
• Palpitations

4. Diagnosis

To diagnose sinus tachycardia, your doctor may order several tests to measure how your heart is working. These may include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG), which measures the electrical activity in the heart.
• Holter monitor, which measures heart rate for 24 hours.
• Chest X-ray.
• Pulse oximetry.

5. Treatment

Treatment for sinus tachycardia varies depending on the underlying cause. However, this usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and, in very rare cases, surgery.

Doctors treat the underlying cause or condition when treating normal sinus tachycardia and rarely treat the tachycardia itself. Treating tachycardia can be difficult because symptoms persist after controlling the heart rate with medications and lifestyle changes.

Treatment for sinus tachycardia may include:

• Reducing caffeine intake.
• Quit smoking and avoid other sources of nicotine.
• Exercise routine.
• Drink enough water.
• Consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day.
• Sinus tachycardia is usually a benign condition, but it can weaken the heart over time if it persists. Doctors refer to this as tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

Sometimes, doctors may prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or ivabradine to reduce heart rate and treat symptoms.

Research in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease in November 2018 showed that ivabradine, a type of Ifunny channel blocker drug, can help independently reduce heart rate in people living with heart failure.

Doctors may also recommend a more invasive form of treatment, such as catheter ablation, for people with abnormal sinus tachycardia who don't respond to lifestyle changes or medication.

Catheter ablation applies heat to a part of the heart tissue causing a fast or irregular heartbeat. This procedure can help return the heart rate to normal. However, every procedure has complications, and people may still experience recurrent tachycardia after catheter ablation. Discuss the risks and benefits of catheter ablation with your doctor.

Tachycardia occurs when the heart beats more than 100 times per minute, either at rest or during exercise. People develop sinus tachycardia when the sinus nodes in the heart transmit electrical impulses faster than normal.

This can occur as a result of certain triggers, such as exercise, caffeine, or stress. However, sinus tachycardia without a physiological trigger can result from an arrhythmia, which is called inappropriate sinus tachycardia.

Treatment for sinus tachycardia focuses on bringing the heart rate back to normal by treating the underlying cause, such as an infection or low blood pressure. Doctors may also recommend lifestyle changes, medications, and medical procedures, such as catheter ablation.