Transcription
Tachycardia is the medical term to describe a heart rate that sits above 100 beats per minute. It is classified as a type of arrhythmia due to its effects on heart rate and rhythm. It is quite normal to experience a heart rate that may sit above 100 beats per minute, and this can be due to many factors, including exercise, periods of stress, or emotion. However, if the elevated heart rate is not due to any of those physiological responses, that is when further investigation is needed.
If tachycardia is left untreated, there can be serious consequences, including cardiac arrest, stroke, and heart failure. Common signs and symptoms are generally related to the rhythm of the heart and potentially a lack of oxygen. These may include feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, and palpitations in the chest. When checking for a pulse, whether at the wrist or on the neck, one might notice an irregular and light, but quite quick, heart rate. This is generally what tachycardia is: an elevated heart rate above 100 beats per minute for no external reason, such as exercise or emotion.
Tachycardia can mostly be diagnosed through an ECG. Other methods to assess it might include a Holter monitor, a stress test, or other ways to view the heart's rhythm and electrical impulses.
Exercise is super important for anyone with a heart condition or an arrhythmia, including tachycardia. Not only can exercise help reduce the risk factors for developing tachycardia, but it can also improve the strength and function of the heart and the cardiovascular system as a whole. Therefore, exercise is really important, even for those with a heart condition.
Some things to look out for while exercising include dizziness, palpitations, and chest pain. If you experience any of these symptoms while exercising, you should seek medical attention immediately. Generally speaking, over time, a person with tachycardia will learn how their body responds to certain types of exercise, allowing them to identify exercises and intensities that suit them well.
The main thing is to start conservatively and build up over time as your fitness increases. If you want to start exercising and you have tachycardia, first talk to your GP and your cardiologist. They may want to screen you for a stress test, and from there, it is wise to engage the help of an exercise physiologist. This way, you can be prescribed and delivered an exercise program that is specific to your needs and current abilities.