Causes and treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia causes the heart to suddenly begin to beat faster.

Gradually, this disease is transformed into the development of heart failure, so it is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible.

Pathology is characterized by a paroxysmal increase in the number of heart contractions. The pulse exceeds one hundred beats per minute. An attack of such tachycardia can last several seconds or hours.

Why there is a problem

There are two types of causes that cause rhythm failures:

• cardiac;
• non-heart.

The first type includes pathologies of the heart, as a result of which paroxysmal tachycardia develops.

Such diseases include:

• ischemia. It is characterized by circulatory disorders;
• heart defects that violate its structure;
• inflammation of the heart muscle;
• cardiomyopathy. With this disease, the structure and functioning of the myocardium is disrupted for no apparent reason;
• heart failure. It is characterized by a violation of the contractile abilities of the heart;
• intrauterine disorders of the structure of the heart.

Non-cardiac causes include diseases of the internal organs:

1. Increased production of hormones by the endocrine system.
2. Pulmonary embolism. Blockage of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus.
3. Pneumonia.
4. ANS disorders.

There are other reasons that can cause supraventricular tachycardia.

This condition may occur:

• due to the abuse of diuretics;
• due to the abuse of alcohol and cigarettes;
• due to constant physical and psycho-emotional stress.

This disease is also one of the complications of pregnancy. During the period of bearing a child, organs and systems suffer from an increased load, the heart works in an enhanced mode. If a pregnant woman has low hemoglobin, there is hypertension, a water-salt imbalance, or an increased content of hormones in the blood, then paroxysmal tachycardia may occur. Usually it goes away when these problems are fixed.

In childhood and adolescence, the disease occurs even if there are no pathologies of the heart.

At this age, tachycardia develops under the influence of:

• electrolyte disturbances;
• emotional stress, physical overload;
• adverse environmental conditions. For example, if the children's room is not ventilated, or the level of humidity in it is high.

Paroxysmal tachycardia occurs in attacks.

Among patients there are such complaints:

1. The heart begins to beat rapidly.
2. There is discomfort in the region of the heart.
3. General health worsens.
4. Often there is nausea, dizziness.
5. Possible loss of consciousness.

In addition to a deterioration in well-being, external signs (pallor and increased sweating) testify to the occurrence of an attack. The pulse may be so rapid that it cannot be counted.

Diagnosis of the disease

The process of making a diagnosis for suspected paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia begins with an examination and questioning of the patient, taking an anamnesis and questioning for complaints. The doctor should ask how the patient tolerates physical activity, whether there are any symptoms and how long ago they appeared. Also, for the diagnosis, information is needed on cases of sudden death, cardiovascular diseases in the next of kin.

After the conversation, the doctor examines the patient's skin, measures pressure, pulse, listens to the heart, determines if there is excess weight.

From laboratory procedures appoint:

1. General analysis of blood and urine. This is necessary to determine comorbidities.
2. Blood test for biochemical research. This is necessary to determine the level of sugar, cholesterol, potassium in the blood.

As for instrumental studies, they can appoint:

1. Echocardiography. Allows you to accurately determine the presence of abnormalities in the work of the heart.
2. Transesophageal stimulation of the heart. Allows diagnosis if the patient rarely has seizures and they are not visible on the ECG.
3. Daily monitoring. This method will help determine the beginning and end of even the smallest attack, assess the heart rate.
4. Electrocardiogram. This procedure is prescribed one of the first, if tachycardia is suspected. The study is carried out very quickly and painlessly. An ECG allows you to check the electrical conduction of the heart. Electrodes are placed on the patient's body, through which an image of cardiac activity is obtained. ECG allows you to identify various diseases, including paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. On the ECG tape, the beginning / end of the attack is clearly visible, the pulse is above 140 beats per minute, the rhythm of the heartbeat.

Sometimes you may need to consult a therapist.

Features of treatment

It is necessary to adhere to proper nutrition, daily routine.

Conservative therapy

It consists of the use of drugs, which must be prescribed only by a specialist.

The cardiologist prescribes drugs based on the patient's condition.

For treatment, the following medicines can be used:

1. Sedatives: tranquilizers, bromine, barbiturates.
2. Beta blockers. They reduce the effect of stress hormones on the heart.
3. Potassium preparations.
4. To eliminate an attack of tachycardia, antiarrhythmic drugs are administered intravenously.

Surgery

If the medicines did not bring any improvement, then the patient needs surgery. Also, such treatment is necessary if irreversible sclerotic processes have begun or a heart disease has been detected.

Against paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, the following surgical options are used:

1. partial intervention. As a result of such treatment, tachycardia attacks become weaker, antiarrhythmic drugs begin to help.
2. radical intervention. Symptoms of the disease go away forever.

For the treatment of patients, the following operations are performed:

1. radiofrequency ablation. During the procedure, the area that caused the tachycardia is cauterized.
2. Implantation of two pacemakers: a pacemaker and a defibrillator. They automatically turn on when an attack begins.
3. Destruction of pathways. A device is inserted into a vein on the thigh or under the collarbone, which allows you to detect where the tachycardia zone has arisen, after which a medical catheter is inserted.

Surgical interventions for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia are performed on the open heart or stop the symptoms by removing pathological areas.

Surgical treatment is indicated in such cases:

• if there is a single ventricular fibrillation;
• with multiple atrial fibrillations;
• if attacks of tachycardia cannot be eliminated with antiarrhythmic drugs;
• the patient has a heart disease or congenital abnormalities in the development of the heart;
• if the patient's body does not tolerate drugs that stop the symptoms of the disease and maintain normal health;
• seizures occurred in children, have a strong impact on the physical or mental development of the child.

Folk remedies

Some patients cannot take the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Then traditional medicine recipes can help.

The patient can ease his well-being with the help of such means:

1. Pour lovage roots with hot water, let stand for about eight hours and strain. You need to drink the medicine throughout the day in small doses.
2. Viburnum berries should be poured with two liters of boiled water and allowed to stand for six hours. After that, strain, squeeze the berries and add half a liter of honey. The remedy should be placed in the refrigerator and drunk every day before meals. Such treatment should be carried out for a month, then take a break for a week and a half and continue.
3. Tincture of hawthorn, motherwort, valerian should be mixed and drunk 3 times a day before meals.

Therapy of the disease is aimed at restoring the level of electrolytes in the body. Recommend the use of plants with a high content of cardiac glucosides and have a calming effect. Valerian, motherwort, lemon balm, hawthorn have such properties.

With tachycardia, water procedures are actively used.

Recommend:

• cold rubbing;
• cold and hot shower;
• dousing with cool water;
• hydromassage;
• medicinal baths.

They will help to improve well-being and relieve symptoms of the disease.

What to do at home during an attack

If an attack of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia occurs at home, then the following actions must be performed:

1. The main thing is to calm down and not be nervous.
2. If there is weakness, nausea and dizziness, then it is advisable to lie down.
3. A large amount of fresh air should enter the room, so you need to open the window, it is also advisable to unbutton your clothes.
4. To relieve an attack, you need to press on the eyeballs, hold your breath for a few seconds or strain so that the abdominal press is squeezed.
5. It is necessary to take the medicines prescribed by the doctor without increasing the dosage.
6. If there is no improvement, you need to call the doctors. An ambulance is also needed if the patient has lost consciousness, there is an attack of suffocation and pain in the region of the heart.

Nutrition and daily routine

Paroxysmal tachycardia requires lifestyle changes.

The following rules must be observed:

1. Get rid of bad habits.
2. Avoid stress, psycho-emotional stress. To do this, you can use auto-training.
3. You need to sleep at least eight hours a day, and rest at least an hour during the day.
4. Daily physical activity is essential. It is advisable to do exercises, walk, you can go swimming.
5. It is impossible that the indicators of sugar, cholesterol exceeded the norm.
6. It is important to monitor your weight, avoiding gaining extra pounds.
7. About five meals per day. There should be small portions, breaks between meals should be no more than three hours. It is advisable not to overeat and do not eat at night. This can lead to a tachycardia attack.

The diet must be balanced. Foods that can trigger an attack should be avoided.

These include:

• Tea coffee;
• sweets and fast food;
• all fatty - meat, margarine, mayonnaise. Butter is available in limited quantities;
• fried, canned, smoked food.

These foods contain cholesterol, which is bad for the heart.

You also need to reduce your salt intake. It is added only to ready-made dishes, but it is better to replace it with something else.

The diet should include vegetables, fruits, lean meat and fish, low-fat dairy products, vegetable oils, nuts, fresh juices.

Possible consequences of the disease and prevention

Among the consequences of the disease, it is worth highlighting:

1. Cardiogenic shock.
2. Heart failure.
3. Pulmonary edema.
4. Angina.

Supraventricular tachycardia is less dangerous than its other types, but can lead to serious complications, so prevention of the disease is very important.

Prevention of tachycardia includes:

• avoidance of stress;
• quitting smoking, alcoholic beverages;
• moderate physical activity;
• proper nutrition, which involves eating vegetables and fruits, avoiding fatty, salty;
• control of sugar and cholesterol levels.

If close relatives suffer from the disease, then periodically it is necessary to undergo an examination in order to notice the disease in time and begin treatment.

The development of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia requires serious treatment. The sooner the diagnosis is made, the sooner the recovery will come. Therefore, a planned visit to a cardiologist should be an integral part of the prevention of tachycardia.