Sinus tachycardia: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Sinus tachycardia is an arrhythmia in which the heart beats are above 100 per minute, which can cause the sensation that the heart is racing and/or beating hard, in addition to symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness in some cases. people.

This arrhythmia is most often caused by anxiety, pain, fever or dehydration, but it can also indicate diseases such as hyperthyroidism and heart problems, for example, which cause the heart to beat faster than normal. Understand what the normal heart rate is and how to measure it.

If sinus tachycardia is suspected, especially if symptoms are frequent or appear at rest, it is recommended to consult a cardiologist. Treatment depends on its cause, and medications may be indicated to control the heartbeat and/or what caused the tachycardia.

Symptoms of sinus tachycardia

The main symptoms of sinus tachycardia are:

• Feeling your heartbeat faster and/or stronger than normal;
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
• Chest pain;
• Feeling that the head is empty;
• Dizziness and/or fainting.

The most common symptom of sinus tachycardia is the feeling of the heartbeat being faster and/or stronger than normal. However, depending on the cause, other symptoms may appear, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

These symptoms may indicate heart problems such as heart failure or coronary disease, and it is important to consult a cardiologist to check the health of your heart, especially if they are frequent or appear during rest. Find out more symptoms of heart problems.

However, in case of sudden shortness of breath or chest pain that does not improve within a few minutes, it is recommended to go to an emergency room for evaluation and start the most appropriate treatment.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of sinus tachycardia is normally made by a cardiologist based on symptoms, health history and the presence of any event or factor that may have caused the increase in heart rate.

For a complete assessment of your heart health, make an appointment with the cardiologist closest to you:

Especially when there is no apparent reason for sinus tachycardia, the doctor may recommend tests, such as blood count, thyroid hormone measurement, electrocardiogram or Holter monitoring, to confirm the diagnosis and identify the cause of the symptoms. Find out how the Holter exam is performed.

Possible causes

The main causes of sinus tachycardia are:

• Anxiety, pain, fear or stress;
• Physical efforts;
• Excessive consumption of coffee or energy drinks;
• Dehydration;
• Fever;
• Diseases such as anemia, hyperthyroidism and coronary heart disease.

However, in most cases, sinus tachycardia is considered a normal response of the heart to situations that increase the heart rate, such as intense physical activity or anxiety, and is not considered a problem.

How the treatment is carried out

Treatment of sinus tachycardia must be specific to its cause. It may involve stopping physical activity, using medication to control anxiety or treat infections, and avoiding stress or excessive coffee consumption, for example. Check out foods that are good for your heart.

However, in some cases the cardiologist may also prescribe medications, such as ivabradine, beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, to control sinus tachycardia.

Furthermore, in the most severe cases, catheter ablation surgery may be indicated to eliminate sources of excessive heartbeat stimulation.