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Tachycardia is a fast heart rate — more than 100 beats per minute — that can either start in the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) or upper chambers (atria). At these elevated rates, the heart is not able to efficiently pump oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Tachycardia can occur for several reasons. Common causes of Tachycardia include:
When the heart beats too fast various symptoms may be experienced. These symptoms include:
Certain conditions can increase the risk of developing an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia), including:
Tachycardia can be ventricular (in the lower chambers of the heart) or atrial (in the upper chambers of the heart), and the treatment strategy may vary depending on what type of tachycardia one may have. Your heart doctor will determine the treatment that's best for your condition, and may also discuss lifestyle changes with you.
The types of treatment range from medication to surgery. Other treatment options include: