An arrhythmia is when the heart beats too many or too few times in a minute.
Sinus tachycardia
Sinus tachycardia happens when the sinus node sends too many electrical impulses in a certain amount of time. This leads to a faster heart rate.
Whilst the electric pulse causing the heart to beat may be quite normal, the actual pace of these beats is faster than it should be.
An idividual with a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute is considered to have tachycardia and can be referred to as being ‘tacky’.
A patient may have tachycardia and not know it, because it doesn’t always cause symptoms.
Sinus tachycardia can increase the risk of serious complications, including heart failure, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest in some cases.
Possible causes of sinus tachycardia, could include:
- fever
- anxiety, fear, or emotional distress
- exercise
- damage to your heart due to heart disease
- anemia
- hyperthyroidism
- severe bleeding