The cardiovascular system is essential to health, allowing your body and mind to function at the highest levels. The ideal resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. An elevated heart rate can be a sign of tachycardia.
Experiencing the heart rate warning signs can be daunting. Understanding when to go to the hospital for a rapid heart rate can help prevent more severe health issues. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by learning about rapid heart rate symptoms.
If you think you’re experiencing a cardiac health emergency, it’s vital to know what to do. Before visiting urgent care or the ER today, continue reading to learn the warning signs and symptoms.
What Is Tachycardia?
Tachycardia is the medical term for a condition resulting in a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute. Several types of irregular heart rhythms and beats can cause it.
A rapid heart rate isn’t always a concern for your immediate and future health. It’s common for the heart rate to increase when exercising or experiencing elevated stress levels.
The condition is also a warning sign of other conditions that can harm your wellness. Ignoring the elevated resting heart rate can result in conditions like strokes, cardiac arrest, and heart failure.
Here’s a look at the different types of tachycardia that result in rapid heart rate symptoms.
1. Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of tachycardia. It produces erratic electrical signals that begin in the upper portions of your heart. The region from which these signals originate is called the atria.
When the signals start, your body begins producing a faster heartbeat. It’s often a temporary condition, but some instances will continue until you receive treatment. Learn more about treatment options by exploring what is a cardioversion.
2. Atrial Flutter
Atrial flutter produces similar symptoms to atrial fibrillation. The difference between the two is the more organized heartbeats from atrial flutter versus erratic heartbeats from atrial fibrillation.
These episodes can go away on their own without seeking treatment. It’s also normal for individuals with atrial fibrillation to experience an atrial flutter.
3. Ventricular Tachycardia
Episodes of ventricular tachycardia are spontaneous and start in the lower reaches of the heart, called the ventricles. The elevated heart rate does not provide ample time for the ventricles to fill with enough blood to supply the body’s needs.
Most episodes last only a few seconds. If the condition lasts longer, it’s a sign you need medical attention. You’ll know when to go to the hospital for a rapid heart rate.
4. Ventricular Fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation is one of the most dangerous types of tachycardia. The condition can become deadly if you’re unable to reset your heartbeat within minutes of its onset.
The symptoms of ventricular fibrillation come from rapid and erratic electrical signals going to the heart. The lower heart chambers quiver instead of squeezing to send blood throughout the body.
Many people with this condition have severe heart disease or have experienced extreme physical trauma. It’s a common condition in individuals who have been struck by lightning.
Key Symptoms to Monitor
Monitoring symptoms for tachycardia is challenging because some individuals do not experience or display any notable symptoms. The rapid heartbeat can go unnoticed until a physical examination occurs. Heart tests are another way to detect the condition.
The general symptoms and heart rate warning signs include:
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid pulse
- Racing and pounding heartbeat
If you experience these symptoms, it’s a sign that you need to visit a healthcare professional or urgent care facility for treatment. Monitor them to avoid a significant cardiac health emergency.
When to Seek Medical Help
Now that you know what causes a rapid heart rate, it’s time to explore when to seek medical help and treatment. Many things can cause an elevated heart rate, and the best way to identify the cause is with help from healthcare practitioners.
If you’re nervous about your heart rate, scheduling a health checkup is best. Here are the hospital visit guidelines. Get immediate medical attention if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Chest discomfort
- Fainting or near fainting
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
Ignoring the condition can cause your blood pressure to drop rapidly, resulting in severe health complications that can become life-threatening. It’s normal to fall or collapse when symptoms hit.
Knowing how to proceed is critical if this happens to you or a loved one. Here are your options when seeking medical help in an emergency.
Call 911
Calling 911 can help you save your friend or loved one’s life if they’re experiencing an elevated heart rate. It alerts trained healthcare experts who can deliver help promptly. Ensure you’re doing what you can to help until the professionals arrive.
Start CPR Treatments
The next step involves starting CPR treatments to ensure blood continues flowing to vital organs and the brain. It’s an effective way to limit damage until the ambulance arrives to provide more in-depth treatment methods.
If you don’t have formal training and certification in the life-saving technique, focus on hands-only CPR. Push hard on the center of the chest with both hands. Keep a rhythm similar to the hit song “Stayin’ Alive” by The BeeGees.
Use an AED
Another effective option involves using an AED or automated external defibrillator. The portable device can use an electric shock to reset the affected person’s heart. The device is safe and programmed to give a shock only when necessary.
Now You Know When to Go to the Hospital for a Rapid Heart Rate
Knowing when to go to the hospital for a rapid heart rate can help you save your life or the life of a loved one. It starts with learning and memorizing the rapid heart rate symptoms.
Shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness are all signs you need medical attention. If the symptoms persist, use CPR or an AED to keep blood flowing.
Your health is the most priceless asset in life, and it’s worth investing time to learn how to maintain and promote it. Explore our Health blog content for guides and advice to protect your health today!
