Atrial Tachycardia – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Atrial tachycardia is a form of irregular heartbeat known as an arrhythmia. When a person experiences this condition, their heart may suddenly begin to beat much faster than normal, sometimes reaching 150 to 200 beats per minute.
Episodes can develop gradually or occur suddenly.Common symptoms include:
This condition appears frequently in certain groups, particularly those who have undergone heart surgery and pregnant women. Several factors may trigger atrial tachycardia, including:
- Infections
- Stimulant medications
- Alcohol consumption
Atrial tachycardia belongs to a larger category called supraventricular tachycardia, which involves abnormal heart rhythms originating above the ventricles.
Signs of Atrial Tachycardia
The main sign of atrial tachycardia is a heartbeat that’s much faster than normal. This rapid heartbeat can start and stop suddenly, or it might continue for a while.
You might also experience:
- Pounding or fluttering in your chest or neck (palpitations)
- Pain in your chest area
- Fainting or feeling like you might faint
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Trouble breathing
- Unusual sweating
- Feeling weak or extremely tired
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Some people with atrial tachycardia don’t feel any symptoms at all.
For babies and young children, the signs can be different. Watch for:
- Poor feeding habits
- Unusual sweating
- Being more fussy than normal
- Changes in skin color
When Medical Help Is Needed
Contact emergency services (call 911) right away if you have a very fast heartbeat that lasts longer than a few minutes, especially if it comes with:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Trouble breathing
- Weakness
You should schedule a doctor’s appointment if you:
- Experience a very fast heartbeat for the first time
- Have an irregular heartbeat that continues for more than a few seconds
Don’t ignore these symptoms, as they might signal a serious heart condition that needs medical attention.
Causes
Atrial tachycardia develops when electrical signals in the heart don’t work correctly. These signals normally control when and how fast the heart beats.
The problem begins in the heart’s upper chambers. Faulty signals trigger heartbeats too early, making the heart rate too fast. This rapid beating prevents the heart from filling properly with blood between beats.
Problems with these electrical pathways can make the heart work less efficiently than it should.
Risk Factors
Certain health conditions and lifestyle choices can make atrial tachycardia more likely. People with heart problems face higher risks, including those with:
- Coronary artery disease, valve disease, or other heart conditions
- Heart failure
- Congenital heart defects (present at birth)
- History of heart surgery
Medical conditions that increase risk include:
- Sleep apnea
- Thyroid problems
- Lung diseases like COPD
- Diabetes
Some medications can trigger atrial tachycardia, particularly those for asthma, allergies, and cold symptoms.
Lifestyle factors also play a role:
- Emotional stress
- High caffeine consumption
- Heavy alcohol use (more than 15 drinks weekly for men, 8+ for women)
- Smoking and nicotine products
- Stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine
Complications
Atrial tachycardia typically doesn’t pose a life-threatening risk for most people. However, this condition requires careful monitoring if you have existing heart damage or other cardiac conditions.
The main concern is that persistent rapid heartbeats can weaken the heart muscle over time. This weakening may lead to reduced pumping efficiency and potential long-term complications.
