Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia is a condition when the ventricles ( chambers ) of the heart beat too fast. This occurs due to disturbances in the electrical flow of the heart which causes vary.

Ventricular tachycardia occurs when the chambers or lower chambers of the heart beat too fast and out of sync with the movement of the atria of the heart. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood effectively. This condition causes the body to lack oxygen.

Causes of Ventri kel Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia is caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart that controls the pumping action of the heart's chambers (ventricles). This disturbance causes the chambers to beat faster than normal. As a result, the amount of blood pumped out of the heart decreases so that the need for blood in all parts of the body is not met.

The cause of ventricular tachycardia is not always identifiable, but it is usually the result of a pre-existing heart problem.

Heart problems in question include:

  • Cardiomyopathy or heart muscle disease
  • Heart attack
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Heart failure
  • Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Torsade de pointes

In addition to the causes above, there are several types of ventricular tachycardia that are genetically inherited, namely:

  • Arrhythmogenic right ventricular tachycardia, which is tachycardia caused by a rhythm disturbance in the right ventricle of the heart
  • Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, which is tachycardia triggered by physical or emotional stress, in the absence of abnormalities in the structure of the heart

There are also several other factors that can cause ventricular tachycardia, such as:

  • Certain medications, such as decongestants and body slimming medications
  • Drug abuse , such as cocaine
  • Excessive consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated drinks
  • Too heavy exercise

Symptoms of Ventricular Tachycardia

There are several symptoms that indicate ventricular tachycardia, including:

  • Heart palpitations that make sufferers feel uncomfortable
  • Hard to breathe
  • Pain or pressure in the chest
  • Dizzy or feeling lightheaded
  • Loss of consciousness

Ventricular tachycardia needs to be watched out for because it can develop into ventricular fibrillation , which is a dangerous condition and can cause death.

When to see a doctor

Tachycardic ventricles must be treated immediately. Therefore, if you experience the above symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

If you see a person who has lost consciousness, has no pulse and is not breathing, seek immediate medical attention or seek help from those around you, and perform CPR on the person if you are able.

If an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use the device to determine the patient's heart rhythm. After that, follow the instructions from the AED tool. Do this until medical help arrives.

Diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia

In the early stages of treatment, the doctor will stabilize the patient's condition first. After the patient's condition is stable, the doctor will conduct an examination to find out the cause of the patient's complaint. The inspection includes:

  • Electrocardiography ( EKG )
    The EKG of the heart aims to measure electrical activity
  • Treadmill ECG
    This action aims to see the heart's electrical recordings while the patient is moving on the treadmill .
  • Holter monitor
    This procedure is performed by attaching a portable EKG for 24 hours to record the heart's electrical currents.
  • Cardiac
    echo This method uses high-frequency sound waves to view the structure and valves of the heart in more detail.
  • MRI of the heart This scan
    is done to get a detailed picture of the heart, using magnetic waves.
  • Cardiac catheterization Cardiac
    catheterization serves to determine blood flow to the heart muscle.

Ventricular Tachycardia Treatment

Treatment of ventricular tachycardia depends on the condition and severity of the patient. Actions that a cardiologist can take to treat ventricular tachycardia include:

  • Administration of antiarrhythmic drugs Antiarrhythmic
    drugs , such as verapamil or amiodarone , are given so that similar disorders do not occur again.
  • Cardiac ablation This
    procedure is performed if there is an electrical pathway that causes the patient's heartbeat
  • Insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
    device. This device is inserted into the patient's chest or abdominal area, to help return the heart rhythm to normal.

Ventricular Complications kel Tachycardia

There are several complications that can occur due to ventricular tachycardia, including:

  • Decreased heart's ability to pump adequate amounts of blood ( heart failure )
  • Blockage of blood vessels that can cause a stroke or heart attack
  • Sudden cardiac arrest which can lead to death

Prevention of Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia is most often caused by disorders of the heart. Therefore, prevention of ventricular tachycardia is to treat heart problems or prevent heart disease.

To prevent heart disease, you can adopt a healthy lifestyle such as:

  • Eat a balanced, low-cholesterol diet
  • Reducing salt consumption to keep blood pressure normal
  • Exercise regularly at least 2.5 hours per week
  • Do not use cocaine or other drugs
  • Using over-the-counter drugs without a prescription according to the recommendations for use
  • Quit smoking
  • Avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated drinks
  • Manage stress well
  • Carry out routine checks and undergo treatment according to the conditions you have and the doctor's recommendations
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