Tachycardia is defined by a heart rate > 100 bpm (beats per minute).

 

There are several types of tachycardia, depending on their origin:

-sinus or atrial tachycardia: originating in the atria 

-sinus tachycardia: from the sinus node, i.e. “NORMAL”, but too fast for the norm

-atrial: coming from an “unusual” focus in the atrium, different from the sinus node where the electrical impulse normally originates.

-Junctional tachycardia (also known as atrio - ventricular tachycardia, reciprocal tachycardia or Bouveret's disease): are generally linked to an electrical impulse that comes from the atria or ventricles (ESA or ESV) and then loops between the atria and ventricles.

-Ventricular tachycardia: originates from the ventricles.

 

And according to their regularity:

-A tachycardia is simply called a “tachycardia” when it's regular. (or flutter in certain cases).

When it's irregular, it's usually a fibrillation (either atrial or ventricular), or possibly a sinus rhythm (normal) but > 100 bpm, with numerous extrasystoles (atrial or ventricular), giving a fast AND irregular rhythm.

 

The cardiologist's job is to distinguish the type of tachycardia, using questioning, ECG, Holter ECG, a connected watch or KARDIA MOBILE, and possibly more invasive methods such as electrophysiological exploration (EEP) or implantation of a subcutaneous recorder (REVEAL).

Treatment will depend entirely on the type of tachycardia identified, and any underlying heart disease that may be the cause.

 

Most tachycardias are benign, but this can only be confirmed after a full cardiological examination, and identification of the type of tachycardia (hence the importance of having an ECG trace during palpitation attacks).

There is also a potential risk of thrombus formation and heart failure in atrial fibrillation / atrial tachycardia / atrial flutter (see atrial fibrillation), which requires special management (hence the importance of having an ECG trace during palpitation attacks!!!).