Tachycardia is defined as an increased heart rate usually over 100 beats per minute (bpm). The average resting heart rate is about 60-70 bpm. However, when we become more active our heart rate increases to meet the increased demand of muscles needing oxygen.
Usually tachycardia is not a problem as the heart rate will return to the resting rate once activity stops. But occasionally, usually because of a malfunction of the heart's electrical system, the heart rate stays high or climbs even higher.
If the heart begins to beat too fast there is not enough time in between heart contractions for blood to refill the heart chambers. As a result, the heart will be pumping less blood than normal even though it is beating very fast.
Uncontrolled tachycardia can result in fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, which can result in cardiac arrest.
Tachycardia can be treated with medication. In cases where the person has collapsed and may be suffering from fibrillation, a defibrillator is needed to restore regular heart rhythm.
Some people with chronic tachycardia may require daily medication or a pace maker.
Entries (RSS)
Heather,
Sorry for taking so long to respond to you. Somehow we missed that you had posted a comment.
SVT stands for supraventricular tachycardia and refers to a rapid rhythm of the heart that begins in the upper chambers of the heart (there are 4 chambers in all).
We haven't heard of TWI.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that you receive good news at the end of the 30 days.
I have been having chest pain, been short of breath along with some other stuff and was given a CEM test for 30 days. The doctor says the test showed SVT and TWI? Things turned into a fog when he confirmed something was going on with my heart so I didn't ask what TWI and SVT were. He said he was scheduling a stress test and then I went home. So what is SVT and TWI? I'm only 29 years old.