Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a form of arrhythmia that occurs when the heart beats too quickly, usually between 160 and 200 beats per minutes. There are two types of tachycardia: paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, the most common form of arrhythmia, involves the two chambers at the top of the heart and is usually harmless. Ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, involves the two chambers at the bottom of the heart and can be potentially life threatening.

What Is Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia?
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia occurs in the atria, which are the upper two ventricles of the heart. It occurs when abnormal electrical impulses originating in the atria cause the heart to beat at an accelerated rate. Usually, the heart muscle itself and its surrounding valves are completely normal.

How Do I Know If I Have It?
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia symptoms usually seem to come out of nowhere. They generally go away by themselves, and can last very briefly (a minute or two) or up to a day or two. When you're experiencing a very rapid heartbeat, in addition to the awareness of the heartbeat, you may experience the following more common symptoms:
Palpitations. Palpitations give the feeling that your heart is "fluttering" or pounding in your chest.
Dizziness, feeling light-headed, or fainting spells
Shortness of breath
Anxiety or a feeling of impending doom
Chest pain (angina) or tightness
Weakness in legs

While paroxysmal atrial tachycardia is generally not a life-threatening condition, if any of the above symptoms are happening on a recurring basis, it's important that you see your doctor and discuss possible treatment options. In addition, chest pain in conjunction with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, fainting spells, and shortness of breath could indicate a serious heart problem, and it would be wise to call 911 or visit an emergency room for immediate care.

Causes
There are a number of causes of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. They include
Electrical abnormalities. Sometimes, the electrical path to the heart is abnormal, and the impulse traveling to the heart does so along the abnormal path.
Medication. In some cases, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia is caused or exacerbated by certain types of medication, stimulants, and supplements.
Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, also contributes to paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia is not easy to diagnose as the symptoms can be indicative of a number of things, if they are even present at all. Sometimes, people with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia will not experience any sort of symptom.
If your doctor feels your symptoms happen enough or are serious enough, he will most likely order an ECG, or electrocardiogram. An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart. Electrodes are attached to the chest and occasionally other major arteries in the body and then measure the timing of your heart's electrical outputs.

For the treatment of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, most doctors will recommend certain steps you can take yourself to relieve the symptoms and feelings that go along with a rapid heartbeat. The doctor may show you how to massage the carotid sinus, an area of the neck associated with rapid heartbeat. Sometimes, if the bouts are frequent, he or she may prescribe medication to alleviate paroxysmal atrial tachycardia symptoms and occurrences. In rare cases, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia may be an indication of a more serious problem, in which case surgery is required. This usually takes place in the form of cardioversion, where a catheter with electrodes attached it threaded through the blood vessels to shock various parts of the heart into normal rhythm.

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