What Causes Tachycardia?

Tachycardia is a condition in which the heart beats abnormally and rapidly. For a healthy adult, a regular heartbeat happens between 60 and 100 times every minute. A heart rate that goes over 100 times in one minute is known as tachycardia. There are some forms of tachycardia that are very dangerous, others that are generally harmless. There are several causes associated with tachycardia.

Heart Diseases

• The majority of people who suffer from tachycardia have other heart ailments, such as coronary heart disease, which occurs when the arteries harden. There are several different heart ailments that are commonly linked to developing tachycardia. Some of these are hypertension (high blood pressure), pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium, which covers the heart), irregularities with the heart's pumping, sinus node issues, and problems involving the heart valves (which ensure that the blood flows in one singular direction throughout the heart).

Stimulants

• Many things that people like to consume are considered to stimulate the heart, including tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. All of these things could contribute to tachycardia.

Thyroid Problems

• People who have overactive thyroids (one of the biggest endocrine glands of the body) are also prone to developing tachycardia. Any type of other imbalance involving the metabolism could help to trigger tachycardia.

Emphysema

• Emphysema is another potential cause of tachycardia, as many people who have emphysema develop it as well. Emphysema is a progressive lung ailment that results in shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. People with emphysema have damaged lung tissues. This illness, as well as various other lung diseases, often helps cause tachycardia.

Upper Heart Chambers

• If a person has tiny, microscopic irregularities or permanent damage in her upper heart chambers, she has a higher likelihood of developing tachycardia. Damage and abnormal features of the atria's muscles often lead to the disease.