Tachycardia Signs and Symptoms

• Tachycardia is defined as a cardiac rate that is increased to >100 beats/minute (bpm)
• Tachyarrhythmia is used to describe tachycardia in the presence of cardiac rhythm abnormality

• Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is more common in male patients with a history of cardiac disease and increases with age 
• Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is more common in women than in men
• In adolescents, AVNRT and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) are more prevalent
• Use of the accessory pathway for tachycardia is more frequent in younger population and decreases with age

Serious signs and symptoms are often demonstrated at ventricular rates >150 bpm

Signs and symptoms related to rapid heart rate (HR):

• Altered sensorium
• Angina
• Hypotension
• Shortness of breath
• Myocardial infarction
• Palpitations
• Syncope, lightheadedness
• Shirt flapping/neck pulsations (more common in AVNRT)
• Polyuria (more common in AVNRT)
• Other signs of shock (eg cold clammy skin, low urine output), heart failure or pulmonary congestion

• Hypertension
• Diabetes mellitus (DM)
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Increasing age
• Valvular heart disease
• Heart failure
• Myocardial infarction
• Cardiothoracic surgery
• Excessive alcohol intake