Tachycardia – a symptom of a disease or an independent disease?

Read in this article:

1. Why does the heart rate slow down?
2. Causes of decreased heart rate
3. Types of bradycardia
4. Symptoms of low heart rate
5. Diagnostic measures
6. Actions when your heart rate is low
7. Prevention of bradycardia
8. Bradycardia can be dangerous

Pulse is considered one of the main biomarkers of the human body. This indicator allows you to assess the condition of the body and the quality of the cardiovascular system. A heart rhythm disorder in which the heart rate slows down is called tachycardia.

Why does the heart rate slow down?

Bradycardia - what is it from a physiological point of view? When the heart beats, its two atria contract first, sending blood into the ventricles. The two ventricles then contract, resulting in blood being pumped into the aorta. From this large vessel it spreads to all tissues and organs.

A special conduction system is responsible for the contractions of the heart. Its work is regulated by the sinus node, located in the wall of the right atrium. It is what slows down the heart rate when a person sleeps and increases it during physical activity. From the sinus node, the impulse is transmitted to the atria, causing them to contract, and then to the ventricles. A decrease in heart rate occurs due to failures at one of these stages.

Sample menu for the week

Based on the above principles, let's try to imagine what an approximate menu for one week might look like.

Monday. Breakfast:

• Oatmeal with milk or water with the addition of dried fruits
• A glass of freshly squeezed apple juice

Afternoon snack:

• Low-fat yogurt
• Peach

Dinner:

• Vegetable soup
• Black bread
• Boiled chicken
• Wholemeal pasta

Dinner:

• Boiled fish
• Bean side dish
• Salad of greens, cucumbers and tomatoes
• Orange

Tuesday. Breakfast:

• Buckwheat
• Dried fruits compote

Afternoon snack:

• Banana

Dinner:

• Chicken soup
• Baked fish with vegetables
• Boiled potatoes
• Black bread

Dinner:

• Steamed lean pork cutlets
• Rice
• Steamed broccoli
• Apple

Wednesday. Breakfast:

• Cottage cheese casserole
• Weak tea
• Afternoon snack
• Nuts
• Pear

Dinner:

• Cabbage soup
• Black bread
• Spaghetti with vegetables

Dinner:

• Boiled rabbit meat
• Buckwheat
• Vegetables
• Fruit salad

Thursday. Breakfast:

• Scrambled eggs with vegetables
• A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice

Afternoon snack

• Crackers with cheese
• Apple

Dinner:

• Pumpkin cream soup
• Black bread
• Boiled chicken
• Mashed potatoes

Dinner:

• Lean boiled veal
• Rice
• The vinaigrette
• Orange

Friday. Breakfast:

• Millet porridge with dried fruits
• Glass of carrot juice

Afternoon snack:

• Boiled egg
• Berries

Dinner:

• Rice soup
• Black bread
• Baked fish with vegetables

Dinner:

• Homemade noodles with sour cream and champignon sauce
• A glass of kefir

Saturday. Breakfast:

• Syrniki
• Fruit salad
• A glass of freshly squeezed apple juice

Afternoon snack:

• Vegetable Salad

Dinner:

• Borsch
• Black bread
• Chicken baked with rice and vegetables

Dinner:

• Boiled lean pork
• Lentil porridge
• Orange

Sunday. Breakfast:

• Porridge with milk or water with the addition of dried fruits
• A glass of freshly squeezed apple juice

Afternoon snack:

• Banana

Dinner:

• Fish soup
• Black bread
• Buckwheat
• Steamed meatballs

Dinner:

• Pilaf
• Vegetable salad
• Apple

Of course, this menu is very conditional, and it is only approximate. The main thing here is to understand the principle: the diet should be as varied and balanced as possible.

Additionally, ideally, you should count your protein, fat, carbohydrates, and calories every day.

Causes of decreased heart rate

The lower limit of normal heart rate is 60 beats per minute. If the indicator falls below this value, this is usually associated with pathological conditions. Low heart rate can only be considered normal for trained athletes.

In other cases, the causes of decreased heart rate are divided into several groups:

• Extracardiac – diseases not related to the work of the heart;
• Organic – arising against the background of cardiac pathologies;
• Toxicological – caused by intoxication of the body;
• Physiological.

One of the most common causes of slow heart rate is a disturbance in the production of impulses in the sinus node. This happens with myocardial infarction and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), poisoning and hormonal imbalance. In this case we are talking about sinus bradycardia.

Noncardiac causes of low heart rate include cardiac ischemia, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and heart defects, both acquired and congenital. Other diseases that cause such manifestations include:

• Severe infections, such as meningitis or diphtheria, typhoid fever or hepatitis;
• Anemia;
• Pathologies of the endocrine glands - diabetes, dysfunction of the adrenal glands or thyroid gland;
• Vegetovascular dystonia;
• Respiratory diseases - asthma, bronchitis.

Toxicological factors can lead to low heart rate. These include uncontrolled use of medications, such as heart stimulants or diuretics. The same applies to the use of alcohol and drugs, smoking, and any acute intoxication of the body. The pulse may decrease due to a lack or excess of sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium ions in the body.

As for physiological factors that can cause a slower heart rate, these include prolonged exposure to low temperatures, hormonal changes in adolescents, general fatigue of the body, and slower metabolism in older people.

Respiratory failure as a cause of tachycardia

Decreased function of the respiratory system affects the functioning of the heart. The mechanism of tachycardia is approximately the same as with anemia, because if lung function deteriorates, a lack of oxygen occurs. There are many diseases that lead to respiratory failure, and they all have their own symptoms. Their most common signs, along with rapid heartbeat, are:

• difficulty inhaling or exhaling,
• feeling of suffocation
• the need to strain additional muscles during breathing (abdominal muscles, shoulder girdle),
• sleep and memory disturbances,
• headache,
• cough.

If palpitations are accompanied by such symptoms, you should definitely consult a pulmonologist, and if this is not possible, then consult a therapist.

Types of bradycardia

There are several types of bradycardia:

• Absolute – with a steadily reduced heart rate, which does not increase even with physical activity;
• Relative – the pulse increases in proportion to the degree of load or against the background of infectious diseases;
• Moderate - at rest, the pulse does not exceed 40 beats per minute.

Even if a decrease in heart rate does not bother a person or cause any discomfort, it is necessary to identify the cause of such changes in order to prevent the risk of dangerous complications.

Treatment methods

Rapid night heartbeat is treated depending on the cause that provoked it. To rid a person of unpleasant symptoms, medications and folk remedies are used.

Tachycardia at night is eliminated:

1. Sedatives. They practice the use of drugs based on medicinal plants in the form of infusions of motherwort and valerian, Novo-passit. They are produced in the form of drops, tablets, and infusions.
2. Antiarrhythmic drugs. These tablets are designed to normalize the heartbeat. They have a number of contraindications, so the attending physician must select the medicine.

Tachycardia is also eliminated with cardiac glucosides, beta blockers, antioxidants, and sedatives.

• Carrying out an ECG for angina pectoris and interpreting the results

You should get rid of strong heartbeat at home with the help of mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort, chamomile, motherwort and others. An infusion is prepared from these plants. An effective remedy for tachycardia is a decoction of valerian root, yarrow and lemon balm.

Take a teaspoon of all components, add boiled water and simmer in a water bath for 40 minutes. Then cool, filter and drink.

If tachycardia bothers you at night, experts recommend adjusting your lifestyle. It is important to avoid stress and excessive loads. It is necessary to ensure that a sufficient amount of vitamins enters the body. Omega-3s are of great benefit to the body. These acids are found in fish.

In the evening before going to bed, you should not think about your problems. Since sometimes the heart rate increases under the influence of medications, it is necessary not to take them in the evening and report this adverse reaction to your doctor.

Symptoms of low heart rate

Low heart rate symptoms are signs that accompany a slow heart rate:

• Semi-fainting or fainting states;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Dizziness and weakness;
• Chest tenderness;
• Blood pressure surges;
• Periodic short-term visual disturbances;
• Impaired concentration, memory function;
• Headache;
• Confusion of creation;
• Numbness of the extremities, feeling of coldness in the arms and legs.

With a moderate decrease in heart rate (5-10% of normal), bradycardia may not manifest itself in any way. Symptoms generally appear with a more significant drop in readings.

Tachycardia with endocrine disorders

Some disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system directly affect the functioning of the heart. Sinus tachycardia occurs under the influence of excess amounts of thyroid hormones during thyrotoxicosis. In addition to palpitations, this disease is characterized by

• feeling of heat,
• elevated body temperature,
• excitability and frequent mood swings,
• insomnia,
• weight loss with increased appetite,
• menstrual irregularities in women,
• change in facial expression (it takes on an angry look).

Much less common are tumors of the adrenal glands, which intensively synthesize adrenaline. Rapid heartbeat is observed with pheochromacytoma. In addition to tachycardia, this disease manifests itself with a sharp increase in blood pressure, feelings of fear, anxiety, chills, headaches, pain in the heart, nausea, sweating and a feeling of thirst. Often these symptoms occur simultaneously, so the condition can be described as an attack. If these signs occur along with tachycardia, you should contact an endocrinologist.

Diagnostic measures

In order to diagnose bradycardia, the general clinical picture is studied: a person’s lifestyle, his complaints, and accompanying symptoms. A cardiac examination is required to identify possible heart pathologies. The doctor analyzes information about the medications the person is taking and compares the electrocardiogram data with other indicators obtained as a result of laboratory tests and examinations. The classic Holter method or weekly monitoring of the heart rhythm using a special mobile device can be used.

In recent years, the media space is literally overflowing with a variety of information about miracle diets and foods, the consumption of which will prolong life, protect against heart attack, help you lose weight, and so on. Moreover, the number of publications in the specialized literature is growing, which often contain conflicting information about the effect of certain foods on cardiovascular diseases; it can be difficult for a doctor to assess the quality of the evidence provided in support of certain dietary recommendations.

The journal JACC published dietary recommendations from a panel of US experts based on current evidence. The table below provides a summary of these recommendations.

Dietary recommendations from the point of view of the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and their complications:

Based on materials:

1) A Clinician's Guide for Trending Cardiovascular Nutrition Controversies. Andrew M. Freeman, Pamela B. Morris, Karen Aspry, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology Jul 2021, 72 (5) 553-568; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.05.030

https://www.onlinejacc.org/content/72/5/553#ref-2

2) Trending Cardiovascular Nutrition Controversies. Andrew M. Freeman, Pamela B. Morris, Neal Barnard, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology Mar 2021, 69 (9) 1172-1187; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.10.086

https://www.onlinejacc.org/content/69/9/1172?ijkey=44b3bc859b7bb67e05bc14ba58c5a65e1d4aa788&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

The text was prepared by Ph.D. Shakhmatova O.O.

Actions when your heart rate is low

Bradycardia can be dangerous, because with rare contractions of the myocardium and slow blood circulation, hypoxia develops. Oxygen starvation has an extremely negative effect on the brain and causes loss of consciousness. If a person is not given prompt assistance, breathing may stop. This is why it is important to know exactly what to do when your heart rate is low.

Help with a decrease in heart rate depends on the reasons that cause it. If we are not talking about heart disease, you can cope with the problem on your own:

• Take Corvalol;
• Drink 20 drops of motherwort twice a day;
• Take Zelenin drops until the pulse is completely restored (the drug has contraindications: organic damage to the heart, pancreas, vision).

If the pulse decreases due to heart disease or other pathologies, you must call an ambulance. Before the doctor arrives, the person must be positioned so that the legs are higher than the heart. For breast tenderness, you can give nitroglycerin, a fast-acting drug that provides relief in just 5 minutes. Belladonna extract can help with the first attacks of bradycardia, but its effect takes about half an hour.

General characteristics of tachycardia

Its most harmless type is sinus tachycardia. With this type, the heart contracts normally, the complexes on the ECG have the usual configuration, only their frequency is slightly higher than normal values.

This is exactly the kind of tachycardia that normally develops in people in response to any stress. It also appears in various diseases as a natural reaction of the body to an internal stimulus. However, it can also occur in some heart diseases.

Do not self-medicate. Consult a specialist:

More unpleasant is supraventricular tachycardia, which is always pathological. It can cause discomfort in patients and lead to the development of circulatory failure. Its occurrence in most cases is associated with the presence of heart disease.

The worst option is ventricular tachycardia. It is the most difficult to tolerate and, in addition, is very dangerous in terms of the development of ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest. Therefore, when such attacks develop, immediate medical attention is required.

In general, any type of tachycardia may be accompanied by symptoms such as:

1. Heartbeat;
2. Dyspnea;
3. Weakness;
4. Dizziness.

They can be minor and quickly disappear or very significant and persistent. At the same time, their severity depends on the type of arrhythmia and the individual characteristics of the person himself.

Different people can tolerate symptoms of the same intensity in different ways, it’s all a matter of perception.

Prevention of bradycardia

In order to prevent bradycardia, it is necessary to undergo regular medical examinations, and if you have heart disease, follow all doctor’s recommendations. In such cases, it is very important to systematically measure blood pressure and report significant changes to the doctor. By the way, home automatic blood pressure monitors determine not only upper and lower pressure, but also pulse rate, and also record arrhythmia.

A healthy lifestyle helps to avoid the development of bradycardia: an optimal combination of work and rest, proper nutrition, regular physical activity appropriate for age and health.

Tips for people with hypertension

If you have high blood pressure, you should be especially careful when choosing means to raise your heart rate. They should be gentle and, preferably, have a calming effect.

It is best for the medications to be prescribed by a doctor, but without his recommendation you can use:

• Corvalol is a medicine with a complex composition: mint oil increases the pulse, and valerian root with Phenobarbital has a calming effect and reduces blood pressure.
• Green tea without additives. It is able to normalize blood pressure, so it will not cause harm, even if it is elevated. But such tea should be drunk without additives, and it should be of good quality.

What is adrenaline?

Adrenaline is a substance that is produced in the adrenal medulla, as well as in some neurons of the central nervous system. Within a few minutes during a stressful situation, adrenaline is quickly released into the blood, sending impulses to the organs to create a specific reaction.

Adrenaline is usually released when we are in a stressful situation; it is said to govern our fight-or-flight conditions. When we encounter a situation that causes us stress, this hormone rushes to certain parts of our body, causing us to react, this is called the release of adrenaline. For example, a dry throat during public speaking or a rapid heartbeat in a frightening situation are all due to the release of the hormone adrenaline. As stress gradually subsides, its effects are neutralized by norepinephrine, a body hormone.

Effect of cortisol on the body

to overestimate the functions of cortisol ; it takes an active effect in metabolic processes in the body. The hormone enhances the effects of adrenaline and norepinephrine, which allows a person to independently cope with a stressful situation without medication.

Cortisol had an anti-inflammatory effect and regulates the production of amino acids and their uptake by skeletal muscle tissue. The stress hormone is responsible for the process:

• protein management (it enhances catabolism and is involved in the process of protein breakdown);
• carbohydrate metabolism in the body;
• fat metabolism;
• water-electrolyte metabolism.

In addition to these properties, the effect of cortisol on the body is observed in other processes. So, its normal level is:

• pronounced anti-inflammatory effect;
• strengthening the body's protective functions;
• increased blood pressure;
• increased secretion of stomach acid;
• release of calcium from bone tissue.

Cortisol reduces the body's resistance. It is very important for the body and in case of severe deficiency, immediate elimination of the imbalance is required.

How are stress hormones treated at Altimed MC?

The process of reducing cortisol takes time and a comprehensive approach. Our specialists will prepare a course for you, after which you will be able to restore the normal level of cortisol in the body and thereby get rid of many discomforts (excess weight, sleep problems, and others).

To reduce stress, we recommend taking a course of treatment using our ATM TR device for transcranial magnetic stimulation. Frequency-wave processes affect the body, establish synchronization of all organs so that they work in their own rhythm. A device for electromagnetic (PEMF) therapy at home ATM Helper ML helps restore the level of stress hormones in the human body. The main thing is that you can use it in the future if you find yourself in stressful situations. Also, it has a wide range of actions and is no less effective in curing many other diseases. You will be told about this in more detail during your consultation.

What is cortisol?

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone that is released by the adrenal cortex whenever you experience stress. If you are chronically stressed, your body constantly releases the hormone. Chronically high cortisol is very detrimental to your cognitive and physical health, as well as your well-being. However, in the short term, the release of cortisol is very beneficial and serves as a form of protection for your body.

Chronically elevated cortisol levels are especially dangerous for your brain. In such cases, the hormone damages areas in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory.

Elevated cortisol levels have been shown to also lead to sleep problems and noticeably poorer sleep quality. This is because too much cortisol prevents you from falling asleep in the evening, and at night leads to a situation where you are in a constant state of alertness.