Ventricular tachycardia means your heart is beating too fast due to changes in the electrical activity in the lower chamber of your heart, which can be a life-threatening condition. The experienced team at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., with three locations in Naples, Florida, can evaluate your arrhythmia and develop a treatment plan to improve your heartbeat and lower your risk of more serious complications. For a comprehensive evaluation, call one the offices or request an appointment online today.
Ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmia that occurs due to changes in the electrical activity in your ventricles. The change in activity may increase your heart rate to 100 or more beats per minute and the upper and lower chambers of your heart may be out of sync. When the chambers are not beating in the proper rhythm, your heart may not be able to get enough blood to your lungs.
Symptoms caused by ventricular tachycardia may depend on the length of your abnormal heartbeat. It’s possible not to experience any symptoms at all if your rapid heartbeat is brief. However, if your ventricular tachycardia lasts longer you may experience:
If your ventricular tachycardia is prolonged or frequent, you may also experience syncope or even cardiac arrest where your heart stops, which is a life-threatening condition.
Ventricular tachycardia can develop from many causes. Some of the most common include:
In some cases, the underlying cause of your rapid heartbeat may not be determined.
The arrhythmia experts at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., conduct a comprehensive examination when you come to the office with a diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia. During your exam, the team reviews your symptoms and medical history and conducts diagnostic tests, which may include any of these:
The team uses the information gathered during your evaluation to develop a treatment plan.
Treatment for ventricular tachycardia may depend on the severity of your heart arrhythmia and the underlying cause. Your cardiologist creates a personalized treatment plan aimed at restoring normal heart rhythm and preventing future episodes.
To restore normal heart rate during an episode of ventricular tachycardia, you may require external defibrillation. Once your heart is beating normally, the team provides treatment to prevent a change in your heart rhythm, which may include medication or placement of a cardioverter-defibrillator.
Your provider at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., may also recommend catheter ablation, which is a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to create tiny scars in the tissue of your heart to stop the abnormal heartbeat. This procedure can be used to manage life-threatening cases of ventricular tachycardia, as well as less severe cases.
For expert management of all your cardiac needs, contact the experts at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, P.A., by calling the office nearest you or requesting an appointment online.