-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
cardiovascular system
tachycardia/bradycardia
diagnoses
definition and etiology
definition:
arrhythmias of the atrial impulses
sinus tachycardia: characterized by a sinus rhythm of >100 beats/min. Sinus tachycardia begins and ends gradually, vs. paroxysmal tachycardia, which has a sudden onset and sudden cessation. Increasing the vagal tone, through carotid sinus massage, for example, can temporarily decrease the heartbeat. The prognosis depends solely on the cause for the tachycardia; anemia-induced tachycardia is benign and will regress once the anemia is corrected. However, tachycardia from CHF is itself clinically important. If treatment is needed, conventional physicians generally use beta blockers.
etiology:
hypotension, emotions, hypoxia, fever, anemia, hemorrhage, systemic or cardiac infections, exercise, nicotine, marijuana, caffeine, thyrotoxicosis
sinus bradycardia: a sinus rate of < 60 beats/min. and an EKG that indicates the impulse begins from the upper right region of the atrium. Treatment is not required for asymptomatic patients. In symptomatic patients, conventional physicians use drugs or pacemakers to regulate the heartbeat.
etiology:
Most cases of bradycardia are a result of increased vagal tone (seen in athletes, and healthy people) and is also common during rest, sleep, meditation and visualization. Non-cardiac conditions that are associated with bradycardia include myxedema, jaundice, and overdose of conventional drugs designed to lower a tachycardic heartbeat
signs and symptoms
sinus tachycardia:
may be asymptomatic, or the patient may experience palpitations with increased rate and contractual force
sinus bradycardia:
typically symptom free when the heartbeat is between 40-60 beats/min. and the patient is not exertional; when exercising, the patient may be severely limited, unless the bradycardia is a result of increased vagal tone from exercising and good health; if the heartbeat falls below 30 beats/min., it is a medical emergency
course and prognosis
see etiology
differential diagnosis
atrial fibrillation or flutter
paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
atrial ectopic tachycardia
ventricular tachycardia
ventricular fibrillation
footnotes