Tachycardia

Tachycardia means a rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than 100 beats per minute.

Sinus tachycardia is due to the rapid firing of the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinus node. Sinus tachycardia doesn’t necessarily indicate a disease. It can occur in response to exercise, exertion, excitement, pain, fever, excessive thyroid hormone, low blood oxygen and stimulant drugs, such as caffeine or amphetamines.

There are several types of tachycardia including:

• atrial fibrillation 
• atrial flutter 
• ventricular tachycardia 
• SVT