Atrial Tachycardia

Question: What is paroxysmal atrial tacycardia vs regular atrial tachycardia.? What is the difference? Also, what about ventricular tachycardia vs paroxysmal?

Answer: An atrial tachycardia is due to an irritable focus in the atrium. The heart rate is 100 to 200 beats per minute. A paroxysmal atrial tachycardia was formally called a paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Here the atrial rate is usually 160 to 200 beats per minute. The main difference is what is shown in the meaning of the word 'paroxysm'. A paroxysm is one that comes suddenly and then disappears. Both are atrial tachycardias . In the first form the tachycardia remains through out until treated. But in the latter the tachycardia comes without a warning in a person with a normal heart rate and it can return to normal even with rest. So few such paroxysms may occur during a period. A ventricular tachycardia has a heart rate of 100 to250 and ventricular ectopic complexes occur. In a paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia the difference is that the ventricular cause for the increased heart rate comes in paroxysms like in the atrial paroxysmal tachycardias. I am a medical doctor.

Question: I have atrial tachycardia and was wondering if I would be able to get a cool adventurous job? Or will I basically have a work a boring cubicle desk job for the rest of my life? I do not constantly have atrial tachycardia. Only under certain conditions (ie lack of sleep for a few days, a lot of stress, and anxiety) combined can cause my heart to beat go over 100 beats a minute.

Answer: Well, that depends how severe your a-tach is and what its causes are? What kind of symptoms you have etc. Is your heartrate always tachy (fast like well over 100?), do you feel easily dizzy, out of breath (have symptoms due to your a-tach)? A lot of people have symptomless aterial fibralation and never know. Aterial fibralation or its complete failure can cause tachycardia (and sometimes bradycardia - slow heart rythm). It means that something in the electrical conduction is malfunctioning at the sinuatrial node where the heart's contraction is supposed to be initiated and lower points take over (the AV node, or "bundle of his", and finally the purkinje fibers would compensate, but that would be pretty much end staduim and obviously quite severe...). Blood clotting (and therefore stroke, cardiac arrest etc.) are long term complications of that problem If your heart rate is still able to produce a regular rhytm (in contrast to an irregular one) you should be almost fine to do most of the things others do to. Consult your physician. If you're young, you may be able to reverse the condition depending on what the exact cause for it was in the first place. Good luck!

Question: Can someone be a commercial pilot if they have atrial tachycardia?

Answer: i think you have your diagnosis wrong. i'm no cardiologist but i don't think there is such thing as atrial tachycardia. there is ventricular tachycardia or there is atrial fibrillation which is i suspect what you have. i too have A Fib as it's known. i flew with paroxsimal a fib for my last 17 years as a pilot. you will need to have it completely under control with anti arrythmics because the faa will not let you fly without your heart beating in normal sinus rythym. you will be required to go through just about every test on your heart you can imagine to get a special issuance certificate and you will repeat several of those tests for each renewal. and your local AME will not be able to issue you your ticket. he will do the flight physical and everything will go to medical appeals branch in oak city. good luck but it may not be worth the stress you'll go through prior to each physical wondering if you'll still have a job. i finally retired because i was tired of the hassel. and i must add, i never applied to the airlines, but legal faa medical or not, i doubt they'd take a chance on you. but dont listen to what i or anyone here tells you regarding this. call and ame.

Question: Who knows what about Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia? My doctor thinks I have it and I've been reading on-line, but.... Does anybody know (or can anybody help me find) anything about the frequency of 'attacks'? Other little things like that.

Answer: The occurrence of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, also known as supra-ventricular tachycardia and paroxysmal supra-ventricular tachycardia (PSVT) like all rhythms of the heart is under the influence of nervous system control, the inherent properties of the individual heart and to some extent the external environment. Frequency therefore is generally erratic, sporadic and variable and depends on interaction of the above factors. It is likely to be more frequent with stress, anxiety or under the effect of uppers such as caffeine or nicotine. Underlying heart disease may also have an effect as may the presence of other medications being taken. Try Googgling under the above terms or the eponym PSVT. Also try Supraventricular tachycardia in Wikipedia altho its a bit technical.

Question: Is it possible to get a government job if you have atrial tachycardia?

Answer: I think it would be illegal not to hire someone because of a high heart rate

Question: Does anyone else have Atrial Tachycardia? I know it's really not life threatening, but sometimes i get scared anyways. Just wondering how you deal with it.

Answer: Try not to worry-but definitely keep on top of your health. Arrhythmias can worsen.

Question: how are Tachycardia and atrial fibrillation related? and could you tell me about them. I know that atrial fib. os an abnormal rhythm of the heart, and tachycardia is a fast heart beat but could you tell me more?

Answer: tachycardia=means fast heart rate of any source atrial fibrillation=slow or fast, but abnormal. different pacemakers of the heart firing,, and every now and then an impulse gets through to the ventricles.

Question: Does anyone else have the heart condition Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) ? Doctor diagnosed me with it.? If you are familiar with this term you should hopefully know what it means, it's like experience a heart attack or similar such feelings- for me, it's been tight chest, breathing problems, fluttering/chest pains. If you have it ,what can you tell me about your condition? Symptoms? Has it gotten better? Do you take anything for it? Doctor wants to refer me to a cardiologist when I can afford it, but assured me I'm fine and nothing fatal will happen, but want to see how to cope with it better. It is stressful!

Answer: Hey there....I (Cardio Tech)haven't suffered it, but, my brother did... I hope you have done a bit of research...PAT essentially means that the normal pattern of the atrial contracting and pushing their blood into their respective ventricles is disrupted and therefore inefficient... In my brother's case, it was being caused by "multiple etopic (surface) pacemakers" within the atria. He (months later) had what amounts to a catherization procedure to "cauterize" the offending pacemakers...(problem solved!!!)... As to "will it go away?"....there are some medications that can perhaps "control" the conditions, but in all likelihood, the cause must be determined and corrected appropriately...... So, bottom line, and for the time being, YOU ARE FINE (maybe a little uncomfortable from time to time though)...I must repeat this, you life is not immediately threatened by PAT...atrial function is not nearly as important (nor fatal) as is ventricular arrhythmias...(be thankful that you don't have PVT...hahaha...you wouldn't be here long).... You will need to see a Cardiologist, and in all likelihood need an cardio electrophysical survey.... Info below.... "Clinical electrophysiology testing is now a standard, useful technique for assessing patients with bradyarrhythmias or tachyarrhythmias. The technique requires specialized training and equipment. The recording equipment and program stimulator have evolved to sophisticated devices allowing accurate reproduction of intracardiac electrograms and timing of programmed extrastimuli. Electrophysiologic studies are useful for determining the mechanisms of a tachycardia or bradycardia and identifying the most appropriate therapy, whether it be pacing, antiarrhythmic medications, transvenous ablation, or electrosurgery." Best wishes!!!!!!!

Question: PAT paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. does anyone have it? how rare is it? my dr. said i could have PAT and i got to see a cardiologist this week and do a echocardiogram.( i dont know what an echo is) my "attacks" only happen when i am doing something physical, my symptoms are a rapid pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, when that happens i lie down and it goes away quickly. i have read where some people say it happens to them while doing nothing at all. i am in my early 20's and i have been dealing with it for five years now and it only has happened about 10 to 15 times. i know its not a dangerous condition but im just curious if anyone knows anything about it.

Answer: Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia (PAT) originates in the atrium (upper chamber) of the heart. PAT usually manifests as infrequently occurring periods of very rapid heart beats that begin and end suddenly. During episodes of PAT, the heart rate typically speeds up to 160-200 beats per minute, which can potentially be very dangerous; particularly when large amounts of stimulants (illicit or otherwise) have been recently ingested. PAT occurs due to abnormalities in the AV node "relay point" that lead to rapid firing of electrical impulses from the atrium which bypass the AV node under the influence of conditions provoked by such activities as excess alcohol consumption, the intake of the presence of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and excessive thyroid hormone intake, or other things which involve high stress on the body. Some drugs are also believed to trigger PAT. PAT is an example of an arrhythmia where the abnormality is in the electrical system of the heart, while the heart muscle and valves may be entirely normal. The following is a list of the 5 most frequently prescribed drugs used in the treatment of the symptoms of your condition: Atenolol, Tenormin Digoxin, Lanoxin Metoprolol, Lopressor, Toprol XL Propranolol, Inderal, Inderal LA Verapamil, Calan, Verelan, Verelan PM, Isoptin, Covera-HS The rarity of this condition is not listed in any statistical reports conclusively, though there is a 20 year study of this condition currently underway. Hope this helped-Anton P.S. An echocardiogram is a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart. Echocardiography is used to provide a doctor with important information about the size of the chambers of the heart, including the dimension or volume of the cavity and the thickness of the walls and the pumping function of the heart. This measure is called an ejection fraction or EF. typically a normal EF is around 55-65%. Numbers below 45% usually suggest a decrease in the pumping ability of the heart, while numbers below 30-35% are usually considered a potential problem.

Question: septal focal atrial tachycardia ,anyone else suffering from this as i have just been diagnosed with this? itis a condition of the heart and at the moment im taking 160mg twice a day of sotalol to try and help it ,would be interested to hear genuine opinions of anyone who has this.

Answer: You may not get many answers. This is a fairly rare condition. I wish you good luck and hope you can get the best treatment and return to perfect health.