Following a heart-healthy diet and exercise plan, to help reduce your risk for some of these conditions. For some people, caffeine or alcohol can be a trigger for VT episodes.
Avoid these things if they affect your VT. If your healthcare provider diagnoses VT, follow his or her treatment plan closely. Take all medicines as prescribed and tell your provider about any medicines you may be taking for other health problems.
Discuss your alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine use with your medical team. Ventricular tachycardia VT is a fast, abnormal heart rhythm. This may last for only a few seconds or for a longer period of time. Treatment may include medicines, ablation therapy or an implantable device to check and correct your heartbeat. Seek immediate medical help if you feel lightheaded or dizzy, or have chest pain or a sustained rapid heartbeat. Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Search Encyclopedia. What causes VT? VT is produced in two ways: An abnormal heart circuit within the ventricular muscle that is set in motion or triggered called reentry Abnormal ventricular muscle that becomes self activated automaticity VT can occur in an otherwise healthy, or structurally normal heart.
Who is at risk for VT? These include: Conditions that cause abnormal heart muscle, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Diseases that can get inside the heart muscle, such as sarcoidosis Diseases that alter properties within the heart rhythm itself such as long QT syndrome or brugada syndrome In some cases, VT occurs when there are no other heart problems. Symptoms of VT may include: Fast heartbeat or a fluttering feeling in the chest palpitations Dizziness Lightheadedness Chest pain Neck tightness Shortness of breath Fainting Cardiac arrest In some cases, there are no symptoms at all.
How is VT diagnosed? How is VT treated? Treatment will depend on your symptoms. What are possible complications of VT?
Treatment for ventricular tachycardia aims to stop the attack and get your heart back to a normal rhythm, and then prevent you getting further attacks.
Sometimes episodes of ventricular tachycardia stop on their own. What treatment you are offered will depend on your own individual circumstances. Your doctor will discuss your options with you. They may include one or more of the following. It can detect an attack of ventricular tachycardia starting and then deliver electrical pulses or shocks to restore your heartbeat to normal.
Some types of ICD allow your clinic to monitor its effect remotely using software installed in your home. You might be prescribed medicines instead of or in addition to an ICD to help control your heart rate and rhythm. Medicines you may have include:. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and ask your doctor if you have any questions. These procedures use radiofrequency energy to destroy the tissue in your heart that's disrupting or causing abnormal electrical signals.
You might have catheter ablation, in which a thin tube an electrode catheter is passed up to your heart via a vein in your groin. Or you might have epicardial ablation, in which the catheter is passed through the skin of your chest and into the outer layer of your heart wall. In addition to the treatments outlined above, your doctor may advise you to make some lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of further attacks.
These may include making some changes to your diet, or avoiding caffeine if this seems to set off your symptoms. In certain situations, you may be advised to avoid strenuous physical activity, at least until your symptoms are under control. Giving up smoking can reduce your risk of sudden cardiac death from ventricular tachycardia.
Ventricular tachycardia usually happens in people who have already had significant problems with their heart. These are most often:. Other problems affecting the structure of your heart may also lead to ventricular tachycardia. These may include:. This will depend on how well your ventricular tachycardia is controlled and the type of vehicle you want to drive.
These include dizziness and breathlessness. If your ventricular tachycardia has been controlled for at least four weeks, you should be able to start driving again. There are also some rules around when you can drive after certain procedures you may have for ventricular tachycardia. For example, if you have catheter ablation, you mustn't drive a car or motorbike for at least two days after your procedure.
This may be longer if the shock affected your ability to drive. The rules about driving are different if you have an arrhythmia and drive a lorry or are responsible for passengers. It can feel like a sharp thump or kick. You may want to talk to your family and friends about this, so they know what they can do to help support and reassure you.
You may have some warning signs before the ICD shocks you; for example, you may feel dizzy or have palpitations a thumping in your chest. Ask your family and friends to stay calm and to stay with you. Usually, you should recover quite quickly after a shock from an ICD, but you may want to rest for a while. Follow the advice given to you by your clinic though, as it may differ from what we say here. If you have multiple shocks, you have symptoms or you still feel unwell after an ICD shock, go to an accident and emergency department.
A doctor will check your device to find out why it shocked you. If you or your family and friends have any concerns about your ICD, speak to your doctor. There may also be support groups in your area that you can contact. Our short survey takes just a few minutes to complete and helps us to keep improving our health information. At Bupa we produce a wealth of free health information for you and your family.
This is because we believe that trustworthy information is essential in helping you make better decisions about your health and wellbeing. It also follows the principles of the The Information Standard. This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence.
But ventricular tachycardia lasting more than 30 seconds may cause more severe symptoms:. Fainting syncope. Radiofrequency ablation : a minimally invasive procedure to destroy the cells that cause ventricular tachycardia; less effective when there is structural heart disease. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD : an implanted device that delivers an electrical pulse to the heart to reset a dangerously irregular heartbeat.
Medication : A number of antiarrhythmic medications are used to prevent ventricular tachycardia. These include:. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes ventricular tachycardia? Structural Heart Disease Ventricular tachycardia most often occurs when the heart muscle has been damaged and scar tissue creates abnormal electrical pathways in the ventricles.
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