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How Can severe Rapid Heart Rate Be Treated?
I took my son into the E.R. around 4 this morning. They took him back immediately, his heart rate began climbing and eventually reached 165. The alarms were going off, the machine said his heart was tacky. We had the doctor in and four nurses, plus the respiratory nurse coming in. He tested positive for this influenza A that is going around. What does it mean to be tacky?
posted on
Sun, 5 Mar 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 24 Mar 2017
Answered on
Fri, 24 Mar 2017
Last reviewed on
**
Thanks for raising your concern on this platform.
1. 'tacky' probably meant tachycardia i.e. fast and irregular heart rate which can either be atrial or ventricular tachycardia so it is wise to see a Cardiologist for more detailed examination and necessary investigations:
- serum T3,T4,TSH to rule out thyrotoxicosis
- ECG & Holter moniter test- to rule out Arrhythmias
- Blood sugar to exclude hypoglycemia
- chest x-ray for left ventricular hypertrophy [auscultation of heart for murmur and heaving apex beat in clinical examination]
2. If pulse and heart after examination comes to be normal then tachycardia could be due to anxiety and will respond to tranquilisers and beta blockers
. If tachycardia is due to left ventricular hypertrophy, then this forceful beating is going to persist and he should learn to accept it.
3. Avoid excess of tea/coffee
. avoid alcohol/smoking
. avoid mental strain
4. Since viral infection like flu [influenza] puts added STRESS on your body which can affect the overall function of heart [blood pressure/heart rate], same has happened in your case, so best is to get a flu shot and maintain personnel hygiene:
- regular washing of hands
- regular fluid intake [maintain proper hydration] since rapid heart rate could be due to mild dehydration caused by infection
Thanks for raising your concern on this platform.
1. 'tacky' probably meant tachycardia i.e. fast and irregular heart rate which can either be atrial or ventricular tachycardia so it is wise to see a Cardiologist for more detailed examination and necessary investigations:
- serum T3,T4,TSH to rule out thyrotoxicosis
- ECG & Holter moniter test- to rule out Arrhythmias
- Blood sugar to exclude hypoglycemia
- chest x-ray for left ventricular hypertrophy [auscultation of heart for murmur and heaving apex beat in clinical examination]
2. If pulse and heart after examination comes to be normal then tachycardia could be due to anxiety and will respond to tranquilisers and beta blockers
. If tachycardia is due to left ventricular hypertrophy, then this forceful beating is going to persist and he should learn to accept it.
3. Avoid excess of tea/coffee
. avoid alcohol/smoking
. avoid mental strain
4. Since viral infection like flu [influenza] puts added STRESS on your body which can affect the overall function of heart [blood pressure/heart rate], same has happened in your case, so best is to get a flu shot and maintain personnel hygiene:
- regular washing of hands
- regular fluid intake [maintain proper hydration] since rapid heart rate could be due to mild dehydration caused by infection
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