What is Ventricular Tachycardia?
Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rhythm disorder, or arrhythmia, that causes the heart to beat too quickly. Unlike supraventricular tachycardia, which signals for the upper chambers to beat too quickly, ventricular tachycardia involves the lower ventricles beating too quickly. This is the result of an abnormal electrical circuit in the heart. The heart’s electrical signals are what tell the areas of the heart to beat in sync. Tachycardia syndromes may not result in any serious complications but can cause some bothersome side effects.
Understanding the Causes and Types of Ventricular Tachycardia
What Causes Ventricular Tachycardia
The most common cause of ventricular tachycardia is damage or scar tissue in the ventricles that creates abnormal electrical pathways through the heart muscle. This can occur after a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, when damaged heart tissue interferes with the normal electrical signals responsible for maintaining a regular heart rhythm. Ventricular tachycardia may also develop in people with coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, heart valve disease, or myocarditis.
Other forms of structural heart disease can increase the risk of ventricular tachycardia, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular cardiomyopathy, ventricular dysplasia, and congenital heart disease. In these conditions, changes to the structure or function of the heart muscle may create areas where abnormal electrical impulses can develop or circulate. A history of prior myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, or previous heart damage can therefore be an important risk factor when evaluating ventricular arrhythmias.
The Types of Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) can be classified based on the pattern of the abnormal heart rhythm and whether there is an underlying heart condition. Understanding the type of ventricular tachycardia can help Dr. Beshai determine the appropriate ventricular tachycardia treatment and assess the risk of complications such as ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac death.
- Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is characterized by a consistent pattern of heartbeats originating from the ventricles. It is frequently associated with structural heart disease and myocardial scarring caused by a previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, or heart failure.
- Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia has a changing pattern of electrical activity in the ventricles. It can occur because of acute myocardial ischemia, electrolyte abnormalities, or certain inherited heart rhythm disorders. Long QT syndrome is one condition associated with polymorphic VT.
- Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia occurs in people who do not have an identifiable structural heart disease. Although it can cause symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, or an irregular heartbeat, idiopathic VT may have a different risk profile than VT associated with significant underlying heart disease.
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is an inherited heart rhythm disorder that can cause ventricular arrhythmias during physical activity or periods of intense emotional stress. It is often associated with a structurally normal heart, but the abnormal electrical response can lead to dangerous ventricular rhythms.
Other forms of VT can be associated with conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular cardiomyopathy, ventricular dysplasia, congenital heart disease, or other abnormalities affecting the heart muscle. Because ventricular tachycardia can have different causes and levels of risk, a comprehensive evaluation is important to determine whether underlying heart disease or an abnormal electrical pathway is contributing to the rhythm disorder.
What are the Symptoms of Ventricular Tachycardia?
The symptoms of ventricular tachycardia can be temporary, come and go, or be long-lasting. Tachycardia can last for just a few seconds, resulting in a fluttering sensation in the chest. However, when tachycardia lasts for longer than 30 seconds, it may be accompanied by other bothersome side effects like:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness and fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Cardiac arrest
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How is Ventricular Tachycardia Treated?
Before a treatment plan for ventricular tachycardia can be determined, Dr. Beshai will use an ECG to confirm what area of the heart is causing the irregular electrical impulses. Once a diagnosis has been determined, Dr. Beshai will develop your treatment plan. Medications to regulate the heartbeat may be prescribed first, and if no improvements are shown, Dr. Beshai might recommend a procedure like ablation to destroy the abnormal heart tissue to restore regular heart activity. In some cases, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may be used to deliver electrical pulses to the heart, restoring its normal rhythm.
Why Choose the Heart and Rhythm Institute of Arizona
Ventricular tachycardia can range from brief episodes lasting only a few seconds to sustained ventricular arrhythmias that interfere with cardiac output and prevent the body from receiving enough oxygenated blood. Because VT can sometimes lead to ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac death, identifying the underlying cause is an important part of treatment. At the Heart and Rhythm Institute of Arizona, Dr. Beshai provides specialized evaluation and treatment for complex heart rhythm disorders.
Dr. Beshai can use your symptoms, family history, physical exam, and diagnostic testing to help diagnose ventricular tachycardia and determine whether it is related to structural heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial scarring, ischemic heart disease, or another condition. Depending on your individual circumstances, testing may include an ECG, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, coronary angiography, or other heart rhythm monitoring. With specialized expertise in heart rhythm disorders, Dr. Beshai can develop an individualized approach to managing ventricular tachycardia and addressing the underlying factors contributing to an abnormal rhythm.
Let Us Assess Your Ventricular Tachycardia Symptoms
Dr. Beshai offers ventricular tachycardia treatment to manage symptoms and prevent complications. If you experience symptoms of ventricular tachycardia, contact our office and schedule your appointment at the Heart Rhythm Institute of Arizona.
The Heart Institute of Arizona has a wide array of services that come with our premium care. From in-office dianostics and treatable conditions, to hospital based procedures, we’ve got your heart covered.
Dr. Beshai is a board-certified electrophysiologist internationally renowned and respected for his expertise and research. Having published in major medical journals and travelled all over the world to present research, he is dedicated to providing innovative, state-of-the-art care to his patients.