Paroxysmal sinus tachycardia, prevention is the key

Paroxysmal sinus tachycardia is a non-sustained disease that occurs mostly in the elderly, and is more common in men than in women. Once the disease strikes, it is rather sudden and without any warning signs. Patients often experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and chest tightness.

1. Causes

It mostly occurs in elderly patients with organic heart disease. It is common in patients with sick sinus syndrome and coronary heart disease, and can also be seen in cardiomyopathy, rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, congenital heart disease, cor pulmonale, etc. Single or double sinoatrial node reentry also often occurs in the above diseases.

2. Clinical manifestations

This disease can occur at any age, but is most common between 40 and 60 years old. It is common in the elderly, with more cases in men, accounting for about 60%.

Tachycardia attacks are paroxysmal, that is, they occur suddenly and end suddenly. The duration of each attack varies, from a few seconds to a few hours. During an attack, the heart rate is 100-200 beats/min, most of which are 100-130 beats/min, with an average of 130 beats/min. The symptoms during an attack depend on the heart rate, duration and underlying heart disease, and are mostly accompanied by palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness and dizziness. Only a few may be accompanied by hemodynamic disorders. Tachycardia is often induced by emotional excitement, tension, exercise, etc., and in some cases there is no obvious cause. The frequency of attacks may increase year by year, and the duration of attacks tends to gradually prolong with the course of the disease.

3. Prevention

1. During chronic treatment, drug therapy may control relapses by directly acting on the reentry circuit. Indications for drug treatment include patients whose attacks are frequent, affect their normal life or whose symptoms are severe but who are unwilling or unable to undergo catheter radiofrequency ablation. Patients with occasional, brief, or mild tachycardia episodes may not need medication, or may be given medication when necessary.

2. Avoid mental stress and excessive fatigue, maintain a regular life, daily routine, be optimistic and have a stable mood, which can reduce the recurrence of the disease.

3. Avoid spicy and irritating foods; quit smoking, drinking and drinking coffee; eat light food.