Tachycardia (fast heart rate)

Tachycardia is a condition where the heart beats faster than normal, often more than 100 times per minute at rest. It can happen for many reasons, from a harmless response to stress or exercise to an underlying issue with the heart's electrical system. Novant Health cardiologists offer expert evaluation to help you understand your heart rhythm and find the right treatment.

Find a specialist

Find a location

Medical diagram showing the heart's chambers, valves, and major blood vessels.

Anatomy of the heart

Your heart's rhythm is controlled by an electrical system that sends signals telling the heart muscle when to contract and pump blood. The sinus node, located in the upper right chamber of the heart, normally sets the pace for a steady heartbeat.

When these electrical signals fire too quickly or travel along an abnormal pathway, the heart can beat faster than it should. Tachycardia can start in the upper chambers of the heart, the lower chambers or the heart's natural pacemaker itself, and the location often determines how serious the condition is and how it's treated.

Overview

Symptoms

Tachycardia can cause noticeable symptoms or, in some cases, none at all. Common signs include:

A racing or pounding heartbeat
Palpitations or a fluttering feeling in the chest
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Shortness of breath
Chest discomfort
Fatigue or weakness

Symptoms can come and go suddenly or last for an extended period, depending on the type of tachycardia involved.

Causes

Tachycardia happens when something disrupts the heart's normal electrical signaling, causing it to beat faster than usual. Common causes include:

Stress, anxiety or strong emotional reactions
Fever or dehydration
Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or certain medications
An overactive thyroid
Underlying heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease or heart valve problems
Abnormal electrical pathways in the heart present from birth

In some cases, the exact cause isn't clear, and further testing is needed to understand what's triggering the fast heart rate.

Risk factors

Certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing tachycardia, though having one or more of these doesn't mean you'll develop this condition:

A family history of heart rhythm problems
Existing heart disease or a history of heart attack
High blood pressure
Thyroid conditions
Heavy use of caffeine, alcohol or tobacco
Chronic stress or anxiety

Knowing your risk factors can help you and your care team make informed decisions about monitoring and prevention.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing tachycardia typically starts with a conversation about your symptoms and medical history, followed by a physical exam to check your heart rate and rhythm. Because tachycardia can take different forms, your cardiologist may recommend tests to pinpoint where in the heart the fast rhythm begins. Common tests include:

Electrocardiogram (EKG), which records the heart's electrical activity
Wearable heart monitor, which tracks your heart rhythm over several days
Echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure
Blood tests, which can check for thyroid problems or other underlying causes

If you're diagnosed with a specific type of tachycardia, such as supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia, your care team can provide more detailed information about that condition and its treatment.

A medical illustration of a heart affected by ventricular tachycardia.

See how catheter ablation treats tachycardia

Learn what happens when tachycardia occurs, what to expect before and after the procedure, and the risks and alternatives to consider.

Watch the video

Videos in our patient education library are available to help you gain a general understanding of the condition or procedure. Read disclaimer.

View treatment options

We offer treatments for a wide range of heart and vascular conditions, including medicines, minimally invasive procedures and surgery, based on your needs.

Explore treatments

A safer pacemaker for heart rhythm care

See how a newer pacemaker lowers infection risk and speeds recovery for patients managing heart rhythm conditions.

Back on the road with a pacemaker

A Wilmington marathon runner returns to racing after a pacemaker. See how treatment for a slow heart rate got him moving again.