Ventricular Tachycardia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

It differs from simply feeling palpitations and from supraventricular tachycardia. Brief or sustained episodes need ECG-based assessment of rhythm and cause, even after symptoms improve.

Related reading: Long QT syndrome and arrhythmia risk.

Rapid heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain, breathlessness or fainting may occur; brief episodes can be symptomless. Symptom intensity alone cannot establish safety.

Causes include heart-attack scarring, cardiomyopathy, inflammation, inherited electrical disorders, medicines or electrolyte imbalance. It can also occur in a structurally normal heart.

Previous heart attack, cardiomyopathy, certain inherited conditions and electrolyte disturbances increase risk. Their absence does not remove the need to investigate an abnormal rhythm.

ECG or monitoring identifies the rhythm; electrolyte tests and heart-function assessment investigate causes. Cardiac MRI, coronary evaluation or an electrophysiology study may be selected.

Sustained or unstable episodes require emergency treatment. After stabilization, reversible causes are addressed and medicines, ablation or a defibrillator are chosen by risk; not everyone needs a device.

Circulatory collapse, impaired heart function, ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest may occur. Heart function, underlying cause and episode characteristics guide long-term protection.

Follow cardiac treatment and review medicines and electrolytes. Avoid recreational drugs and triggering stimulants, discuss exercise and driving, and never change rhythm medicines or doses yourself.