Hello Emaley,
I?m sorry to hear about your dad?s dizzy spells and rapid pulse.
Please be aware that your father?s condition can not be diagnosed
online, and I urge you to have your dad visit his physician promptly,
for an accurate diagnosis. This answer if informational only, and not
intended to diagnose, treat, or replace prompt medical attention by a
licensed physician.
That said - There are numerous possible reasons your dad is
experiencing tachycardia. (The medical term for rapid heart beat.)
Some of the more common causes of tachycardia are pheochromocytoma (an
adrenal gland tumor), hyperthyroid, orthostatic hypotension, heart
disease, lung problems, the effects of excessive caffeine, or the side
effects of some medications.
?Tachycardia is a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. The
heart normally beats at a rate of 60 to 100 times per minute, and the
pulse (felt at the wrist, neck or elsewhere) matches the contractions
of the heart's ventricles, the heart's two powerful lower chambers.?
?Symptoms of tachycardia can include:
? Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
? Fatigue (an abnormally tired feeling)
? Palpitations (awareness of a rapid heartbeat)
? Breathlessness
If tachycardia is caused by a medical illness, there will be
additional symptoms that are specific to that illness. For example,
people who have tachycardia caused by hyperthyroidism also can
experience nervousness, insomnia, sweating, tremors and other symptoms
related to high levels of thyroid hormones. Tachycardia caused by
heart or lung disease often is accompanied by chest pain or shortness
of breath or lightheadedness.?
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/23669.html
?There are many causes of tachycardia (fast heart beat) and they can
be divided roughly into sinus (originating from the sinus node or
heart's natural pacemaker) and non-sinus tachycardias. Nonsinus
tachycardias are either supraventricular (coming from the upper
chambers of the heart) or ventricular (coming from the lower chambers
of the heart). Supraventricular tachycardias include: paroxysmal
supraventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation and
AV nodal tachycardia. Ventricular tachycardias are more serious in
nature and are due to a rapid depolarization of the ventricles.
Sinus tachycardia is defined as a heart rate of greater than 100 beats
per minute originating from the sinus node. Sinus tachycardia is
classified as either appropriate or inappropriate. There are many
causes of appropriate sinus tachycardia such as exercise, anxiety,
panic attacks, dehydration, deconditioning, volume loss due to
bleeding or other loss of body fluids, hyperthyroidism, electrolyte
abnormalities and many other conditions.?
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/archive/10364.html
?Tachycardia is a condition in which your heart beats more than 100
times per minute. As a result, your body may not get enough oxygen and
nutrients to function properly.?
http://www.guidant.com/webapp/emarketing/compass/comp.jsp?lev1=tachy&lev2=glance
?Rapid heart beating, called tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia, can
produce palpitations, rapid heart action, chest pain, dizziness,
lightheadedness, fainting or near fainting if the heart beats too fast
to circulate blood effectively. Heartbeats may be either regular or
irregular in rhythm.
When rapid heart beating starts in the ventricles ? called ventricular
tachycardia ? it can interfere with the heart's ability to pump enough
blood to the brain and other vital organs. This dangerous arrhythmia
can change without warning into the most serious heart rhythm
disturbance ? ventricular fibrillation. In this, the lower chambers
quiver and the heart can't pump any blood. Collapse and sudden cardiac
death follow unless medical help is provided immediately.
If treated in time, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular
fibrillation can be converted into normal rhythm with electrical
shock. Rapid heart beating can be controlled with medications or by
identifying and destroying the focus of rhythm disturbances. One
effective way to correct these life-threatening rhythms is by using an
electronic device called an implantable cardioverter / defibrillator.?
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4469
?Heart rhythm disorders are categorized as either bradycardia (slow
heartbeat) or tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). Tachycardia may further
sub-divided into ventricular tachycardias (involving only the
ventricles) and supraventricular tachycardias (involving both the
atria and the ventricles).?
http://imaginis.com/heart-disease/arrhythmias.asp
?If you have an arrhythmia that causes your heart to beat too fast or
too slow, you may feel lightheaded or dizzy. This happens because your
heart cannot pump blood effectively during excessively fast or slow
heart rates. The ineffective pumping action decreases your blood
pressure, reducing the amount of blood that reaches your brain.
The sensation of lightheadedness is a result of this lack of blood
flow to the brain. If your blood pressure drops too low, you may feel
that you are about to pass out. This sensation is called presyncope.
Syncope is the medical term for a temporary loss of consciousness
(passing out).?
http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/te7183abc
Orthostatic Hypotension:
?Syndromes with orthostatic dizziness or lightheadedness, not
associated with low blood pressure include:
1. Positional orthostatic tachycardia (POT) syndrome. Here, the pulse
races on standing.
2. Low CSF pressure syndrome
3. Primary orthostatic tremor
4. Positional vertigo (i.e. BPPV)?
http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/medical/orthostatic.html
Again, I urge your father to be seen as soon as possible, to rule out
anything serious, especially if he sustains such a rapid pulse.
Please ask for an Answer Clarification, before rating, if any part of
my answer is unclear. I will be happy to respond, before you rate.
I wish your dad well - he is lucky to have such a caring daughter/son!
Sincerely, Crabcakes
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Tachycardia
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