Tachycardia

Overview

Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat. A fast heart rate is normal when you exercise. Your heart rate also increases when your body is stressed by illness, such as when an infection causes you to run a fever. Some types of tachycardia can lead to serious symptoms and even life-threatening complications. For example, uncontrolled tachycardia can make your blood pressure so low that your body doesn't get enough oxygen.

Your Mayo Clinic treatment team will include doctors trained in diseases of the heart (cardiologists) and heart surgery (cardiac surgeons). The team will consider your wishes as you and your doctor decide together on the most appropriate treatment.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Experience. Every year Mayo Clinic doctors treat thousands of men and women who have tachycardia.
• Expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise in diagnosing and treating tachycardias using the latest technique appropriate for each individual.
• Team approach. Integrated teams at Mayo Clinic can include doctors trained in medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment for diseases of the heart (cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and cardiac and cardiovascular surgeons).

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Read more about tachycardia and other arrhythmias.

Related book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! book provides an easy-to-follow plan to prevent and conquer heart disease.