Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia

Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) occurs when your heart beats at a rate between 160 and 200 beats per minute over a brief period of time without any warning. The term paroxysmal means that the incident commences and concludes suddenly without notice. When the upper chambers of heart beat unusually fast, this is defined as atrial tachycardia. PAT is unrelated to heart disease and is normally more of a nuisance than a health hazard.

Causes

There are a number of things that may be responsible for PAT. The most likely cause is a premature atrial beat that shoots a pulse along the wrong electrical route to the ventricles, thus producing a hurried heart rate. PAT may also be set off by anxiety, stimulants, an overactive thyroid gland, and the commencement of the menstruation cycle in some females.

Symptoms

Although they are rarely life-threatening, the symptoms stemming from PAT can be quite bothersome. These include:

Faintness.
Chest pain.
Heart palpitations.
Apprehension.
Perspiration.
Shortness of breath.

Diagnosis

Assessing PAT can be difficult because the episode is often over with by the time the patient reaches a doctor. However, a detailed account of how the events unfolded will assist the physician in their evaluation. If the heartbeat is still faster than normal, an electrocardiograph will be able to get a reading on this. If the pulse has returned to a resting beat, the physician may suggest a session of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (Holter monitoring) to reaffirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

If you are experiencing an episode of PAT, try plugging your nose and mouth while breathing out, or act as if you are straining to lift something heavy while bearing down. Alternatively, if you are in a doctor's presence, they may massage an area of your neck known as the carotid sinus to halt the event.

If none of these conventional treatment methods are successful, you may be injected with the drugs verapamil or adenosine, which should abruptly stifle it.

On rare occasions, the drugs have no impact, and cardioversion, or electric shock, is the next measure taken. This step is especially crucial when the patient is exhibiting severe symptoms as well.

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