Tachycardia

Tachycardia typically refers to the rate that the species' fluid circulating organ (such as the heart) exceeds the normal range for the species in an inactive or sleeping mode.

In humans, the upper threshold of a normal heart rate is usually based upon age, about 100 beats per minute in an adult. Vulcan average heart rate is as high as 265 beats per minute. A faster rate is tachycardia.

Most species experience transient rapid heartbeats, called sinus tachycardia, as a normal response to excitement, anxiety, stress, or exercise. If tachycardia occurs at rest or without a logical cause, however, it is considered abnormal.

Symptoms

Rapid palpitations of the fluid circulating or cardial organ. Depending on the cause and extent of the tachycardia, other symptoms may include shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, pain in the region of the cardial organ and severe anxiety.

Diagnosis

Increased pulse or circulation rate should be noted via tricorder or biobed monitoring.

Treatment

• Mild tachycardia, less that 40% increase in pulse rate, usually does not require treatment other than therapy for the underlying cause. A medical history and fluid analysis may be helpful.

• Moderate, up to 80% increase in pulse rate, if developed spontaneously with sudden stops and starts, may respond to certain simple maneuvers such as holding one's breath for a minute, bathing the face in cold water or massaging the carotid artery in the neck or appropriate extremity. In other cases, medication, such as sotalol or other beta-blockers (specifically propranolol, metoprolol, or esmolol), may be prescribed to slow the heartbeat on a continual basis.

• Severe, more than 100% increase in pulse rate and tending to occur in those who have underlying heart disease. The increased rate may be caused by an electrical disturbance within the cardial organ without an anatomic deformity or by congenital defects, coronary artery disease, chronic disease of the cardial valves, or chronic lung disease. Immediate injectable medication, which may include calcium channel blockers (specifically verapamil and diltiazem) or electric shock may be required to stimulate the cardial organ to return to a normal rate. In rare, severe and resistant cases, a defibrillation device (pacemaker) may be implanted surgically to help maintain a normal rhythm and fluid circulation.

Thank you to D.R.S (Ley, Sileen) for helping to write this article.