Ventricular tachycardia, or rapid heart rate, can occur suddenly during exercise regardless of your age, sex or fitness level. It can appear with no symptoms or complications. However, ventricular tachycardia disrupts the heart's normal function, making it a dangerous condition. It is important to understand what can cause exercise-related ventricular tachycardia and how it can be treated.
Definition
Ventricular tachycardia is when the heart beats faster than normal starting in the ventricles. A normal healthy adult heart beats about 90 to 170 beats per minute during exercise. Ventricular tachycardia can cause the heart to continue pumping at more than 100 beats per minute even when you are done exercising. Symptoms can include dizziness, palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath.
Causes
Extreme, intense or excessive exercise can cause ventricular tachycardia episodes. In addition, lack of oxygen, a strong emotional response such as anxiety or stress, which can occur if you participate in a competitive activity during exercise, can also cause tachycardia. Symptoms can also occur if you consume nicotine or caffeine before, during or after exercise.
Treatments
Reduce the intensity and duration of your exercise routine. Take a break if your heart feels like as though it's beating too fast. Practice relaxation techniques after your workout such as yoga, meditation or tai chi. Try a vagal maneuver such as massaging your neck around the carotid artery, pressing gently on your closed eyelids or holding your breath. You might require a medication such as flecainide if your home remedies do not resolve ventricular tachycardia.
Warnings
Although a rapid heartbeat is not uncommon during exercise, ventricular tachycardia can sometimes be a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or an overactive thyroid gland. Never ignore tachycardia episodes. Serious complications can include chronic fainting spells, blood clots, heart attack, stroke and the inability of the heart to effectively pump blood, which can lead to heart failure and death.
