What causes sinus tachycardia? isn't it normally a.....?

Question

symptom of a bigger problem? would metoprolol be an appropriate drug for this? and for those that would answer- you need to go to a doctor- i'm not asking for me, I am merely clarifying something. i am a nurse but cardiac is not my expertise and a friend is looking for explanations for the terms her cardiologist uses during the 2 minutes he spends with her

Answer 1

It can be but not necessarily, some people often experience sinus tachy, also it depends how fast the rate is people can often have episodes of sinus tachy up to about 100-140 BPM for lots of reasons, stress, panic attacks, some medications, infection, if they're overwieght lots of reasons.

If the rate is going higher than 150 and for prolonged periods maybe then they would consider further investigation and treatment. But if not they'll prob just keep an eye on her, if their only diagnosis is sinus tachy it means there are no abnormalities in the rhythm just that the rate is a little fast.

I know sometimes the consultants can be a little brief to say the least tell her to ask him to explain what he means at her next check up.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Ok ur a nurse then i ll go with little medical terminologies... look sinus tachy may be physiological... its just exaggeration of the normal rhythm... normal rhythm is generated by he sinus node in heart..when we run,or gets exited there is sympathatic nerve firing and that increses rate of discharge from sinus node that increases our heart rate..thats normal phenomenon... but in some pathological condition i dnt exactly remember this normal phenomenon gets exaggerated which means its continuously stimulated. that causes continuos high heart rate.. this is done by sypmathatic overactivity nerve receptors for this is called B receptors.. And metoprolol is B blocker so it blocks stimulating effect of B receptors.thus it helps to reduce the rate... but in many conditions its not worrysome  but after all only a cardiologist can give proper advise after proper patient examinations and ECG or Echo..... So leave it on her cardiologist to decide whether is a benign situation or someproblematic, n whether she needs drugs or not.... hope this helped u... if any more queries..do ask me..tc bye