Rapid heart rate: what are the causes of a high pulse above 90 to 100? (tachycardia)

Rapid heartbeat is professionally called tachycardia. It is a condition where there is an accelerated heartbeat and an increased heart rate.

The acceleration of the heart rate may be natural, for example, when the body reacts to great physical, mental or emotional stress. It may not be a condition of illness or a symptom of a malfunction in the body.

The normal heart rate is usually between 60 and 90 beats per minute, but this can be individual. For example, in athletes, the normal heart rate can be much lower, often around 50 beats per minute.

The upper limit of normal heart rate is given as 90 to 100 beats per minute (variations by author).

The person is not aware of the heartbeat, he or she does not feel it. But at higher frequencies, especially above 100 per minute, heart palpitations, technically palpitations, are present.

It is mainly felt when the heartbeat is irregular in addition to accelerating.

In this case, palpitations are present even at lower frequencies.

Cardiovascular disease

We also speak of cardiac diseases, i.e. tachycardia, when the electrical signal spreads through the heart differently from normal. This may be due to a change in its path or a change in the place where it originates.

Tachycardia rhythm disturbances are subdivided according to whether they originate in the atrium or the ventricle of the heart. And then also according to the location of the problem. Or according to how it manifests itself.

Those from the atria are also known as supraventricular or supraventricular. They are less severe than ventricular, but can also lead to serious complications.

They are accompanied by unpleasant sensations such as palpitations.

In ventricular ones, the electrical signal is generated in the ventricle of the heart. As a result, their activity is rapid and uncontrolled.

They are very serious and directly threaten a person's life. The heart's function as a pump fails and blood does not flow in the body. As a result, unconsciousness and even death occur.

There are several known atrial disorders. Examples include atrial fibrillation and flutter or atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia.

These are common disorders in people with coronary artery disease.

The ventricular disorders are ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. The heart fails to pump and blood does not flow adequately through the vessels. This results in blood loss to vital organs.

In other diseases of the cardiovascular system

Most often, rapid heartbeat is related to diseases of the cardiovascular system. A good example is atherosclerosis. This results in many diseases outside this system as well.

Atherosclerosis affects the arteries, specifically their walls. As a result of metabolic disorders, lipids are deposited in the walls of the arteries.

The deposition of fat also causes narrowing of the artery's permeability. Blood clots form, which clog the artery and prevent blood from nourishing the organs.

This is the case in coronary heart disease, but also in myocardial infarction. The accompanying symptom is usually a rapid heart rate.

In addition to myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism is a condition where an obstruction forms in the pulmonary artery.

Most often it is some sort of blood clot. The person has trouble breathing. As a result, the heart's work and heart rate increase.

This condition can also occur with several other diseases at the same time, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure.

In this disease, the heart is also overworked and the heart rate is also increased. The person may feel muscle weakness especially in the limbs where it is difficult to get enough blood.

Several heart developmental defects can also cause rapid heartbeat. For example, coarctation of the aorta. This is a disease causing congenital developmental defects of the heart and large arteries. There is narrowing of the aorta protruding from the heart.

It's a physiological reaction. The heart works harder to get blood to all parts of the body, but especially to vital organs like the brain.

Low blood pressure can be the cause of various diseases, but it also occurs as a result of bleeding. But there are people who have lower blood pressure under normal circumstances.

TIP: You can also read about low blood pressure in the magazine article.

Blood diseases

A rapid heartbeat can be part of the symptoms of anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the level of hemoglobin in the blood that binds oxygen to itself is reduced.

There is also a reduction in the number of red blood cells and various changes in their structure and volume. The disease is also typically manifested by pallor, fatigue, excessive sleepiness and rapid heart rate even at rest.

The expert guarantor of the article, Zuzana Kožlejová, MD, PhD, adds the following information.

Other diseases

In addition to diseases of the heart, increased heart rate and rapid heartbeat are also present in diseases of other systems. As a co-factor in increasing body temperature, rapid heartbeat is always present, as well as in pain.

Lungs and respiratory system

A rapid pulse can be a symptom of several diseases, for example, of the lungs and respiratory system. It also appears as a concomitant of febrile and infectious diseases.

In laryngitis or laryngitis, an increased heart rate may be one of the less characteristic manifestations. In this case, it is a consequence rather than a symptom of the disease.

In laryngitis, this condition occurs mainly at night. In addition to the rapid pulse rate, one is also haunted by the greatest respiratory problems, intense coughing and also increased temperature at night.

Laryngitis can be both acute and chronic and in most cases arises from a viral infection.

Digestive system

Often there is an increase in pulse rate even in diseases within the digestive system. For example, in peritonitis. Peritonitis is an inflammation of the membrane in the abdominal cavity that lines and covers the organs in the abdominal cavity, such as the intestines, stomach or liver.

In pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, the heartbeat may be accelerated along with the breathing. The person suffers from general malaise, disorientation, and in severe forms of this inflammatory disease, there are even disturbances of consciousness.

The acceleration of the pulse may accompany appendicitis, when the accelerated pulse is caused by pain, inflammation and fever.

Physiological causes occur in this type of affection within the digestive system. Similarly with gallstones.

It is an acceleration on a physiological basis due to general discomfort and discomfort of the organism. There are also sharp colicky pains and pain under the right scapula. One also breathes faster.

The nervous system

Tachycardia also occurs in several diseases of the nervous system. For example, in diabetic neuropathy, which affects the nerves.

This is a disease that is associated with diabetes. The function and structure of the nerves are affected. The person has problems with perception, muscle weakness and may also experience pain in the limbs.

Typically, neuropathy also manifests itself in accelerated cardiac activity. The heart rate and the workings of the heart are accelerated.

Metabolism and endocrine system

Some diseases of the metabolic and endocrine system may also be accompanied by an increase in heart rate. Typically, for example, in hyperthyroidism.

With hyperthyroidism, there is an increase in the level of hormones in the body due to excessive production of hormones by the thyroid gland. The disease affects more women. With a general acceleration of metabolism at the hormonal level.

It manifests itself primarily:

• excessive enlargement of the thyroid gland
• restlessness
• nervousness
• heart palpitations

Even after injuries

The same is true in the case of trauma, when a rapid heart rate appears as a symptom. Some traumatic causes generally cause an increase in heart rate.

In concussion, which is essentially an injury caused by external factors, an increase in the pulse rate may also occur. But also in other blunt trauma to any part of the body.

Typically, the pulse rate is increased in bleeding injuries. This is due to stress, but also as a result of blood loss. Especially if the bleeding is of a higher intensity, with loss of a larger volume of blood.

The acceleration of the pulse is symptomatic of intoxication, i.e. poisoning of the body. It can be drug, alcohol or chemical poisoning.

In any case, a prolonged elevated heart rate is a very good reason for a comprehensive medical examination, especially if there is no obvious cause.

Rapid heartbeat in pregnancy

A lot of future moms are worried about a rapid pulse during pregnancy. But they should remember that their heart has to work harder. It pumps blood in the vessels for its own need, but also for the need of the fetus.

The placenta needs to be constantly circulated. It supplies the fetus with important oxygen and nutrients. Without good blood flow to the placenta, the fetus could develop defects or die.

The exact frequency is individual. There is nothing to worry about if there are no other associated problems. More certain, of course, is a professional examination.

If you are in doubt, your gynaecologist or general practitioner can refer you for a specialist internal or cardiological examination.