Cause: Thyroid gland

The task of the thyroid gland is the production of the iodine containing thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These stimulate the energy metabolism in almost all cells of the human body. At the heart, the thyroid gland acts on the heart rate as well as on the strength and performance of the heart.

When the thyroid gland produces regular hormones, its effects are not perceived; only in the event of disturbances does it become aware of its effects. While underproduction also often goes unnoticed for a long time, overproduction of thyroid hormones often quickly leads to symptoms. Besides a general feeling of restlessness, tachycardia is a typical manifestation of hyperthyroidism.

In generally healthy people this tachycardia is often not very problematic, but should nevertheless be discussed with the doctor. In older people and especially those with heart disease, hyperthyroidism can lead to serious problems with heart rhythm and frequency and even cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. In principle, the cause, i.e. the functional disorder of the thyroid gland, should be treated.

Cause: alcohol

The vegetative or autonomous nervous system controls all bodily functions that cannot be deliberately controlled. It is divided into the sympathetic, the parasympathetic and the enteric nervous system. While the enteric nervous system is the gastrointestinal tract’s own nervous system, the tasks of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems relate to the entire body.

The two act antagonistically, the sympathetic nervous system has an activating effect, the parasympathetic nervous system an inhibiting effect. The fact that the heart beats remarkably fast during excitement, joy or a stressful situation has probably been noticed by everyone. This is a natural reaction of the body mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, which usually disappears by itself relatively quickly.

Permanent stress, however, leads to a permanent activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Tachycardia no longer occurs exclusively in particularly tense or exciting moments, but also in actually quiet phases or even at night. In addition, other complaints such as dizziness or a feeling of tightness in the area of the breastbone can occur.

In general, this form of tachycardia should be discussed with your doctor and other causes of tachycardia should be excluded. If it is considered certain that stress is the causative factor of tachycardia, it should be reduced. Regular exercise can help, but relaxation exercises such as yoga or autogenic training can also help to improve the symptoms.

The diagnosis of tachycardia is confirmed by an ECG or long-term ECG. In classic WPW syndrome, a so-called delta wave is visible in the ECG even in the symptom-free period. Otherwise, a diagnosis is only possible in the case of tachycardia, where the heart rate regularly accelerates by more than 100 beats per minute with narrow QRS complexes.