Tachycardia and shortness of breath
Breathlessness or shortness of breath is referred to as dyspnoea in the technical terminology and is defined as “subjective sensation of having to increase the activity of breathing“. The dyspnoea is classified by the WHO into severity levels I-IV. Symptoms of shortness of breath are accelerated breathing (tachypnea) with a respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute and tachycardia, commonly known as palpitations.
Other accompanying symptoms may include anxiety, the use of the respiratory muscles and a blue discoloration of the skin (cyanosis) as a sign of an oxygen deficiency. A tachycardia with respiratory distress can be caused by diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, including asthma, pneumonia or pneumothorax. Heart failure can also lead to shortness of breath with tachycardia because the subjective feeling of breathlessness can be caused by the poorer supply of oxygen to the body.
Other reasons for tachycardia and shortness of breath are staying at high altitude, anemia (lack of blood), carbon monoxide poisoning, psychologically induced hyperventilation, a defective regulation of the acid-base balance and pulmonary artery embolism. In pulmonary artery embolism, a pulmonary artery is occluded by a thrombus from the deep veins of the leg or pelvis. In addition to palpitations and shortness of breath, pulmonary artery embolism is accompanied by breath-related chest pain and, in many cases, mortal fear.
- Grade I corresponds to shortness of breath when walking fast, when climbing uphill or when climbing stairs.
- Grade II describes a shortness of breath that occurs when walking in the plane.
- Grade III includes the need for breaks to catch your breath during a quiet walk.
- Grade IV corresponds to a respiratory distress that already occurs at rest.
Tachycardia due to stress
A significant acceleration of the heart rate is known to everyone in emotional situations, whether it be joy, sadness or anger. Usually, it lasts for a limited time and then returns to normal. Stress symptoms, such as palpitations, occur in response to situations that are perceived as stressful and uncontrollable.
The body is in a constant state of tension. Stress hormones such as adrenaline and glucocorticoids are released and affect the physical and mental state. Physical symptoms are sometimes headaches and back pain, a weakened immune system with frequent colds, gastrointestinal complaints and abnormalities of the cardiovascular system such as palpitations, high blood pressure and breathing difficulties.
