Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia – What?

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to talk to you about a topic that has made me miserable, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia.

What is Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia?

According to Cedars Sinai, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST) occurs when the heart beats very quickly without a good reason. It is a type of heart rhythm abnormality called an arrhythmia.

What is Tachycardia you ask? Tachycardia is the medical term for a fast heart rate. In adults, a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute when a person is at rest is considered tachycardia. I have grown up with a resting heart rate in the 90s and above 100. All the tests didn’t reveal any structural heart disease.

How Does IST Effect You?

Well IST will not kill you. The heart’s electrical signal usually starts in the sinoatrial (SA) node, which receives signals from nerves. These nerves can cause the heart to beat more quickly or more slowly, depending on the body’s needs. Thete are many usual reason why heart might beat faster such as with a fever, during exercise, or with anxiety or stress. But in IST, the heart beats faster for unknown reasons. The heart rate may increase on its own without any stimulation. Other times, the heart rate rises because of a trigger. But it increases more than it should. If the heart beats very quickly, it may not be able to fill fully between beats. Slightly less blood may then get out to the body.

What causes IST?

IST has many causes. Experts do not understand all of them well. Sometimes, IST results from inappropriate signaling of the nerves that increase the heart’s rate. The nerves that lower the heart’s rate may also not work as they should.

What are the symptoms of inappropriate sinus tachycardia?

Some people with IST do not have any symptoms. But others do. Possible symptoms include:

• Sensation of a rapid heartbeat (palpitations), which may be uncomfortable
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Decreased ability to exercise

Growing, I used to love dancing but whenever I did, I was out of breath with heart rate over 170 bpm, and I would always experience syncope or temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure. One time I was even taken to the emergency room with a heart rate over 200. I always knew that my heart beats faster than everyone.

I took beta-blockers for years until I it didn’t work. Hence recently, I was put on medication, known as  used for the symptomatic management of stable heart-related chest pain and heart failure not fully managed by medication. This has lowered my result

My dear lovelies! Hopefully you are got some explanation on this rare condition.