How to lower the heart rate with its physiological and pathological increase
Tachycardia – a condition in which the heart rate (pulse) exceeds physiological indicators. Bradycardia – decrease in heart rate less than 60 beats per minute. Everything else is considered normal. But how to lower the heart rate at home, and is it possible to do it or is it better to call an "ambulance"?
Reasons of increased heart rate
The pulse rate of a healthy person is 60-90 beats per minute. These figures are relatively arbitrary, usually doctors are guided by them. Practice shows that people with a pulse of 55 or 98 beats can feel quite satisfied, if they do not belong to those who look for sores in themselves only on the basis of tonometer readings.
Usually, the pulse increases under the influence of emotional or physical stress. This is a normal process aimed at increasing the body's need for oxygen. However, tachycardia can also appear under the influence of more unfavorable factors:
- panic attack;
- taking some medicines;
- consumption of excessive amounts of coffee and caffeinated beverages;
- taking amphetamines;
- smoking;
- alcohol consumption;
- deficiency of potassium and magnesium in the blood;
- increased production of thyroid hormones;
- sharp release of adrenaline and norepinephrine in pheochromocytoma;
- myocardial ischemia in coronary heart disease.
By the way, people often fall into a state close to panic when using automatic tonometers with a low-quality heart rate monitor. To avoid this, learn to measure the pulse by feeling it on the radial artery. With the index, middle and ring fingers, find the pulse on the wrist, count the number of beats in 30 seconds and multiply the obtained figure by two.
Symptoms of increased heart rate
Usually, when the pulse rate increases, the patient feels some discomfort in the heart area. It manifests itself primarily as a heartbeat (with a normal pulse, a person does not feel how his heart works). The heart beats, "jumps out of the chest". The appearance of pain behind the sternum or in the left half of the chest is possible.
Due to the deterioration of the body's blood supply, symptoms such as:
may occur- dizziness;
- weakness;
- severe shortness of breath, with difficulty breathing;
- nausea;
- sleep disturbance;
- nausea and even vomiting;
- loss of consciousness.
All this precedes the detection of an increased heart rate and very often requires the intervention of specialists.
How to quickly reduce heart rate at home
In cases of tachycardia, it is extremely important to provide help as soon as possible. Complications of this condition can be quite formidable: pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock – these are life-threatening conditions that lead to the inevitable death of the patient without emergency care. Fortunately, most often the increase in heart rate is due to physiological reasons, and in these cases it is not necessary to take pills to reduce the heart rate.
The first thing to do – conduct one of the vagus tests. These are certain manipulations that cause an increase in the work of the vagus nerve, which inhibits the work of the heart:
- Valsalva trial – draw air into your chest and exhale it with your mouth and nose closed. It is usually impossible to exhale, but it is not necessary;
- deep quick inhalation and slow exhalation;
- light eyeball massage;
- washing the face with cold water or immersing the face in a basin of cold water (to be carried out only in the presence of another person);
- irritation of the root of the tongue with a spoon, as if trying to induce vomiting (if even vomiting occurs, there is nothing wrong with it).
Each of the actions can be performed for no more than 30 seconds. In many cases, this is enough to lower the heart rate by 20-30 beats.
However, there are also situations in which vagus tests alone are not enough, and then you have to take pills or administer drugs intravenously. For tachycardia use:
- adenosine;
- beta-blockers (metoprolol, bisoprolol, labetalol, etc.);
- blockers of calcium channels (verapamil, amiodarone);
- cardiac glycosides (digoxin, corglycon, strophanthin);
- blockers of sodium channels (novocainamide, disopyramide);
- potassium channel activators (lidocaine).
These drugs can be used only as prescribed by a doctor and in a clearly indicated dosage. The site Dobrobut.com strongly recommends not using them as self-medication - it can be dangerous!
With a frequent pulse and low blood pressure, doctors usually prescribe one of the drugs that increases blood pressure together with an antiarrhythmic agent. In the emergency room, it is most often phenylephrine (Mezaton). In cases where the decrease in pressure is caused by a global disturbance of systemic blood circulation (this occurs when the pulse increases to critical values – 150 and above), intravenous drip infusion of dopamine is possible – a specific means for raising blood pressure.
Decreased heart rate: what to do
Much less often than tachycardia, a condition with a reduced pulse can occur – bradycardia It can be physiological (most often in athletes) and pathological in various rhythm disorders, increased concentration of potassium and magnesium in the blood, syndrome of sinus node weakness, blockage of conduction pathways, etc.
If the patient's pulse does not exceed 50 beats per minute and the condition is not accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, nothing should be done. If the pulse is below 50 and the patient feels weak, dizzy, dark in the eyes, you can drink a cup of coffee or strong black tea. If there is no effect within the next few minutes, you should call an "emergency" service. and strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.
Increased heart rate "in an empty place" – this is always a sign of some kind of trouble. Consult a doctor, get examined and take the treatment prescribed by him to avoid serious complications.
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