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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffComplications of tachycardias vary in severity depending on such factors as the type of tachycardia, the rate and duration of a rapid heart rate, and the existence of other heart conditions. Possible complications include:
- Blood clots that can cause a stroke or heart attack
- Inability of the heart to pump enough blood (heart failure)
- Frequent fainting spells
- Sudden death, usually only associated with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation
References
- Ganz LI. Sinus tachycardia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 11, 2011.
- Marchlinski F. The tachyarrhythmias. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2901807. Accessed Feb. 11, 2011.
- Arrhythmia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/arr/arr_whatis.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2011.
- Bollinger BC, et al. Cardiac arrhythmias. In: Stone CK, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Emergency Medicine. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3107067. Accessed Feb. 11, 2011.
- Arrhythmias and conduction disorders. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec07/ch075/ch075a.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2011.
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