The primary cause of Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia is usually associated with structural heart disease. Some patients, who suffer from PAT, are normally required to undergo a long term treatment to prevent the recurrence of the episode.
For those patients that have paroxysmal atrial tachycardia due to other causes outside of a structural heart disease, a physical examination is made for the occurrence of a rapid heart rate for signs of any remarkable jugular venous heart beats and pulsation caused by atrial contraction against closed atrial valves. History, physical exam, and an ECG diagnostic can make an adequate initial evaluation, in which case diagnostic studies are continued right after to seek for other signs and symptoms leading to a structural heart disease.
How the Normal Heart Rate Functions
The heartbeat of a human being is produced through an electrical impulse that is being coordinated in the “electrical system” of the heart. This is initiated at the sinus or sinoatrial node that is located at the right atrium of the heart. The sinoatrial impulses sets the rate and the rhythm of a human being’s heart beat and spreads on the walls thereby moving blood int the heart’s ventricles.
The electrical impulse moves into the atrioventricular node, and allows other impulses to travel through the ventricles. Then it moves to a network of fibers that contract whenever the electrical impulse goes into it. Once there is contraction, blood is pumped out from the heart and moves to all the other parts of the body. Thereafter, the same cycle is repeated over and over. Through a pathway in the heart muscle, the heartbeat gets triggered by the electrical impulses being sent.
Difference of Heart Beat Between Men and Women
There have been some differences that were found as between the heart beat of men and women, where women are to suffer most from paroxysmal atrial tachycardia due to the fact that they have a faster baseline heart beat with the ECG reading of a normal woman is different from the ECG readings of a normal man.
The symptoms of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia are usually manifested by palpitations, dizziness shortness of breath, fatigue. Palpitations in women are often associated either with premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy or perimenopausal period. This is attributed to a decrease in estrogen. Treatment of these paroxysmal atrial tachycardia symptoms is usually done through medication and hormonal replacement therapy and lifestyle changes such as withdrawal from smoking and alcohol, reduction of caffeine intake, and avoidance of stimulant drugs that may cause abnormal heart beats.
