Can you die from ventricular tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia begins in the lower chambers ventricles and is quite fast. When it lasts only a few seconds, ventricular tachycardia may cause no problems. But when sustained, ventricular tachycardia can lower the blood pressure, resulting in syncope fainting or lightheadedness.

Ventricular tachycardia can also lead to ventricular fibrillation a life-threatening arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. Ventricular tachycardia most often occurs when the heart muscle has been damaged and scar tissue creates abnormal electrical pathways in the ventricles. Causes include:. Sometimes, people with no known heart disease can develop ventricular tachycardia, often due to an irritable focus — when cells outside the sinus node start generating an electrical impulse automatically on their own.

This form of ventricular tachycardia is easier to address and is usually not life threatening. Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia CPVT is a genetic condition that can cause a fast abnormal heart beat from the ventricles.

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VT is defined by a pulse of more than beats per minute with at least three irregular heartbeats in a row. The heart may beat inefficiently which can result in the body not receiving an adequate blood supply. VT can be harmless if it lasts only a few beats, but if it continues and is untreated, it can be life-threatening and cause sudden cardiac death.

Symptoms of VT can include a feeling of a racing heart or that the heart is going to burst, lightheadedness and fatigue, chest pain and anxiety. Treatments depend on the symptoms and underlying cause. VT can also occur without any symptoms. Although VT can occur without heart disease, it is most common in people who have damage to their heart muscle from a heart attack or other disease , which creates abnormal electrical pathways in the ventricles.