Before taking up any treatment for rapid heartbeat one should first understand that a regular heart tends to contract at the rate of 60 to up to 100 times in a single minute. Changes in ones diet or improper diet is what causes a rapid heartbeat along with variations in ones level of activity, medication and age. A person experiencing rapid heartbeats is also known to be experiencing palpitations wherein on account of the quick beating of the heart, the ventricles do not get sufficient time to fill themselves up with blood and consequently they are not able to supply blood to the various part of the person's body. This rapid heartbeat at night or even otherwise thus results in a decrease in the amount of oxygen that is supplied to the various cells of the body.
Typically the symptoms of a rapid heartbeat vary anywhere between experiencing a mild discomfort to even a life threatening unconsciousness at times. The other symptoms of a rapid heartbeat include dizziness, palpitations, fainting, heart skipping beats, blackouts, chest pain, light-headedness, temporary blind spots and even death. The consumption of alcohol is also one of the rapid heartbeat at night causes especially if consumed in excess and just before going to bed. The treatment for rapid heartbeat will typically depend upon the exact cause of the rapid heartbeat and could range from getting some rest or mild medications to even giving the heart a kind of a shock of electricity through a device known as the defibrillator which is used to try and restore the normal rhythm of heartbeat especially in an emergency. In some cases rapid heartbeat causes may also include having an overly large meal, anger, nervousness, anxiety, excitement, high blood pressure or even a low blood pressure and so on. Preventive treatment for rapid heartbeat may also include getting regular exercise even though exercise is known to raise the rate of heartbeats. Additionally, the doctor will also advise the individual to refrain from the consumption of excessive alcohol, drugs, or even caffeine as part as the treatment for a rapid heartbeat. In fact many cases of rapid heartbeat are known to be prevented by simply ensuring that one drinks plenty of fresh drinking water that will help in preventing dehydration.
Many times the problem of a rapid heartbeat may even go undiagnosed if not monitored regularly. Usually the doctor will initially measure the speed of one's heart beat using a simple stethoscope or just monitoring the pulse. This is also a test known as the ECG or the electrocardiogram that can be used to measure ones heart rate and check for any abnormalities. The long term effects of a rapid heartbeat may result in the body and the organs of the person being deprived of sufficient amount of oxygen thereby making it difficult for the person to stay alive for a very long period of time. On the other hand rapid heartbeat at night that results from anxiety or anger may go away on its own and not cause any long-term effects. Similarly rapid heartbeat caused by sepsis or a medical condition known as arrthymia may even result in death of the person. The treatment for rapid heartbeat in will depend on whether the person is suffering from a rapid heartbeat on account of fever or because of dehydration. The treatment for rapid heartbeat may also result in some side effects such as the antibiotics used may result in a stomach upset or even cause allergic reactions. On the other hand surgery performed as part of the rapid heartbeat treatment may also result in an adverse reaction to anesthesia, bleeding or even an infection.
answered by G M