If you have ventricular tachycardia (VT), also called V-tach or ventricular fibrillation, your heart may beat too fast or out of rhythm. This can affect how blood travels to other parts of your body.
Experts with Emory Heart & Vascular are leaders in VT care and treatment.
Emory Healthcare has doctors dedicated to managing ventricular tachycardia—even in cases that don’t respond to traditional therapies.
Our experts are also leaders in heart rhythm disorder research. We conduct studies to determine where arrhythmias come from and how to prevent or treat them.
Ventricular tachycardia is a type of heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia) that starts in the heart’s bottom chamber. It typically occurs in people who have had a heart attack or other damage to their heart muscle.
VT speeds up the heartbeat in the lower chamber of the heart. This faster heartbeat affects the heart’s rhythm and its ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
VT can be mild, with faster heart rhythms lasting only a few seconds. Others experience longer periods of VT, which can cause dangerously low blood pressure.
Over time, VT can lead to serious conditions like heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Ventricular tachycardia symptoms vary based on the seriousness of your condition. Common symptoms include:
More severe or untreated VT can also lead to symptoms associated with heart failure. These include:
If your doctor suspects ventricular tachycardia, they may refer you to an electrophysiologist. Electrophysiologists (EPs) are specially trained doctors who diagnose and treat conditions affecting the heart’s electrical system.
Emory Healthcare electrophysiologists use a variety of tests to diagnose VT. You may need to wear a heart monitor, which gives doctors information about your heart’s rhythm. Other diagnostic tests for ventricular tachycardia include:
Emory Healthcare offers ablations and radiation therapy to treat ventricular tachycardia.
Emory Healthcare doctors provide specialized treatment and research the latest advancements.
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