Version July 2025
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What is ventricular tachycardia? —
Ventricular tachycardia ("VT") is a serious condition that causes the heart to beat much faster than normal. When the heart beats too fast, it cannot pump blood as well. This can lead to dizziness, fainting, or death. VT is also sometimes called "V-tach."
What causes VT? —
VT is caused by a problem with the heart's electrical system. The heart's ventricles (the main parts of the heart that pump blood) send abnormal electrical signals that speed up the heartbeat (figure 1).
The electrical system problem is usually caused by another heart condition, such as:
●Heart disease
●Heart attack
●Heart failure
●Heart surgery
●Myocarditis – This is inflammation of the heart.
VT can also be caused by:
●Medicines used to control heart rhythm problems
●Changes in your blood (such as having too little or too much of certain chemicals in your blood)
●Not getting enough oxygen
What are the symptoms of VT? —
If your heartbeat speeds up for only a few seconds, you might not feel like anything is wrong.
If it lasts longer, you might feel like your heart is beating fast, beating hard, or skipping a beat. These kinds of heartbeat changes are called "palpitations."
Other symptoms include:
●Dizziness
●Trouble breathing
●Chest pain
●Fainting
Are there tests for VT? —
Yes. You might need a few different tests, including:
●Electrocardiogram ("ECG") – This measures the electrical activity in the heart (figure 2).
●Longer-term heart monitoring – There are several devices that can be used for this. A "Holter monitor" is a small, portable machine you wear that records all your heart's electrical activity over 1 or 2 days (figure 3). There are other types of monitors called "patch monitors." These go directly on the skin, without wires, and can be worn for up to 30 days.
Your doctor might also do other tests to find the cause of your VT.
How is VT treated? —
The treatment depends on what caused your VT. Possible treatments include:
●Medicines to control the speed or rhythm of your heartbeat
●"Cardioversion" – This involves applying an electrical current to your heart to fix its rhythm.
●An "implantable cardioverter-defibrillator" ("ICD") – This is a device the doctor can put inside your body. It uses mild electrical currents to help make your heart rhythm normal.
●"Ablation" – This uses heat (called "radiofrequency ablation") or cold (called "cryoablation") to destroy the small part of your heart that is sending the abnormal electrical signals.
Can VT be prevented? —
Having heart disease can make it more likely you will have VT. Doing things to keep your heart healthy can help prevent heart disease. You should:
●Eat a healthy diet. This involves eating lots of fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products, but not a lot of meat or fatty foods.
●Try to get physical activity on most days of the week. Even gentle exercise, like walking, is good for your health.
●Try to lose weight, if you have excess body weight. Your doctor or nurse can help you lose weight safely.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
●Pass out
●Have trouble breathing
●Have chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes
Call for advice if you do not have these problems, but you often feel like your heart is beating fast or irregularly.
Patient education: Heart attack (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart failure (The Basics)
Patient education: Myocarditis (The Basics)
Patient education: Palpitations (The Basics)
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)
Patient education: Ambulatory heart monitoring (The Basics)
Patient education: Cardioversion (The Basics)
Patient education: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (The Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for the heart (The Basics)
Patient education: Lowering your risk of heart disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart-healthy diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart attack (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Heart failure (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Cardioversion (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for abnormal heartbeats (Beyond the Basics)
