A rapid heart beat initiated within the ventricles, characterized by 3 or more consecutive premature ventricular beats. Ventricular tachycardia is a potentially lethal arrhythmia that may cause the heart to become unable to pump adequate blood through the body.
Ventricular tachycardia can occur spontaneously.
It may be a result of scar tissue formed after an earlier heart attack, or an undesired effect of anti-arrhythmic drugs. Ventricular tachycardia occurs in approximately 2 out of 10,000 people. In some cases, the disorder is not preventable. In other cases, treatment of underlying cardiac disorders, correction of blood chemistries , and correction of pH and oxygenation problems may prevent ventricular tachycardia. Anti-arrhythmic medications may be given to prevent ventricular tachycardia.