Ventricular Tachycardia Symptoms and Presentations

Primary Symptom Profile

The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and Heart Rhythm Society guidelines indicate that shortness of breath is a symptom of ventricular arrhythmias 1
Near syncope and syncope (complete loss of consciousness) are symptoms of ventricular arrhythmias, according to the American College of Cardiology 2

The severity of symptoms does not necessarily correlate with the extent of underlying structural heart disease or the risk of sudden cardiac death, as stated by the American College of Cardiology 1, 2
Patients with ventricular tachycardia can present with syncope (sudden loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone) or sudden cardiac arrest (circulatory arrest requiring immediate intervention), as noted in the European Heart Journal 3

The American College of Cardiology recommends that patients presenting with syncope in which ventricular arrhythmia is documented or suspected should be hospitalized for evaluation, monitoring, and management (Class I, Level B-NR recommendation) 1, 2
Exercise or emotional stress can be triggers for ventricular tachycardia, as indicated by the American College of Cardiology 2
Symptoms related to underlying heart disease, such as dyspnea at rest or on exertion, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and edema, should be assessed when evaluating suspected VT, according to the European Heart Journal and the American College of Cardiology 1, 3
Medication use, including antiarrhythmics, QT-prolonging drugs, stimulants, and anabolic steroids, should be considered when evaluating suspected VT, as noted by the American College of Cardiology 1
A general sense of impending doom or anxiety can be an associated symptom of tachyarrhythmias, as reported in the European Heart Journal 3