Complications

Complications of ventricular tachycardia vary in severity and depend on how fast your heart is beating, how long the rapid heartbeat lasts, how often tachycardia occurs and your overall heart health. Possible complications include:

• Frequent fainting spells or unconsciousness
• Heart failure
• Sudden death caused by cardiac arrest

Ventricular fibrillation

A dangerous condition related to ventricular tachycardia is ventricular fibrillation (V-fib). In V-fib, your lower heart chambers contract in a very rapid and uncoordinated manner.

This abnormal rhythm happens most often in people with heart disease or a prior heart attack. It may also occur due to electrolyte problems (such as high or low potassium levels) or, rarely, in otherwise normal hearts.

Ventricular fibrillation may also cause sudden cardiac arrest and lead to death if not treated immediately.