aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Sinus tachycardia may occur in:

  • hyperdynamic circulation, for example caused by emotion, fever secondary to a variety of infections, anaemia, pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, exercise
  • shock - secondary to haemorrhage
  • myocardial infarction
  • drugs, including atropine, nitrates and adrenaline
  • constrictive pericarditis
  • autonomic dysfunction:
    • diabetes mellitus
    • Shy-Drager syndrome

Others causes include:

  • myocarditis
  • endocarditis
  • smoking, caffeine
  • asthma