What is Tachycardia? The Heart Condition That Almost Destroyed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Football Career

Tachycardia is a condition whereby the heart rate is raised above 100 beats per minute without the person being under pressure. This condition is not always harmless and has consequences for the heart – one person who almost paid a heavy price for it is Cristiano Ronaldo, the star footballer. Knowledge of tachycardia is important for the identification of its signs, causes, and maybe treatments.

Understanding Tachycardia

Tachycardia refers to a high level of heart rate that deprives the heart from filling itself with blood in between the beats. This can result in inadequate circulation in other parts of the body, including symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fainting. There are several types of tachycardia, including:

  • Sinus Tachycardia: The natural increase in heart rate resulting from stress or exercise, for instance.
  • Atrial Tachycardia: Premature atrial complexes These are rapid heartbeats arising from the upper chambers of the heart of the atria.
  • Ventricular Tachycardia: A more severe form of the condition that causes the lower chambers to contract rapidly, and can be fatal.

Cristiano Ronaldo was once diagnosed with tachycardia at his tender age of 15 when he had to undergo surgery for a rapid heartbeat. His mother complained that he would be having rapid heartbeat even when he was idle. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and he was able to go back to football without encountering any issues.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Credit: Wikipedia Commons

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