Master ECG: Sinus Tachycardia with Picmonic for Medicine

The heart rate of an individual with sinus tachycardia is between 101 to 200 bpm, or for simplicity greater than 100 bpm.

The SA node is the pacemaker in individuals with sinus tachycardia and fires at a regular rhythm.

Like normal sinus rhythm, there is one upright P wave before every QRS in the individual with sinus tachycardia.

Like normal sinus rhythm, the PR interval of individuals with sinus tachycardia is between 0.12 to 0.20 seconds, or for simplicity, less than 0.20 seconds.

Like normal sinus rhythm, the QRS interval of individuals with sinus tachycardia is less than 0.12 seconds.

Treatment of sinus tachycardia involves addressing the underlying cause. Effective pain management will slow down the heart rate of individuals experiencing tachycardia related to pain. Vagal maneuvers may be taught to inhibit the vagus nerve to slow down the heart rate. Medications, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, can be administered to treat the tachycardia. In severe cases involving clinically unstable patients, synchronized cardioversion may be used.