What heart condition is most closely associated with symptomatic V-tach?

What heart condition is most closely associated with symptomatic V-tach?

• A. Normal cardiac functioning
• B. Coronary artery disease
• C. Congenital heart defects
• D. Hypertensive heart disease

Answer: (B)

Symptomatic ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) is most closely associated with coronary artery disease due to the underlying ischemic changes it causes in the heart muscle. When coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked, they can reduce blood flow to the heart, leading to ischemia. This can result in abnormal electrical activity within the ventricles, sometimes resulting in V-tach, which is often symptomatic with signs such as palpitations, lightheadedness, or syncope.

Coronary artery disease leads to scarring and electrical instability due to previous myocardial infarctions or ongoing ischemia. These changes can disrupt normal conduction pathways and create conditions favorable for the initiation of V-tach.

While other conditions such as congenital heart defects, hypertensive heart disease, and normal cardiac functioning exist, they do not correlate with symptomatic V-tach to the same extent as coronary artery disease. Congenital heart defects can also lead to arrhythmias, but the prevalence of symptomatic V-tach specifically stems more frequently from coronary artery issues, especially in the adult population where ischemic heart disease is a common contributor.