Supraventricular Tachycardia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Supraventricular (soo-prah-ven-TRIK-u-lar) tachycardia (tak-ee-KAHR-dee-ah), or SVT, is a condition where your heart beats much faster than it should. A normal heart rate in a person at rest is about 70 to 80 beats every minute. With SVT, your heart may beat 140 to 250 beats a minute. SVT usually comes and goes, and may last a few seconds to several days. If your SVT comes and goes, it is called paroxysmal (par-ok-SIZ-mal) supraventricular tachycardia, or PSVT.
  
  
• When your heart is beating too fast, your blood may not be able to move well through your body. This may cause you to feel dizzy, short of breath, or sick to your stomach during episodes of SVT. Some people feel fine during SVT episodes. Problems that your SVT may cause may depend on how long the event lasts, what caused it, how fast your heart beats, and your general health. SVT may be treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, cardioversion, or an ablation procedure. Often, SVT does not need treatment.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a current list of your medicines: Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists. Use vitamins, herbs, or food supplements only as directed.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him about any medicine allergies, and if you want to quit taking or change your medicine.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Living with SVT:

• Keep a record of your symptoms: Use a notebook or calendar to keep track of your SVT attacks. Write down when your SVT starts and stops, what you were doing when it started, and your symptoms. Record anything you ate or drank within a few hours of the start of your SVT attack. Write down how you were feeling before the SVT started. For example, were you stressed or tired? Write down anything that seemed to help your symptoms, such as lying down or holding your breath. This record will help you learn what may trigger your SVT. Bring this record with you when you see your caregiver.
  
  
• Exercise: Exercise makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and helps keep you healthy. Begin to exercise slowly and do more as you get stronger. Talk with your primary healthcare provider before you start an exercise program.
  
  
• Do not smoke: Smoking causes lung cancer and other long-term lung diseases. It increases your risk of many cancer types. Smoking also increases your risk of blood vessel disease, heart attack, and vision disorders. Not smoking may help prevent such symptoms as headaches and dizziness for yourself and those around you. Smokers have shorter lifespans than nonsmokers.
  
  
• Manage your stress: Stress may slow healing and lead to illness. Learn ways to control stress, such as relaxation, deep breathing, and music. Talk to someone about things that upset you.

For more information:

For more information about SVT, contact the following:

• American Heart Association
  7272 Greenville Avenue
  Dallas , TX 75231-4596
  Phone: 1- 800 - 242-8721
  Web Address: http://www.heart.org
  

• Heart Rhythm Society
  1400 K Street NW, Ste 500
  Washington , DC 20005
  Phone: 1- 202 - 464-3400
  Web Address: www.hrsonline.org
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You are having new symptoms that your caregiver does not know about, or your SVT gets worse.
  
  
• You have problems that you think may be caused by your medicine.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing while resting.
  
  
• You have new or worsening swelling in your feet or ankles.
  
  
• You have any questions or concerns about your illness or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Chest pain, tightness, or pressure that lasts more than a minute or two. The discomfort may spread to your shoulders, arms, jaw, neck, or back. The discomfort may be a burning that feels like heartburn.
  
  
• Feeling very short of breath.
  
  
• Feeling faint, or too dizzy to stand up.
  
  
• Sudden onset of weakness or numbness in your arms or legs.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Supraventricular Tachycardia (Aftercare Instructions)