Supraventricular Tachycardia

Overview

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a fast heart rate that starts in your upper heart chambers. When your heart is beating too fast at rest, it makes it hard to send enough blood to your body. Episodes can go on for seconds to hours.

When your heart beats too quickly, there’s not enough time for your heart chambers to fill with blood before they contract.

If you have symptoms, you may think something doesn’t feel right in your chest. Although it may be difficult, noting the details of what you’re experiencing can help a healthcare provider make a diagnosis.

Types of SVT

Different kinds of SVT include:

Premature atrial contractions (PACs).
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT).
Accessory pathway tachycardias like Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome.
AV (atrioventricular) nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).
Atrial tachycardia.
Atrial fibrillation.
Atrial flutter.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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