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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Holter Results
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Holter Results
by smc246, Mar 12, 2007 12:00AM
I recently wore a holter monitor. It caputred 1 episode of nsvt of nine beats along with pac's/pvc's. My MD sent me for an echo and the results were normal--only mild mitro valve regurge. I went to see a cardiologist and he wants me to go for a cardiolite stress test. Now I am freaking out!! I a 34 y.o. female. I am overweight-but I am working with a nutritionist. My Cholesterol was 223 in 1/07-I don't remember the specific breakout for LDL etc. I have been told based on my 2 previous echo's that that I have a structurally normal heart. Can NVST be fatal??? Can it develope in to a dangerous arrhythima?? What exactly is nsvt?? I also suffer from anxiety--which causes my palpitations to flare up. Thank you in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-M.D.-MJM, Mar 12, 2007 12:00AM
Hi SMC,
If SMC stands for Saint Mary's College, my wife is a graduate as well.
Can NVST be fatal???
No, NSVT in a structurally normal heart is not a dangerous arrhythmia. An echocardiogram and EKG is usually enough to confirm structurally normal heart in a 34 year old, but an exercise stress test is not unreasonable. Some forms of NSVT/VT are exacerbated by exercise and stress can help bring that. In females, changes in the menstrual cycle and menstrual changes at different points in life can also exacerbate PVCs and NSVT.
Can it develop in to a dangerous arrhythmia??
Very rarely and usually only if the heart is not structurally normal.
What exactly is nsvt??
nonsustained ventricular tachyardia is defined as three or more consecutive heart beats originating from the ventricular and lasting less than 30 seconds. >30 seconds is considered sustained VT. There are numerous causes but the reality us that most structurally normal heart NSVTs cannon be explained with our current knowledge. We do know from long term studies that NSVT is not dangerous.
I also suffer from anxiety--which causes my palpitations to flare up.
Anxiety increases your adrenaline. Adrenaline is known to cause Paces in some people. It is double edged sword though -- adrenaline causes PVCs and PVCs can cause your adrenaline to increase. That is why it is important to understand and believe that NSVT in a structurally normal heart is not dangerous.
I hope this helps. Thanks for posting.
Thank you in advance.
If SMC stands for Saint Mary's College, my wife is a graduate as well.
Can NVST be fatal???
No, NSVT in a structurally normal heart is not a dangerous arrhythmia. An echocardiogram and EKG is usually enough to confirm structurally normal heart in a 34 year old, but an exercise stress test is not unreasonable. Some forms of NSVT/VT are exacerbated by exercise and stress can help bring that. In females, changes in the menstrual cycle and menstrual changes at different points in life can also exacerbate PVCs and NSVT.
Can it develop in to a dangerous arrhythmia??
Very rarely and usually only if the heart is not structurally normal.
What exactly is nsvt??
nonsustained ventricular tachyardia is defined as three or more consecutive heart beats originating from the ventricular and lasting less than 30 seconds. >30 seconds is considered sustained VT. There are numerous causes but the reality us that most structurally normal heart NSVTs cannon be explained with our current knowledge. We do know from long term studies that NSVT is not dangerous.
I also suffer from anxiety--which causes my palpitations to flare up.
Anxiety increases your adrenaline. Adrenaline is known to cause Paces in some people. It is double edged sword though -- adrenaline causes PVCs and PVCs can cause your adrenaline to increase. That is why it is important to understand and believe that NSVT in a structurally normal heart is not dangerous.
I hope this helps. Thanks for posting.
Thank you in advance.
"Anxiety increases your adrenaline. Adrenaline is known to cause Paces in some people. It is double edged sword though -- adrenaline causes PVCs and PVCs can cause your adrenaline to increase."
I have PSVT (paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). It's kinda of like NSVT, only it is in the upper chambers of the heart instead. Mine always gets triggered by a PAC. I'll start having a bunch of PACs, then wham, my heart takes off like a horse out of the starting gate for a few seconds, then jumps back to normal as if nothing ever happened. Not pleasant. Quite scary, actually. Thing is, like the doctor mentioned, it can be a nasty little cycle! I know adrenaline increases my susceptibility to PAC activity. PAC activity increases my anxiety, which increases my adrenaline...which leads invariably to more PACs. A flurry of PACs often leads to PSVT, if unchecked. And so it goes. It sounds like what the doctor is saying is that NSVT can be similar that way.
Try not to stress yourself out. I had a scare last year and I had myself about half out of my wits over it. In the end, everything turned out okay, and I bet it will for you as well. I had the Cardiolite Stress Test after a questionable echo. It was kind of neat actually, because the techs were telling me all about how it works as I was going through the various parts of it. If that comes back normal it should give you some serious reassurance.
Sending good thoughts your way!!