SVT and medical clearance

[skates26]

Hello, I have a question I hope someone will be able to answer. In the next few months I am hoping to receive a class 1 medical clearance for employment purposes. I was diagnosed with SVT in July 2007, but it is now perfectly controlled with medicine (atenolol, which I also take to control my high blood pressure). It was only diagnosed as I was going through an extremely stressful time in my life and was having roughly 10 small arrythmia episodes per day which prompted me to see a cardiologist . Since then, I have maybe 2-3 a month that last 5 seconds or less. They are more of a nuisance than anything else. My cardiologist never seems concerned about it.

I know that medical clearances are granted for controlled hypertension, so I am not worried about that part of my medical history. But I am a bit nervous I will be denied because of my SVT. Does anyone know if medical clearances are typically denied for people with SVT, even if it is controlled with medication? Many thanks for any input.

[cindy707]

My feeling is a common sense one....if the SVT is controlled thru meds or whatever then at that point you do not have SVT because the episodes have been eliminated am i not correct.  If controlled blood pressureis acceptable i would think i would call your heart doc and ask them point blank if they feel you CURRENTLY have SVT because in itself SVT is not an actual disease it is a symptom and in actuality if you had a severe case of it in most cases it can be taken care of thru an ablation.  Four years ago i had a super severe case of SVT along w. a couple of other things and had the procedure and now the SVT is a memory...i also had to put that question to my heart doc on whether or not i had SVT and he explained that no i didn't because it was controlled thru the ablation/meds.  I would ask the doc so that you can be completely honest on your eval. Try to remember that the heart beats at over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period so that it sort of puts things into perspective for you and the amt. of episodes that you are having.....from what i know tho....my close friend is a pilot and also has SVT and is on antenolol to control it and he passed right thru but i don't know what type of med. clearance you have to pass...just a thought tho...i would get a definate answer from my heart doc and then you can answer w. complete honesty.....good luck to both of you...

[charles613]

I'm having the same concern. Would SVT disqualify you from obtaining a class 1 medical clearance, even when controlled? Please can someone answer this question.