terrified about PATs

  I am a 40-year-old female who was just diagnosed with Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Since the age of 12, I've had PVC's, but several tests over the years concluded that they are benign.
   Since December, though, I've had several incidents of PATs. This is something entirely new. I have no symptoms, but my heart rate will go up to 160 beats per minute for about five minutes. I've had the PATs while walking in the park, while getting ready for work in the morning - even  thinking about something stressful seems to trigger them. I have them several times a day now, but still no symptoms. I've taken a strong decongestant every night up until two days ago. The PATs have been reduced markedly after I stopped taking the decongestant. Could this have caused them? I'm terrified by this. Are PATs life-threatening? My doctor said I should go to the emergency room next time I have one, but again, I don't have any symptoms. Can I continue playing tennis, and other physical activities, without worrying about this? Do I have to be put on medication?
  Thank you for any information you can give me on this topic.

[CCF CARDIO MD DLB]

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Dear kjk
In some people, a decongestant can trigger tachycardia. Therefore, you should stop and not restart this medication. If you have this happen again, you should go to the ER so that a definitive diagnosis can be made while you are having the tachycardia. Even if you are not having symptoms, it should be evaluated, because some tachycardias can degenerate into life-threatening events (this is pretty rare actually). Depending on the type and frequency of the tachycardia, you may need medication or a procedure called a radiofrequency ablation. I would hold off on exercising until this situation is resolved.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.