NVST

[pipster]

I was diagnosed with non sustained ventricular tachycardia in feb2008. I had an angiogram and echogram which showed I have minor furring in left artery but apart from this have a normal and strong heart with no other problem. I am taking congescor 1.25mg, ramipril 5mg, asprin 75mg and a 40mg statin, My cardiolagist says I am at low risk of SCD and should not worry. I am having palpitations every few days, I have an appointment to have a heart monitor put on me for eight days to see where palpitations are coming from but Cardiolagist does not think I will need a catheter difribulator.  I am very scared and anxious, I want to know if I will live to have a normal life span? As my heart gets older it will deteriorate and therefor will the NSVT kill me before my time. When they say low risk what does that mean, I am a single mum with two teenage boys, I want to be there for my grandchildren. I have asked why I can`t have an ablation as I know this can cure my condition but he said there is no need and there are too many risks, is he right in saying this. He also said I can do as much exercise as I like. I am in desperate need of reassurance, I feel so worried and down. I am doing a degree in Social Work and work as a mental health worker, I have always been so positive and such a happy person, I want to feel like that again. Please help. Pippa

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

The honest answer is that you are probably worrying too much.  There is no need for an ICD or an ablation for structurally normal heart non sustained VT.  If you have a normal heart, you aren't really at increased risk for sudden cardiac death.  At this point, I would say that you are worrying about things with out any reason to do so.

Is there a chance that you will have sudden death or develop heart disease?  Yes, we all have that chance.  Heart disease is the number one cause of death in developed countries.  There is nothing about the information you provided that makes me think that you are at increased risk.

[Melody12368]

Hi Pipster,

I, too, have been diagnosed with NSVT in December of 06 just 3 weeks before my daughter was born.   I have worn several monitors since then and they haven't caught an episdoe of it again.  However, I started working out 5-6 days a week (cardio and weights) and have noticed a drastic increase in my palpitations.  I saw the cardiologist last week and he has me on another monitor for the week.   A neighbor of mine works in this field and told me to go see an electrophysiologist.  Apparently this is a doctor who specializes in arrythmia issues.  I have never been told these types of doctors exist.  I now have an appointment tomorrow morning to see one.  I hope he is at least able to give me some good information as to my condition because, like you, I have 2 young children (both under 3) who need me and I am sick and tired of worrying about this.  It's like life stops everytime you feel something in your chest or throat.  I don't want to live with this constant worry.  I know I know...they all say stop worrying.  Well, much easier for anyone to say when they are not going through it.  Good luck, my thoughts are with you.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Not a lot.  There are some exercised induced VTs, but if you have a norma heart the are not life threatening.  They are only a concern if they become sustained (longer than 30 seconds), then medical therapy versus ablation can be discussed.  If you haven't had sustained VT, I would not worry about having it.  Many people have non sustained VT, but sustained VT is very rare.  VT during the recovery phase of exercise is a risk factor for cardiovascular events but as far as we know, it is a not a modifiable risk factor (it can't be fixed with medication, diet, exercise or procedures).  I hope this helps.

[pipster]

does it make a difference if they discovered my nsvt 7 runs while undergoing a stress test, on the treadmill?