Hi,
I would be interested in what the eye drops consist of, if you know the name, I can do the research to see if they can contribute to arrhythmias. Better yet, you can ask your Pharmacist. Just because they are administer to the eye does not mean that they may not have an effect on her heart rhythm. Medication can be absorbed into the blood. Also, the Tear Ducts drain into the sinuses, offering an avenue for absorption in the sinuses or directly by swallowing small amounts of the medication as it drains into the throat.
DO NOT, under any circumstances, suggest that your mother change ANY medication without her Doctor's approval. The Eye Drops may have nothing to do with the arrhythmia, it is just a suggestion that I am willing to research.
The difference between SVT and Sinus Tachycardia? Here is a Doctor's Answer, from this forum, on the same topic. The link is provided, as well as the relevant text:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/messages/34372.html
"Q1:"What is the difference between sinus tach and SVT? would they show up differently on an EKG?"
Sinus tach is the normal response to stress: exercise, fear, anxiety, fever, etc. An SVT is an abnormal fast heart fhythm that originates or involves the upper chambers of the heart. Rarely, SVTs can mimic sinus tach on an EKG and be difficult to properly diagnose. This situation most commonly occurs with an SVT called IST(Innapropriate Sinus Tach)."
In stead of looking at it as an “Electrical Problem”, in your mother’s case, without any previous history of SVT, consider it an “Electrical Aberration” something that occurred but will not necessarily recur. SVT is not that uncommon of a rhythm disturbance, often it is referred to as PSVT, or Paroxysmal Supra Ventricular Tachycardia. The Paroxysm means that it comes on “suddenly”. Supra means “above”. So, to break down the word, it actually means a suddenly occurring tachycardia whose origin is above the ventricles. Most often, SVT or PSVT is not considered life threatening, and many people on this forum have this disorder. I have occasionally been affected by it, while sitting and watching TV, my heart rate would instantly go very fast, fortunately only lasting several seconds. The events were caught on a Loop Event Monitor, and determined to be PSVT. My Cardiologist was not concerned in my case.
Hereditary? I do believe that I am the only one among 2 other brothers and a sister, as well as knowledge of my parents, that has any arrhythmia. I have Migraine, as does my mother, sons, nephews, etc. A definitely a Hereditary streak exists in my case with Migraine. I would not believe that SVT is generally hereditary.
The Vagus (or Vagal) Nerve is responsible for slowing your heart rate. Over stimulation of the Vagal Nerve makes your heart rate too slow, but I would imagine that, with age, and diminishing tone of the nerve and related systems, that it could fail to bring the heart rate down as quickly as in someone where the nerve is functioning normally. This is all conjecture on my part though.
Your mother should follow-up with her Family Doctor or Cardiologist, and bring a "complete" list of her medications, including the eye drops and INCLUDING any vitamins, supplements, cold medications currently taken or taken at the time.
Overall, it's not likely that you have any Hereditary concerns with SVT, not of great significance at least.
Anxiety can contribute to heart arrhythmias, many of which are benign (though the feel of them can be quite a concern for many of us). Caffeine, despite our fondness of coffee, should be eliminated or seriously restricted in anyone with arrhythmias, especially until they are cleared by their Doctors for the consumption of it.
Hope this helps. Be well.