SVT low HR

[hambone]

Hi! Thanks for taking my question.
I'm female,52 years old,no medication or vitamins,early natural menopause(41),suffer migraine with aura but use an OTC for pain,I walk 6 days 20 - 40 mins,no caffine,tobacco,booze, my BMI 34,BP home 110/70- Dr.'s 138/88,resting HR 48-58 awake/38 asleep,total choles.173:HDL 71/LDL 94.I have MVP with thicken leaflets mild mitral reg & tricupid reg. I have had 2 or 3 near synocope events-at rest, out of the blue- very scarey.
I inhaled latex paint in June(was outdoors & it was very humid) that set off an episode of bad PVC's 20-25 a min. with feeling lightheaded & breathless. Saw my PCP& had an EKG - caught the PVC's & she felt they were benign & suggested 2 days of rest.After 5 days I still felt bad so a Holter was ordered(of course I felt "normal" by the time we did it!) Holter showed 300's PVC & 2 non sustained runs of SVT in 24 hrs.Dr. wanted me on a Beta Blocker. I've resisted because I'm scared of what it will do to my HR. She offered a cardio referal,but I want to wait & try & see if I can feel better on my own. I still don't feel like my old self, so I'm a little discouraged.
My questions are these:
Do I need to see a Cardio?
How dangerous is the SVT for me? Dr. says I will faint if it goes on for too long.I have never had a run of more than 20 seconds or so.
Will losing weight help the paps & arrhthmia?I get them every day.Sometimes when paps are bad my HR is lower 40's BP 96/56 or so.
Am I looking at a pacemaker down the road?
Would a Beta Blocker really help or am I being a sissy?

Thanks so much. You all at CC are great!
Kathy

[debbiejean]

could someone tell me what svt is?I am told I have Afib and svt!!my heart rate was 300 b.a.m   They put me on med. which helped for a year but now are back again.PLEASE help me.I have a mital valve replaced 2 times ,help!!!

[Bromley]

I have used a small dose of beta blocker (less than 12.5 mg TOPROL XL per day )from time to time and have had great success with it.  Not enough to create any adverse side affects.  And provides great relief from PVC symptoms and tachycardia.

Based on that experience, I suggest trying the beta blocker your doc prescribed --- before doing a whole lot more worrying about all of this.

Good luck.

-B.

[hambone]

Forgot to mention my EF is 65%.All echo & blood work is from May 2005.
Thanks again.
Kathy

[Cleveland Clinic]

Kathy,

Thanks for the post.

Do I need to see a Cardio?

If it will help your worries, definitely. It depends how comfortable you are with your docs recommendations. For SVT and PVCs with a normal cardiac eval, there really isnt any indication to do much more.

How dangerous is the SVT for me?

If you've had a normal cardiac eval, probably not too dangerous. Most likely, with a normal EF and no coronary disease, you will not black out.

Will losing weight help the paps & arrhthmia?

It most likely might. You should strive for this goal regardless, as it will help your total health.

I get them every day.Sometimes when paps are bad my HR is lower 40's BP 96/56 or so.  Am I looking at a pacemaker down the road?

There is no relation to this arrythmia.  I wouldnt concern yourself with it for the time being.

Would a Beta Blocker really help or am I being a sissy?

It might. Beta blockers healp some. I would only take it if the symptoms are really bothering you.  It wont hurt to try it.

good luck