Can PSVT lead to heart failure?

[Mommy2TnL]

I'm 30, and have PSVT.  I should be having the ablation done this summer.  I just learned that my uncle had heart failure at 46 and had a pacemaker implanted at that point.  My mom died at 28 and her other brother died in his early 50's...all heart attacks.  I'm on a mission to figure out if I have what they had, but their's was just left untreated.  The only link I have so far is that my uncle (pacemaker/heart transplant uncle) noticed that he could only play the 8 minutes in rec league basketball game, while he was in his mid 30's. On one of my bad days I decided to play, instead of sitting out, during one of my rec league basketball games this year and could only play 8 minutes, before having to sit out the rest of the game.  He seems to think, 'without a doubt', they had what I have.  So can PSVT lead to heart failure?  

[tom_h]

I agree with I_S_W's assessment.  Your chances of heart failure begin to increase as you age, and this was the concern of my cardiologist, and what prompted me to finally address the problem that I had since 6 years of age.

[Mommy2TnL]

So far structurally my heart looks fine, so I guess that's good.  Although I'm guessing my uncle that passed away's heart look fine too because he had a Cardiac CT done a week before he died and he and my mom both felt exactly the same before dying.  I don't smoke, I don't think 2 of them did either.  All were pretty active, like me.  My mom worked out and played sports as did my uncle and myself.  All were tall and thin/average, with none of your basic risks for heart failure. It's definitely genetic, I'm just trying to figure out where to look to see if this is what I have and to stop the trend of dying young.  My episodes don't last very long, but I have them a lot of them in my opinion.  Can having a lot of episodes weaken the heart?

[is_something_wrong]

Hi!

The short answer to your question is no. But people with PSVT can get heart failure, as well as people without PSVT can get heart failure.

You are right that long episodes of rapid heart rate can lead to heart failure, but in that case we are talking months and years non-stop. It's usually only a case for those suffering from permanent (and not controlled) atrial fibrillation with a heart rate in the 140s and above, permanently.

And - when the tachycardia resolves, so does usually the heart failure.

I assume your PSVT is not extremely rapid (240+) and does not last for hours and days each time.

That said, if you have a family history of heart attacks before age 30, you should be very carefully examined for a possible genetic cause, and if you have risk factors, get them modified or treated. I assume you are not smoking, if you are, quit immidiately..