Tachycardia Concerns!

[Intandem]

I have been diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia along with a sinus arrhythmia. This is a result of negligence on my part and not watching what substances I put into my body.

I am only 21 but experience SVT (or PSVT?) on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, depending. I'm not quite sure what triggers my SVT but it is quite nerve racking. I experience chest-discomfort on a daily basis and also find it difficult to catch a full breath, although I do if I try yawning a few times.

I have quit smoking cigarettes, marijuana, drinking alcohol, and partaking in other substances (stimulants) for over 2 months now.

I am quite frightened, to the point where I am afraid to go for walks as the last episode was triggered going for a brisk walk after returning from seeing my doctor who gave me my diagnosis. I sometimes feel a light sensation in or around my heart area, a butterfly sensation along with a light discomfort when I breath at times (although this may be in my head?).

I have been prescribed Teva-Dilitizem, taking one 30mg tablet daily. I have been on it for only a few days now but do not notice any effects as of yet.

I am concerned about my health and whether or not I am in imminent danger, especially whilst exercising. I've had 2 ekgs performed as well as an echocardiogram and they've all returned positive results except for the sinus arrhythmia and SVT that a holter monitor picked up (heart rate shot up to 170). I believe my cardiologist also said my left ventricle is slightly enlarged but that could be due to stress.

These palpitations are driving me crazy and I am paralyzed by fear in not knowing when the next episode of SVT will occur. So now I don't move anymore than I have to.

My main inquiry is how much danger am I in? Is it safe to exercise (mainly walking) with SVT? Even when I experience SVT whilst walking at times?  If my echo came out fine but I still have SVT/tachycardia, does that mean my heart is healthy and can take the palpitations/SVT without risk of sudden death or atrial fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia? Do you recommend that I exercise anyway and that it is safe to do so? My doctor told me exercise is good for the heart and to cut down if I experience palpitations. Well that same day while walking I had an episode and sat down to get my heart rate down while trying to take deep breaths and not panic. I hate this!!! Anyhow, I am hoping for a 2nd opinion from someone who may have an idea of what I am going through! Thanks!

[Intandem]

My blood pressure is 137/81 and if I recall correctly she said it was slightly enlarged

[Intandem]

Okay she said it was reentrent SVT but she won't know for sure until the results come back from the other hospital which can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months :\

I asked her about the left ventricle and she said its nothing to worry about right now, she's scheduling a scan of my lungs.

She said I should be 100% fine so who do I trust?

[Intandem]

Oh geeze

[grendslori]

Another thought: Thickened heart walls (hypertrophy) can develop electrical tracts through the muscle and those tracts are uaually easily accessable from the normal electrical pathways of the heart. That is why you can end up with SVT. What is important to know is if the fast heart rate starts and stops on a dime, or if it speeds up and then slows down. If it starts and stops on a dime, that is caused by the electrical impulse "jumping" over to the track that shouldn't be there; when it stops on a dime, it does so because the impulse "jumping" bact to the correct pathway. It's kind of like a train leaving one track and making a loop then returning to the original track again. A heart rate that increases and decreases over a short period of time is usually caused by breathing, stress and anxiety or exercising. If there is any question of LVH in you, walk as much as you can, but don't do any strenuous exercises until you have been fully cleared for that.

[grendslori]

Okay....an enlarged left ventricle that is caused by stress???? I have LVH, have a daughter that had severe left and right (concentric) hypertrophy that was killing her before her transplant,and having worked in the field of cardiology........I've NEVER, EVER heard that LVH can be caused by stress!!! And I studied A LOT about the different Cardiomyopathies, especially about HCM! Stress will aggreivate arrhythmias in patients with cardiomyopathies and if the cardiomyopathy is serious enough, the walls of the heart, due to a lack of bloodflow, can cause arrhythmias to happen more frequently, but to say stress can cause a LVH, I just can't believe she said that to you. High Blood Pressure is the most common cause of LVH, IF there is no genetic component involved, in other words there are family members who all have the disease. In HBP, the LVH would not be classified as a primary disease, it would in a genetic setting. Go for that next opinion; you need it to understand the LVH!!      

[Intandem]

I'm going to give my doctor a call tomorrow and ask her these questions, I'm not definite on what type of SVT I have.

Is an enlarged left ventricle something to be worried about?