SVT?

[davesd]

Hi, I have had this problem on and off ....and it's on right now.

In march/april I started to ride my bike....and would get a strange feeling in my chest after which I'd notice my heart rate would race and my breathing would be impacted. I'd stop for a minute and things would be fine. but eventually my energy level would diminish after 4-5 of these episodes during the ride.

Over the summer June, July, August....I had no issues. I'd ride 100 miles and up the steepest hills without any problems.

In late august....I slowly started to develop the problem again. I'd be riding just fine and all of a sudden I feel this weakness in my chest and pretty much have to stop.  

wearing my heartrate monitor...I was able to ride without symptoms below 155bpm. At the end of my last ride...I was coasting and my pulse was about 115bpm and I got out of my bike seat and exerted myself...within 3-5 seconds I got that wierd feeling in my chest and my rate shot up to 160...I stopped pedalling but my heart rate kept going to 175. I stopped riding and all of a sudden after about 30 -45seconds it dropped down to 120.

So....is this a type of SVT that is only excercise induced? And what would make it go away over the summer only to return now?  stress?

dave

[rr2465]

Hi Dave,

I was diagnosed with SVT this summer after over 6 years of dealing with symptoms similar to yours.  (I am a cyclist as well).  Looking back it may have been occuring for even longer than that.  What was once happening to me maybe once a year was happening every couple of months.  For the longest time I tried to pinpoint exactly what it was that caused my tachycardia - did I eat something strange?  Did I exercise too hard the day before?  Was I stressed?  To me what triggers tachycardia is still a mystery.  I could go for a 80 mile ride and feel just fine one day and go for a 30 mile ride and trigger it the next.

If I were in your shoes I would go to a cardiologist to check things out.  You'll want to determine if your problems are structural or electrical.  I would also start monitoring your heart rate and when the tachycardia occurs.  Keep a journal for yourself.

Good luck!

[Brooke_38]

Hi Dave...

It could be some type of exercise induced arrhythmia. But, it can only be assumed since there is no documentation of your heart's electrical activity during your symptoms.

I always think of the heart as being somewhat mysterious. Sometimes there are no answers to why it behaves they way it does. To try and answer "what would make it go away over the summer only to retun now?" If it is truly some form of SVT, it never goes away, unless it's ablated, it just lies dormant wiating to be triggered. Stress can play a role in the increase of your heart rate or palpitations.

The best advice I can give you is to see a cardiologist. Since your symptoms occur infrequently, an event monitor would be the best way to capture what's going on while you're having symptoms.  A stress test might be another way, since your symptoms are associated or brought on by exercise.

I hope that you are able to get to the root of this and return to your biking habits:)