svt

[conno8]

could someone please tell me what causes svts and what type of treatment is used to cure it  (can it be cured) or control them, also i see on the forum some people choose not to have any treatment , is this dangerous or are the side effects that bad. thanks.

[benjy9]

sorry guys i forgot to say i changed my name from conno8 to benjy9

[benjy9]

thanks for your reply , at the moment im on beta blockers but the  doc is having trouble getting the dose right, last week he had to cut back because my heart rate was too slow (34 beats a minute) . my first svt happened 3 years ago it lasted 20 minutes and stopped as fast as it started, the next one came on dec 20 07 and lasted about an hour , so i said to my self must get this checked out but with christmas so close i said id do it in the new year (big mistake).on new years eve got another one that didnt stop after an hour so headed for the er where they stopped it with an injection.so here i am 3 months later waiting to get more tests done . i havent had an svt since on the beta blockers but when i take them i feel tired.i also had all my blood tests tyriod blood pressure come back ok.thanks again for your help it means a lot to talk and read with others who have the same problems..........

[rosetoes]

There are different types of SVT and I had AVNRT.  I had an extra electric curcuit in my heart that reared it's ugly head when I was 49.  It took me two years of trying other things (prayers included) before I decided to have an ablation.  Beta Blockers are an alternative...they didn't work for me.  I had a break thru episode while on them.  I just became tired of anticipating when the next episode would happen.  It really consumed my life.  I hear that people have episodes for 2 hours and the rapid beat would stop.  I couldn't tolerate the rapid beat for more than 20 minutes before I was heading to the emergency room.

Having the ablation was the best thing that I could have done....I can just kick myself for waiting two years before having it....my quality of life was awlful for two years.  The ablation sounds far worse than it is.

Best Wishes,
Rose  

[dolfnlvr]

However, whenever any of us has a new symptom or sudden onset of symptoms not previously experienced it is important to contact a doctor for examination.  SVT can be benign, but it can also be a sign of something more serious, so have it checked out first, then discuss treatment options with your doctor.

Good luck.

[krue]

If they don't last to long [ two hrs being long and are not frequent] You need not worry because they won't kill you and even the ones that won't stop can be teated in the E.R. to stop them and a person does not have any permanent damage. But can be pretty annoying if you have to go to the E.R. all the time!

[Artaud]

Hi,

To be sure we are all on the same topic, you need to know what type of SVT that you have. SVT means Supraventricular Tachycardia, in other words, an Arrhythmia whose origin is above the Ventricles. Supra means "above".

From an online source:

"The term supraventricular tachycardia is often used differently in different settings. Properly, it refers to any tachycardia that is not ventricular in origin. This definition includes sinus tachycardia. Often, however, in a clinical setting, it is used loosely as a synonym for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), which refers to those SVTs that have a sudden, almost immediate onset. A person experiencing PSVT may see his heart rate go from 90 to 180 beats per minute instantaneously. Because sinus tachycardias (and some other SVTs) have a gradual (i.e. non-immediate) onset, they are excluded from the PSVT category. PSVTs are usually AV nodal reentrant tachycardias."

For a little more information on the topic, search Google for [ supraventricular tachycardia wiki ] without the brackets of course. The first link should take you to the Wikipedia article. Don't get weighed down in the more technical aspects of the article, and always follow your Doctor's recommendations or consult with him/her before making any changes the treatment plan.

Also, remember that despite how attractive Wikipedia Articles can be, they are not necessarily written by people with adequate knowledge for the topic, so always consult with your Doctor if you have any questions.

Be well.

[SillyHeart]

SVT can be caused by a number of things such as electrolyte imbalances or thyroid disorders.  However, in many cases no one is sure what causes it.

Treatments included medications, which sometimes work and sometimes don't, and radiofrequency ablation which is a minor surgical procedure that is often curative.

If you don't treat them at all you're probably going to be ok unless you have very frequent episodes, or unless it is causing psychological anguish for you.