Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia

Question: What is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?

Answer: sally, It is a sudden, brief acceleration of the top two chambers of the heart. It used to be called "paroxysmal atrial tachycardia," but the name has been changed. It comes in two basic forms, "focal" and "re-entrant." The focal type means that an extra "circuit" in the electrical connections inside the heart exists. There are a few spots where this happens most commonly, such as at the pulmonary veins. They can cause a burst of electrical "firings" that will speed up the atria. If it is really bothersome, they usually need to be zapped with radio-frequency energy and killed. Then the heart will act normally. The other one, the "re-entrant" kind, has an extra pathway or two from either of the two nodes in the right atrium, usually the sinus node high in the chamber. The signal started by the sinus node travels a short distance toward teh other node, the AV (atriaoventricular) node, but part of the signal flows into this other pathway and goes back to the sinus node where it triggers another signal for another beat, and so the two atria beat several times as fast as they normally do. This goes on for a brief time, then quits. The reason this happens is because the heart electrically is just two chambers. The atria beat together, and the ventricles beat together. The signal starts high in the right atria, in the SA (sinoatrial) node, the "sinus" node, which acts as the heart's pacemaker. The signal then travels down to the AV node, which is the heart's gatekeeper, allowing some signals through, but not others. This is when the atria beat. Then the signal travles through the only path between the atria and the ventricles, the Bundle of His, and then down the Purgenje Fibers down the septum between the ventricles, and then around the apex (the bottom, the point) of the heart, and partway back up the sides ofhte ventricles. This is when they beat. It doesn't take much electricity to get the job done, just a microvolt or less, but it all starts in the sinus node. If it is disturbed, the beating of the heart will become abnormal. In the case of PSVT, it is usually benign. Most of us experience that, and it causes no problem. There are conditions, however, that could feel like PSVT that aren't, and so if you are experiencing PSVT regularly, and if it lasts longer than a minute, you might want your doctor to have a look. An ekg tracing that catches it will tell immediately if it is PSVT or atrial flutter, a condition that you would want treated or at least watched for a time by a professional. Good luck.

Question: I want join the air-force or Navy, will i get DQ for having paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)? It been over 8 months since i had any attacks and they just told me to get off the caffeine and coffee. I only had one attack this whole year. I think it was after I had a coffee drink and excerin. I just wanted to join because a friend of mine had a good experience. He did not know what to in life, now he does.

Answer: Don't join the military. I was in for 6 years and it was a nightmare. If you are having attacks now, just wait until you're in basic training!

Question: How can I exercise if I have Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia? I would just like to know some basic exercises I can do to increase aerobically and anaerobically. I usually have a heart rate in the mid 100's as it is, but recently I have been very stressed. It is around 230-275. Sometimes it spikes to 312 bpm. I figure exercise is a great way to reduce my stress, but I don't want to do anything that would put my life in danger. Thank you to all that contribute. =) You're right. I did forget to mention how long each episode lasts. Well, it depends on my stress. If it is something that upset me very much, then it can last to 30 minutes or so in the 300 range. I can remember one time when I was extremely stressed (for fear that I may lose my job) and it stayed at a constant BPM of 290-312. It did peak at 324 BPM. It truly just depends what mindset I am in. If i am very stressed and keep thinking about it, then my BPM stays high.

Answer: Ask your doctor about putting you on beta blockers. My daughter takes atenolol to lower her heart rate. She also has supraventrical tachycardia due to Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. Her heart rate has been as high as 286 bpm. But now that she is on the beta blockers her bpm stays pretty normal. If your SVT gets too bad and con not be controlled with beta blockers, you can have a procedure done called an ablation. This is usually done through an incision in the groin. The wire a catheter like tube to your heart and burn out the extra circuit that is making your heart beat too fast. Have you tried any of the vagal maneuvers to slow your heart rate?

Question: Do all heart problems effect RAF eligability? Im currently 15 and have always wanted to be in the RA but have recently found out that i have a heart condition called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia that should havegone away years ago, i was wondering if i could have this and still be a pilot in the raf or commercialy? thanks

Answer: any tachycardia will disqualify you.

Question: Should I just wait to find out what's wrong? For about the last week and a half every day my heart will suddenly start pounding, I'll get sharp shooting chest pains, neck gets painful, my throat will constrict so it's difficult to breathe and sometimes my leg or arm will ache or go numb. This lasts 1-2hours then goes away and comes again roughly six hours later. On Saturday it happened the worst and I went to the ER, by the time I got there it was over and I was just lethargic. They did Chest Xray, EKG, and a CT and found nothing out of the normal. I saw a doctor Monday who said it may be Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT) but they'd have to have me spend 24hours with a heart monitor to be sure and I have to wait awhile before that can happen. Now my question, would it be OK to smoke Cannabis while still unsure of what is causing my problems? This all started up after about a month of NOT smoking, and I have smoked since and felt awesome no problem but would rather know it's safe than chancing it. /dumb question

Answer: Considering you have had issues with your heart, I would not advise you to smoke anything as this may trigger something more serious than what you've experienced already!