Supraventricular tachycardia

Atrial tachycardia Atrial tachycardia is a fast heartbeat (arrhythmia). It's a type of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). During an atrial tachycardia episode, the heart rate increases to more than 100 beats a minute before returning to a typical heart rate of around 60 to 80 beats a minute. An episode may start gradually or it may start abruptly. Atrial tachycardia can cause a feeling of a pounding or racing heartbeat, light-headedness, dizziness, and fainting. Diagnosis Tests and procedures used to diagnose atrial tachycardia may include: • Blood tests to check for thyroid disorders, heart disease or other conditions linked to atrial tachycardia • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to measure the electrical activity of the heart and measure the timing and duration of each heartbeat • Holter monitor, a portable ECG device that is worn for a day or more to record the heart's rate and rhythm during daily activities • Echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to produce images of the heart's size, structure and motion A health care provider might try to trigger an episode of atrial tachycardia with other tests, which may include: • Stress test, which monitors heart activity while exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike • Electrophysiological (EP) study and cardiac mapping, which allows the health care provider to see how electrical signals spread through the heart during each heartbeat Treatment Treatment of atrial tachycardia depends on the severity of the condition and its ...

ECG strip showing a normal heartbeat ECG strip showing tachycardia Tachycardia in adults refers to a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. How that’s defined may depend on your age and physical condition. Types of tachycardias Atrial or Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Atrial or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a fast heart rate that starts in the upper chambers of the heart. Some forms of this tachycardia are paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). With atrial or supraventricular tachycardia, electrical signals in the heart’s upper chambers occur abnormally. There may also be structural abnormalities of the heart.This interferes with electrical impulses coming from the sinus node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. The disruption results in a faster than normal heart rate. This rapid heartbeat keeps the heart’s chambers from filling completely between contractions, which may compromise blood flow to the rest of the body. Risk factors for Atrial or SVT In general, those most likely to have atrial or supraventricular tachycardia are: • Children (SVT is the most common type of arrhythmia in kids) • Women, to a greater degree than men • Young people with anxiety • People who are middle-aged and older You are at increased risk for atrial tachycardia or SVT if you: • Drink alcohol heavily • Smoke heavily or use illegal drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine • Have coronary artery disease, have had heart surgery or othe...

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a very rapid heartbeat (usually between 151 and 250 beats per minute, or BPM) and can cause a number of serious health issues. It’s seen in just over There are several types of SVT, with each involving a different part of the A cardiac monitor is used to record the heart to identify an abnormal rhythm. Treatment for SVT ranges from tips you can apply at home to procedures that can get rid of or bypass the source of this condition. Supraventricular tachycardia is actually a group of arrhythmias — or abnormal heart rhythms — characterized by an unusually fast heartbeat. The phrase “supraventricular” means that the issue happens above the heart’s two lower chambers (ventricles). The two upper chambers are the atria. Tachycardia refers to any type of rapid heartbeat. Normally, the electrical signal that starts every heartbeat originates in the sinoatrial (SA) node in the upper right atrium. Then, it travels through the heart’s circuitry to the atrioventricular (AV) node in the lower right atrium and down into the ventricles to help them pump blood out of the heart. Along the way, the electrical impulse travels through the rest of the heart muscle, causing it to contract. This usually happens in a very coordinated and synchronized manner. When your heart is in SVT, the electrical signal comes from somewhere else instead of the SA node — sometimes even from the AV node where it’s supposed to travel through. Because the heart beats much faste...

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a type of abnormal heart rhythm, or What happens during PSVT? A normal heartbeat begins with an electrical impulse from the sinus nod e, a small area in the heart's right atrium (upper chamber). PSVT occurs because of a short circuit — an abnormal electrical pathway made of heart cells — that allows electricity to speed around in a circle and repeat the signal over and over. As a result, the chambers contract rapidly, which may impair heart function and cause symptoms such as lightheadedness or shortness of breath. What causes PSVT? The short circuit is caused by one of three conditions and will have a different location and behavior depending on the cause. Atrioventricular Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardia (AVNRT) Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common cause of PSVT. It occurs when a small extra pathway exists in or near the AV node — the "gate" that sends electricity from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles). An electrical impulse that enters this pathway will circle rapidly, causing a sudden (paroxysmal), fast heartbeat in both the atria and the ventricles. AVNRT is not a life-threatening arrhythmia, but it can cause symptoms such as lightheadedness or Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW) Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome occurs when an extra muscle fiber connects the upper and lower chambers of the heart. In normal hearts, the only connection between the upper and lower...

Supraventricular tachycardia ( SVT) is an umbrella term for Supraventricular tachycardia Other names Supraventricular arrhythmia Lead II Types Causes Treatment Medications, medical procedures, surgery Frequency ~3% These abnormal rhythms start from either the A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A resting heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute is defined as a tachycardia. During an episode of SVT, the heart beats about 150 to 220 times per minute. Specific treatment depends on the type of SVT Problems playing this file? See Signs and symptoms can arise suddenly and may resolve without treatment. Stress, exercise, and emotion can all result in a normal or physiological increase in heart rate, but they can precipitate SVT in rare cases. Episodes can last from a few minutes to one or two days. They sometimes persist until treated. The rapid heart rate, if fast enough, reduces the opportunity for the "pump" to fill between beats decreasing • • Rapid heart beat • • • • • Sweating • Symptoms of heart arrhythmias, such as SVT, are more difficult to assess in infants and toddlers because of their limited ability to communicate. Caregivers should watch for lack of interest in feeding, shallow breathing, and lethargy. These symptoms may be subtle and may be accompanied by vomiting and/or a decrease in responsiveness. Subtypes of SVT can often be distinguished by their • • Sinoatrial node reentrant tachycardia (SANRT) is caused by a • Ectopic (unifocal) au...

What is supraventricular tachycardia? Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) is a kind of abnormally fast heart rhythm (heartbeat). It's a problem in the electrical system of the heart. The word supraventricular means above the ventricles. With SVT, the abnormal rhythm starts in the upper heart chambers (atria). This condition is also called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. That's because the fast heart rhythms may start and stop abruptly. They can also occur with intervals of normal heart rhythm. Normally, a special group of cells begin the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat. These cells are in the sinoatrial (SA) node. In an adult, the sinus node sends out a regular electrical pulse 60 to 100 times per minute at rest. This node is in the right atrium, the upper right chamber of your heart. The signal quickly travels down your heart’s conducting system to the ventricles, the 2 lower chambers of your heart. Along the way, the signal moves through the atrioventricular (AV) node, a special group of cells between your atria and your ventricles. From there, the signal travels to your left and right ventricle. As it travels, the signal triggers nearby parts of your heart to contract. This helps your heart pump in a coordinated way. In SVT, the signal to start your heartbeat doesn’t come from the SA node. Instead, it comes from another part of the left or right atrium, or from the AV node. An area outside the SA node begins to fire quickly, causing a rapid heart...

Overview What is SVT (supraventricular tachycardia)? When your heart rhythm isn’t normal or the speed of the heartbeats isn’t right, you might have an arrhythmia. There are different names for different kinds of arrhythmias, depending on where they happen in the heart and what causes the problem. Tachycardia means your heart is beating too fast. It can reach more than 100 beats a minute while resting. With SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), your fast heart rate begins in your upper heart chambers. The cause is a problem with the electrical signals and circuitry in the heart. When your heart is beating too fast, your heart can’t fill with blood between beats, making it hard to get enough blood to your body. Think about it like this: If elevator doors close too quickly, people don’t have enough time to get into the elevator before the doors close. Similarly, when the heart beats too quickly, there’s not enough time to fill with blood before the heart chambers contract. There are • • Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). • Accessory pathway tachycardias such as Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. • AV (atrioventricular) nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). • • • Atrial flutter. Who does SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) affect? Children and adults can get SVT (supraventricular tachycardia). Women get it more than men. Others are more likely to get this condition because they: • Have anxiety. • Drink more alcohol than recommended by your provider. • Smoke or use...

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an arrhythmia or rapid heartbeat. A normal heartbeat is caused by an electrical impulse traveling through the heart. The electrical impulse originates in the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node, or SA node), most often located in the top of the right atrium. The electrical signals travel through the heart tissue to the bottom chambers of the heart, called the ventricles. The electrical impulse causes the top chambers (atria) and bottom chambers (ventricles) of the heart to beat regularly and sequentially. In SVT, a series of early beats in the atria speeds up the heart rate. The rapid heartbeat (arrhythmia) does not allow the ventricles to fill with an adequate amount of blood, because an electrical signal is causing the heart to pump too fast. Causes of SVT Supraventricular tachycardia is by far the most common heart arrhythmia seen in infants and children. There are many types of SVT, but the most common form in children occurs when there is an extra electrical connection between the top and bottom chambers of the heart, called an accessory electrical pathway. The Cardiac Center team at CHOP will discuss the details of your child’s particular type of SVT, as well as the treatment options and any follow-up care your child will need. Signs and symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia Symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia in children may include: • Heart palpitations — an uncomfortable sensation caused by the heart beating ha...

Supraventricular tachycardia ( SVT) is an umbrella term for Supraventricular tachycardia Other names Supraventricular arrhythmia Lead II Types Causes Treatment Medications, medical procedures, surgery Frequency ~3% These abnormal rhythms start from either the A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A resting heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute is defined as a tachycardia. During an episode of SVT, the heart beats about 150 to 220 times per minute. Specific treatment depends on the type of SVT Problems playing this file? See Signs and symptoms can arise suddenly and may resolve without treatment. Stress, exercise, and emotion can all result in a normal or physiological increase in heart rate, but they can precipitate SVT in rare cases. Episodes can last from a few minutes to one or two days. They sometimes persist until treated. The rapid heart rate, if fast enough, reduces the opportunity for the "pump" to fill between beats decreasing • • Rapid heart beat • • • • • Sweating • Symptoms of heart arrhythmias, such as SVT, are more difficult to assess in infants and toddlers because of their limited ability to communicate. Caregivers should watch for lack of interest in feeding, shallow breathing, and lethargy. These symptoms may be subtle and may be accompanied by vomiting and/or a decrease in responsiveness. Subtypes of SVT can often be distinguished by their • • Sinoatrial node reentrant tachycardia (SANRT) is caused by a • Ectopic (unifocal) au...

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a very rapid heartbeat (usually between 151 and 250 beats per minute, or BPM) and can cause a number of serious health issues. It’s seen in just over There are several types of SVT, with each involving a different part of the A cardiac monitor is used to record the heart to identify an abnormal rhythm. Treatment for SVT ranges from tips you can apply at home to procedures that can get rid of or bypass the source of this condition. Supraventricular tachycardia is actually a group of arrhythmias — or abnormal heart rhythms — characterized by an unusually fast heartbeat. The phrase “supraventricular” means that the issue happens above the heart’s two lower chambers (ventricles). The two upper chambers are the atria. Tachycardia refers to any type of rapid heartbeat. Normally, the electrical signal that starts every heartbeat originates in the sinoatrial (SA) node in the upper right atrium. Then, it travels through the heart’s circuitry to the atrioventricular (AV) node in the lower right atrium and down into the ventricles to help them pump blood out of the heart. Along the way, the electrical impulse travels through the rest of the heart muscle, causing it to contract. This usually happens in a very coordinated and synchronized manner. When your heart is in SVT, the electrical signal comes from somewhere else instead of the SA node — sometimes even from the AV node where it’s supposed to travel through. Because the heart beats much faste...