what is dangerous in psvt

Question

So i have psvt or atleast i hope its not ventricular tachycardia, at any rate depending on the time sometimes ill have like 10 episodes a day for several days then it lessens and skips like a few weeks or a month and sometimes less frequent like once a day every other day. my heart rate goes around 250 bpm it beats hard, my body shakes, then when it slows down, it skips a few beats for 2-3 seconds and goes to 60ish. it hurts but i learned to live with it. mostly sit before i pass out. i can sometimes feel it coming on, like its not beating right and my chest tightens up, and sure enough it goes off. i had it since i can remember, and was told about 3 yrs ago what it can be. i just want to know if what i have is a norm for this condition?im bad and drink a coffee energy drink a day for work or i cant function but ofcourse that gets it worse. i'de hate for my heart to stop one day, so just wanna know if im at risk of that?i can usually hold my breath and make it go away too but i have to lay down. and no im not on anything for it at all, so yeah a bit worried, im 21 by the way as far as i know i don't have an abnormal heart structure wise. thnx.

This discussion is related to PSVT Treatment: beta-blockers, ablation, or nothing.

Mom2four85 · Answer

Here's some simple easy to read info from a great website I've been a member of for about a year as well as MH - www. skipping hearts . c o m - take out the spaces and do it as a web address or just google skipping hearts.  On the front page there is a heart terms glossary with tons of info that you may want to take a look at. 

http://www.skippinghearts.com/articles/category/glossary/letter-P/ Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT) is a rapid heart rate, which begins and ends suddenly (paroxysmal).  PSVT starts with events taking place above the ventricle.

Normally, the chambers of the heart (atria and ventricles) contract in a coordinated manner.  The contractions are caused by an electrical signal that begins in the sinoatrial node (also called the sinus node or SA node).  The signal is conducted through the atria (the upper chambers) and stimulates the atria to contract.

there's a bit more information on psvt that I didn't post, but you get the general idea

Here's medhelp info on PSVT:  http://www.medhelp.org/medical-information/show/4380/Paroxysmal-supraventricular-tachycardia-PSVT

This is from Medhelp - Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is an occasional rapid heart rate. "Paroxysmal" means from time to time.  It is generally not life threatening, unless other heart disorders are present
  
look on the prognosis page; you need to get a full cardio workup to figure out what's going on - because of the sporadic nature of the PSVT, the diagnosis may require 24-hour Holter monitoring or  a "loop recorder".

tiggercat513 · Answer

the dangerous part in svt is similar to the danger of vt. your heart is beating so fast that the ventricles cannot fill with blood between contractions. Your blood pressure can plummet and you can faint or even die. In my case at 238 bpm my blood pressure was 0/0 and i passed out in my kitchen.

Have you seen a cardiologist about this? I would do so right away as any type of vt is potentially life threatening.

best of luck, Lynne