Tachycardia Concerns!

[Intandem]

I have been diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia along with a sinus arrhythmia. This is a result of negligence on my part and not watching what substances I put into my body.

I am only 21 but experience SVT (or PSVT?) on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, depending. I'm not quite sure what triggers my SVT but it is quite nerve racking. I experience chest-discomfort on a daily basis and also find it difficult to catch a full breath, although I do if I try yawning a few times.

I have quit smoking cigarettes, marijuana, drinking alcohol, and partaking in other substances (stimulants) for over 2 months now.

I am quite frightened, to the point where I am afraid to go for walks as the last episode was triggered going for a brisk walk after returning from seeing my doctor who gave me my diagnosis. I sometimes feel a light sensation in or around my heart area, a butterfly sensation along with a light discomfort when I breath at times (although this may be in my head?).

I have been prescribed Teva-Dilitizem, taking one 30mg tablet daily. I have been on it for only a few days now but do not notice any effects as of yet.

I am concerned about my health and whether or not I am in imminent danger, especially whilst exercising. I've had 2 ekgs performed as well as an echocardiogram and they've all returned positive results except for the sinus arrhythmia and SVT that a holter monitor picked up (heart rate shot up to 170). I believe my cardiologist also said my left ventricle is slightly enlarged but that could be due to stress.

These palpitations are driving me crazy and I am paralyzed by fear in not knowing when the next episode of SVT will occur. So now I don't move anymore than I have to.

My main inquiry is how much danger am I in? Is it safe to exercise (mainly walking) with SVT? Even when I experience SVT whilst walking at times?  If my echo came out fine but I still have SVT/tachycardia, does that mean my heart is healthy and can take the palpitations/SVT without risk of sudden death or atrial fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia? Do you recommend that I exercise anyway and that it is safe to do so? My doctor told me exercise is good for the heart and to cut down if I experience palpitations. Well that same day while walking I had an episode and sat down to get my heart rate down while trying to take deep breaths and not panic. I hate this!!! Anyhow, I am hoping for a 2nd opinion from someone who may have an idea of what I am going through! Thanks!

[MichelleP_3811]

I would not advise exercising while you are having an episode but when you are free definitely exercise.  It may not be able to stop the episodes but you will find you can tolerate them much better when your heart is healthier.  

[Walnut66]

Someone told me that when their heartbeat is getting really high and they are panicking, to do some jumping jacks which kind of manipulates your heart into thinking your exercising and it will eventually go down. To me this sounds like a really scary thing to do..Have you ever heard of this?

[Walnut66]

Someone told me that when their heartbeat is getting really high and they are panicking, to do some jumping jacks which kind of manipulates your heart into thinking your exercising and it will eventually go down. To me this sounds like a really scary thing to do..Have you ever heard of this?

[Intandem]

I used to consider myself somewhat active, walking everyday and I used to work out. However now I am reluctant as even a simple walk or mowing the lawn can trigger an SVT. I hate being away from home when an SVT hits as I have no cell phone to call anybody and I'm stuck walking back atleast 15-20 mins during an episode.

Is this safe? Should I stop everything I'm doing when it occurs and sit down? The last time it happened I was out on a brisk walk and 20 mins in I feel a palpitation and than boom my heart rate shoots up. I walked a little bit further and found a place to sit down (was around a bunch of university students so I didn't want to panic). I was able to calm myself down and my heart rate settled after 5 mins or so. I then continued walking but felt a slight pain where my heart would be.

I am just worried that by putting myself through these exercises am I going to damage my heart or possibly end up dead?

[MichelleP_3811]

Have you been told exactly what type of svt you have?  I assume your condition is not life threatening.  I would think if it were your doctors would have let you know this.  However it is unclear to me whether you have simple sinus tachycardia or if you have a reentry type tachycardia.  Does the heart rate start and stop suddenly or does the beat gradually get faster and then gradually slows down after you rest?  Either way unless you have been told you have Ventricular Tachycardia you are likely not in any real danger.  Nothing is 100% guarenteed in life but the chances of you dieing from the svt are extremely rare.  I would, however, sit down and let the episode pass if you can but I moved around quite a bit when I was having episodes and never passed out or had any other complications.  Again, the exercising helped this tremendously.  Prior to exercising it was very difficult to tolerate the episodes.  I would have to lay down but once I got some cardio vascular exercising in the episodes were just a bit tiring.  My heart would feel sore as well depending on how long the episode lasted but the key to heart pain is if it sustains.  If it comes and goes it is likely not anything to be too concerned about as well.  Considering you just gave up a lifestyle that is pretty hard on the heart I would give your heart a chance to rest up and heal.  You may find that a lot of your symptoms go away the farther away you get from the unhealthy lifestyle you were living.  But you always have a right to get clarification from your doctor.  He is the best person to advise you on your health and wellbeing.

[Intandem]

No I haven't been told what type of SVT I have. Usually when the SVT occurs there's a palpitation (or a skipping of a beat) that precedes the episode whereupon my heart rate will race up to 170+ then settle when I sit down and calm myself. Othertimes, such as the last time I cut the grass, my heart rate shot up to 170 and was recorded on a holter monitor, but it wasn't until 3 hours after I cut the grass that I experienced palpitations in the shower (felt like my heart skipped a beat two or three times then raced then slowed down but no tachycardia). This wasn't picked up on the holter as it was after the allotted time.

[MichelleP_3811]

Well again, I can only go by my own symptoms and it may not be the same for you but I have had both conditions, avnrt svt and pvcs.  The avnrt would cause a sudden rapid heart rate around 230bpm.  The pvcs when they are flaring can cause me to have sinus tachycardia where my heart rate jumps to the 160s on exersion.  The two types of fast heart rate are and feel significantly different.  With the sinus tachycardia, which to me sounds like you have, the heart rate is simply faster than it should be and mostly just causes me to become short of breath.  Once I have rested a bit my heart rate will go back down.  But in general when I am having a bad pvc day I will have a faster heart rate on exersion and also my resting rate in general will be pretty sporadic but generally on the high side.  So unless you get diagonsed with a reentry svt there is not too much that the doctors will likely do beyond putting you on bp medicine.  Unfortunately those with pvcs are pretty much left to manage them for ourselves for the most part.  But again, it is very possible, once your heart has healed a bit your symptoms will subside to a less bothersome status.  They may never go away but hopefully they will ease up for you in the near future.

[Intandem]

Well I notice the "palpitation" usually happens when I breath in (which is related to my sinus arrhythmia?) and then the tachycardia starts. Would sinus arrhythmia be linked to sinus tachycardia or do they have no correlation?

The other time, which was before I had seen the cardiologist, the SVT came out of nowhere. I was sitting in class reading a book when I felt my heart gurgle or do something weird then all of a sudden my heart rate shot up and I panicked and walked home lol