Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
What is supraventricular tachycardia?
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a rapid heart rate (tachycardia) usually caused when electrical impulses originating at or above the atrioventricular node, or AV node (part of the heart's electrical control system which controls rate) are out of synch.
When a person goes into this arrhythmia, the heart beats at least 100 beats per minute and can be as high as 300 beats per minute. SVT is also known as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) or paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT).
People with SVT may go into this arrhythmia from time to time unrelated to exercise, stress or other common causes of a rapid heart rate. For most people, SVT is not dangerous. The heart continues to work normally, pumping blood through the body.
What are the symptoms and causes of SVT?
Some patients with SVT, which generally first arises in people in their teens and 20s, may have no symptoms, going in and out of the arrhythmia quickly. Others have symptoms, such as palpitations, a racing heart, sweating and feeling lightheaded or dizzy. SVT can become a problem requiring treatment if it lasts a long time or causes shortness of breath or chest pain.
Though most episodes of SVT are caused by the heart’s electrical system, other causes include certain drugs, health conditions, surgery and familial disorders, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Appointment Information
Call us at 888-287-1082 to schedule an appointment with a U-M Cardiovascular Center physician, get a prescription refill, or request to speak with your nurse.
Or visit the Make a Cardiovascular Appointment page to learn what to expect when you call us.
Heart Arrhythmias in Children
To learn more about SVT and other heart arrhythmias in children or to make an appointment for a child with a heart problem, visit the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center page.
How is SVT diagnosed?
SVT can be diagnosed by your doctor through a physical exam and questions about what triggers your fast or irregular heart rate. Tests include X-rays or an electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) to measure the heart's electrical activity and record SVT events. You may have to temporarily wear a portable EKG to pick up events as they occur.
How is SVT treated?
Treatments for SVT include medications you can take at the onset of symptoms, and “vagal maneuvers” which allow you to slow your heart rate yourself through coughing, gagging or putting your face in cold water. Another maneuver can be described as blowing into your fist as if it is a trumpet mouthpiece.
If you cannot resolve the SVT on your own, you may need to see your doctor or go to the ER for a fast-acting medication or even electrical cardioversion, a procedure that uses an electric current to reset the heart's rhythm.
To manage SVT on a regular basis there are medicines to slow the heart rate and prevent the onset of SVT. However, for more stubborn cases, there is a procedure called catheter ablation, which destroys the part of the heart that causes the problem. This procedure is the gold standard and has a 99 percent success rate. We do this procedure more than any other ablation.
There are ways to prevent SVT at home by avoiding certain triggers. Common triggers include alcohol, caffeine, smoking, some over-the-counter decongestants, diet pills, and drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
Locations
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Cardiology Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
Entrance 1, Level 2
Brighton, MI 48116-9416Get Directions -
Cardiology Clinic | Northville Health Center 39901 Traditions Dr
Floor 2
Northville, MI 48168-9493Get Directions -
Electrophysiology Services | Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
Floor 3 Reception C
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856Get Directions
Patient Resources
Doctors
Kelly Arps, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Frank Matthias Bogun, MD
Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Apurba Kent Chakrabarti, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine
Aman Chugh, MD
Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Thomas Christopher Crawford, MD
Clinical Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Amrish Deshmukh, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine
Hamid Ghanbari, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Michael Ghannam, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Emma Hegwood, DO
Clinical Assistant Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine
Krit Jongnarangsin, MD
Clinical Professor
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Providers
Caitlin Sommer Boyak, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Mellissa Katrin Brieger, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant
Erin Christine Judge, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Tiffany Lee Luke, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Nimita Mahadev Mehta, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Theresa Maureen Montney-Dowell, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Eryn Kyle Smith, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant
Meredith Victoria Smith, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Patricia Anselmo Sovitch, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
Andrew Roger Stacey, NP
Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
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