Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

  • Overview
  • Appointments
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
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    • 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.

    Explore the Congenital Heart Center

    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
    • Cardiology Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
      Entrance 1, Level 2
      Brighton, MI 48116-9416       Get Directions
    • Cardiology Clinic | Northville Health Center 39901 Traditions Dr
      Floor 2
      Northville, MI 48168-9493       Get Directions
    • Electrophysiology Services | Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
      Floor 3 Reception C
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856       Get Directions

    Patient Resources

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Kelly Arps, MD

    Kelly Arps, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease

    Michigan Photo

    Frank Matthias Bogun, MD

    Professor

    Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease

    Apurba Kent Chakrabarti, MD

    Apurba Kent Chakrabarti, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

    Aman Chugh, MD

    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

    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

    Emma Hegwood, DO

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

    Krit Jongnarangsin, MD

    Krit Jongnarangsin, MD

    Clinical Professor

    Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease

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    Providers

     Search for a U-M Health provider     Caitlin Sommer Boyak, NP

    Caitlin Sommer Boyak, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

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    Mellissa Katrin Brieger, PA-C

    Physician Assistant

    Physician Assistant

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    Erin Christine Judge, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

    Nurse Practitioner

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    Tiffany Lee Luke, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

    Nurse Practitioner

    Nimita Mahadev Mehta, NP

    Nimita Mahadev Mehta, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

    Nurse Practitioner

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    Theresa Maureen Montney-Dowell, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

    Nurse Practitioner

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    Eryn Kyle Smith, PA-C

    Physician Assistant

    Physician Assistant

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    Meredith Victoria Smith, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

    Nurse Practitioner

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    Patricia Anselmo Sovitch, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

    Nurse Practitioner

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    Andrew Roger Stacey, NP

    Advanced Practice Nurse

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