Supraventricular Tachycardia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

• If the fast heart rate does not stop by itself, you will be given oxygen and attached to an ECG (TV-type) monitor. Usually your doctor will try to slow your heartbeat without using medicine. He or she may place your face in ice water, rub an artery in your neck (carotid artery), ask you to strain or ""bear-down'', or just allow you to sleep.
• If the techniques above don't work, you will need to go to the hospital. There you will be given medicine through an IV tube and later by mouth. If the medicine does not slow your heart rate, you may need to have cardioversion (car-dee-o-VER-shun). This is an electrical shock to your heart.

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter cough, cold, or pain medicines. Some of these have medicine in them that will increase your heart rate.
• Always take your medicine as directed by your doctor. If you feel it is not helping, call your doctor. Do not quit taking it on your own.
• If you take aspirin regularly, continue to take it. Aspirin helps thin the blood so blood clots don't form. Do not take acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead.
• If your heart starts beating fast:
  • Try to slow it down by coughing, holding your breath, or bearing down as though you are having a bowel movement.
  • If the above does not work, lie down and relax. Sometimes your heart rate will slow down.
  • If neither of these techniques works, have someone drive you to your doctor's office or the nearest health care clinic or hospital.
• Ask your doctor to teach you how to count your pulse and make sure it is regular and strong.
• A diet low in fat, salt, and cholesterol is very important. It keeps your heart healthy and strong. Try to avoid foods with caffeine in them. Ask your doctor about the right foods to eat.
• It may take time getting used to a new diet. Special cookbooks may help the cook in your family find new recipes.
• Quit smoking. It reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your heart, making your heart work harder. If you are having trouble stopping, ask your doctor for help.
• Exercise daily. It helps make the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy. If your exercise plan seems too hard or too easy, check with your doctor.
• Weighing too much can make the heart work harder. If you need to lose weight, your doctor can recommend a plan for you.
• Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax (deep breathing, relaxing muscles, meditation, or biofeedback). Try to talk to someone about things that upset you.
• If you have other illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure, you need to control them. Take medicines as directed. Because of these illnesses, you have a higher chance of getting a heart attack.
• For more information about the heart, call the American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721) or call your local Red Cross.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You have chest pain during exercise that doesn't go away with rest.
• You are dizzy or nauseated after taking your medicine, or you have other problems that you think may be caused by your medicine. Make sure your are taking it as directed.
• Your pulse is slower or faster than usual when counted for 1 minute, and does not return to normal.
• You have trouble breathing while resting, have swelling in your feet or ankles, or feel more tired than usual.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• Your pulse is faster than usual when counted for 1 minute, and you feel dizzy or faint, have chest pain, or have trouble breathing. Call 911 or 0 (operator) to get to the nearest hospital or clinic. Do not drive yourself!

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell your doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the nasal prongs bother you.
• Pulse Oximeter: While you are getting oxygen, you may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-ih-ter). It is placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in your blood.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an electrocardiograph (e-LEK-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The patches on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or a small portable box (telemetry unit). This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be watched carefully until your condition has returned to normal.
• 12 Lead ECG: This test makes tracings from different parts of your heart. It can help your doctor gage the seriousness of the problem.
• Chest X-ray: This picture of your lungs and heart shows how they are handling the illness.
• Special Treatments: These may be needed to slow your heart rate before giving medicine. Do not try them by yourself unless told to do so. They include some of the same techniques you may have been asked to try earlier.
  • ""Pushing or bearing down'' as though you are having a bowel movement.
  • Holding your mouth and nose shut while trying to blow air out (like popping your ears).
  • Putting your face into cold water or swallowing ice water.
  • Allowing your doctor to rub an artery (carotid artery) in your neck (called carotid massage).
• Heart Medicine:
  • Drugs will be given in your IV to slow your heart rate. If you get dizzy, have pain, or feel other side effects after getting your medicine, call your doctor right away.
  • After your heart rate is back to normal, you will probably continue to need medicine to keep it under control. Or you may need medicine to control the disease that is causing the rapid beats.
• Cardioversion: This may be needed if medicine does not slow your heart rate. The procedure delivers an electric shock to the heart to return it to its normal rate. Before cardioversion, you will be given medicine to make you sleepy. After the procedure, you may need medicine to control your heart rate in the future.