ABC Medical Center > Supraventricular tachycardia

What is Supraventricular tachycardia?

21:56 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

It is a heart condition in which there are episodes where the heart beats much faster (between 150 and 250 times per minute) than normal (60 to 100 beats per minute), caused by abnormal atrial signals.

Supraventricular tachycardia occurs when the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat have a dysfunction due to a specific trigger such as excessive exercise, stressful periods, or little sleep, although sometimes it can appear without apparent cause.

Likewise, there are several potential risks capable of causing it, such as:

  • Alcohol abuse.
  • Cocaine.
  • Methamphetamines.
  • Stress.
  • Heart conditions.
  • Being pregnant.
  • Smoking.
  • Thyroid conditions.
  • Some drugs.
  • Chronic lung disease.
  • Excessive caffeine intake.

Supraventricular tachycardia is classified into three types:

  • Atrial: it is common in patients with heart conditions.
  • Due to reentry of the atrioventricular node: it is the most common, especially in young women.
  • Reciprocal atrioventricular: its incidence is higher in young people of both sexes.

Signs and symptoms Supraventricular tachycardia

  • Accelerated heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute.
  • Exhaustion.
  • Sore chest.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Dizziness.
  • Chest palpitations.
  • Fluttering sensation in the neck.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Loss of consciousness.

If left untreated, this condition can cause chronic heart failure or trigger a heart attack.

Diagnosis and treatment Supraventricular tachycardia

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request blood tests, an electrocardiogram, a Holter monitor, an echocardiogram, an event monitor, an implantable loop recorder, a stress test, and an electrophysiology test.

When the condition is mild, treatment is not usually required, but when the events are recurrent and intense, drugs will be prescribed and procedures such as cardioversion, carotid sinus massage, and vagal maneuvers will be recommended.

In more serious cases, it will be necessary to perform a catheter ablation or, as the last option, the implantation of a pacemaker.

At the Cardiovascular Center, we offer you a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services to take care of you through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model. Come to us, we want to hear your heart.

Fuentes:

  • fundaciondelcorazon.com
  • stanfordchildrens.org
  • myhealth.ucsd.edu
  • msdmanuals.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • texasheart.org
  • medigraphic.org
  • Martínez-Sebastián A, Mansilla-Roig B. Taquicardia supraventricular en lactante con taquimiocardiopatía secundaria: a propósito de un caso. Acta Pediatr Mex. 2021;42(6):289-293.
  • Puerta ZMJ, Mora PG, Mendoza BF. Diferencias clínicas y demográficas entre pacientes con troponina positiva y negativa que acudieron con taquicardia supraventricular y dolor torácico a los servicios de urgencias. CorSalud. 2018;10(3):184-191.
  • Viruez SJA, Ibáñez VBR, Vallejo NCM, et al. Taquicardia supraventricular y embarazo. Caso de medicina crítica en obstetricia. Med Crit. 2015;29(4):240-243.
  • Carballés GJF, Dopazo AMV, Rodríguez OW, et al. Recomendaciones para el tratamiento de urgencia de las taquicardias supraventriculares en edad pediátrica. Rev Cubana Pediatr. 2013;85(3):.

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