Can you live a normal healthy live with svt?

SVT is, like all heart arrythmias, potentially dangerous. When they self-correct after a while, that is good. But the heart gets tired running at even 140 BPM let alone 240 for very long, so you want it controlled as much as possible. https://www.acc.org/education-and-meetings/patient-case-quizzes/atrial-fibrillation-atrial-tachycardia-whats-the-difference

Generally, except for ventricular tachycardia, which is exceedingly dangerous, SVT only involves the upper left chamber of the heart, the left atrium, and generally, like atrial fibrillation, the foci or re-entrants of the unwanted voltage seems to be around the ostia of the pulmonary veins. So, a catheter ablation is often the way to treat either arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation is an irregularly irregular fast twitching of the left atrium. SVT is regular rhythm in terms of the distance between the P waves, but they come much to frequently and are therefore out of synch with the large ventricle below the atrium...and that's why it is still considered an arrhythmia.

You can go a long time in the paroxysmal state, providing any one bout doesn't go longer than about 24 hours, or whatever your cardiologist/EP tells you. After an ablation for my AF, the pamphlet said that AF can still occur during the 'blanking' period of about 3 months post surgery. If that happens, it's usually short-lived, but to go to the ER if it persists longer than 24 hours above 100 BPM. In your case, with your atrium beating so rapidly, I would not advise waiting more than a couple of hours. Better safe than sorry.

Here is an excellent clinical review of SVT from the National Libraries of Medicine. SVT and all arrhythmias are very complex. We are fortunate to have SVT which is considered a more benign arrhythmia. I have had SVT for 40 years. I get it 6-8 times per year and it is almost always associated w exercise. I take a beta blocker when I have SVT. And more recently have used the REVERT maneuver which has now worked 6/6 time a for me! The NLM article references the REVERT procedure and my cardiologist also endorsed it. I have now used the REVERT in my home, on a hike in the woods twice and most recently in the swimming pool. I am delighted that this works and I now take my beta blocker ( inderal) only if the REVERT doesn’t work. I recently saw a cardiac electrophysiologist who offered an ablation but was totally supportive of my decline and my current management with REVERT and beta blockers.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441972/

CMCG,
Yes, two forum streams of SVT. But, that's fine.
As Gloaming suggests, having any abnormal heart beat for a long time period "ain't" good.
So, Valsalva or Revert, try your best to stop it quickly. If I ever lose my ability to stop it within seconds or, at most, a few minutes, then I will gladly consider medication or, if medication doesn't work, surgical ablation.
But, my suggestion to folks with PSVT is to at least try Valsalva or Revert before jumping to medication or ablation. If you have SVT all throughout the day and night then your cardiologist will strongly suggest medical or surgical intervention.

Thanks, that very reassuring to know that.

You can absolutely live a normal life! Work w your cardiologist and cardiology nurse if there is one. Know your maneuvers and at what point you would take meds. My SVT has rarely lasted more than an hour, hour and a half at longest. Some of the other arrhythmias are not as responsive to meds and maneuvers aren’t recommended. It’s important to know you have SVT and review w your cardiologist your maneuvers, your meds and how soon you should expect resolution. And other options if you aren’t comfortable. When I saw the electrophysiologist she mentioned that some people are so wigged out, that they want an ablation right away. Others are more comfortable managing, have quick resolution and go on w their day.

I'm 66 and I've SVT since 2007. The doctor put me on metoprolol and lisinopril to help control my episodes. It took a couple of months but they've got it to where I don't even have any anymore. Haven't had any in 16 years knock on wood. It'll take you a while to get over being scared that you're going to get an SVT episode whenever you get a little nervous or you work out a little too hard. You'll be fine.

Thanks. That is very encouraging.

I maybe should have went a little more in-depth yesterday. I do everything now that I used to do 20-30 years ago. Except running up and down the basketball court. I eat what I want, drink what I want and I have absolutely no complications now. For the longest time I was scared. Never knowing when one would come on. But the valsalva maneuver worked for me every time. Before I knew about it one time I laid there for 45 minutes and it went away on its own. Which I've read is normal. So don't feel like you got to sit there and watch TV all day or stay in the house. Get out and live!

I'm definitely not going to stop exercising I walk 10 to 12 miles a day. And weight lift four days a week, been doing that for 40 years. After finding out what is wrong and for the most part is not life threatening and knowing other people our going through the same issues as me makes a world of difference.

I sure hope so! I’m only 32 with three little boys and a fourth on the way and I get constant PVCs, some bouts of SVT and frequent inappropriate sinus tachycardia. I feel like my life is over…. Idk what to do😭