Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

I am 72 years old and developed a heart rhythm problem after having Covid in 2022. I was told it was not AFib, but have been on a low dose of Metoprolol for over a year. I had a hysterectomy/prolapse surgery this past June and was told that my O2 level went down off and on while sleeping, so this past week did a sleep study and they said I had AFib during the study. I want to learn more so I can manage this.

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nonsustained-ventricular-tachycardia-clinical-manifestations-evaluation-and-management
Risk of NSVT for cardiac arrest apparently is when it is accompanied by structural heart issues like valve problems.

@gift440 I have afib with rapid ventricular response with heart rate up to 200. That is why I asked you for more info.

Ventricular tachycardia is indeed potentially lethal, and in just a few minutes. Depends on the heart's overall condition and history. SVT is not lethal, and many live with it largely untreated for years. It's the symptoms that make the difference. Some patients don't know they're fibrillating or in flutter, but the ECG will show it clearly. Others know because they feel faint, breathless, or they feel the thumping of the irregularly irregular beats of the chaotic atrium beating out of step with the ventricles below it.

So how does medication correct Tqachycardia?

There are two types of medicines, one for rate control when in tachycardia and one for rhythm regulation. Whichever of those two you need your cardiologist and/or EP will tell you.

Metoprolol interferes with adrenergic receptors in the heart. It prevents reactivity in the myocytes which makes them ramp up more easily and speed up their output.
https://cvpharmacology.com/cardioinhibitory/beta-blockers
The many anti-arrhythmics do the same thing, but with calcium, sodium, and potassium.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22867-what-are-antiarrhythmics
I'm not aware of a medicine that treats ventricular tachycardia per se, but there may be one. Either that or a pacemaker.

Edit (added after looking): https://www.drugs.com/condition/ventricular-tachycardia.html

SVT, which involves the upper chambers, over time can lead to heart failure but not likely "sudden death." That would be ventricular tachycardia. You may have misunderstood something the doctor said about your condition, may want to confirm with him or her, as thinking about "sudden death" would certainly be distressing.

I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you to try ablation. Age 79, pacemaker, housebound due to arthritis. I finally found a good cardiologist who specialized in arrhythmia-it’s a whole sub - specialty with many practitioners. First ablation wore off after 3 months, very common. Second one working fine after 9 months. There’s hope for us with this procedure-99% have to have a second one, I read. So wonderful not to live with this thing! Look for a specialist!

I meant to say 90%…

Mine is in the lower chambers. I’ll go with what my cardiologist told me and advise my family accordingly.

Your heart issue may be different.

I have had near fainting light headed symptoms for decades .
My OBGYN heard something and had me referred to heart Dr who had me wearing a heart monitor while I was 6 months pregnant. I was 27.
There were complications with C- section delivery ( Ehlers Danlos) . I stayed in hospital over 3 wks . No further follow-up was for heart testing came after.