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Heart rate concerns

Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Jan 29 8:10am | Replies (22)

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Profile picture for gloaming @gloaming

It might have been a short run of what is known as 'supraventricular tachycardia,' (SVT), or ventricular tachycardia. Either way, it's likely a short run of tachycardia, meaning fast heart rate, and it is a form of arrhythmia. It needs to be checked out.

Paroxysmal SVT and atrial fibrillation are the early stages, and that's when it's most easily controlled, often just with medication, although sometimes lifestyle changes can help as well. You don't want this to progress, but it tends to over time. You'll get longer and more frequent runs....maybe...not absolutely, but it tends to for most patients. If it goes too far, you have to their live with it or get a pacemaker. So, don't let it go too far before you get professional assessment and interventions. There are several, and they work pretty well most of the time.

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Replies to "It might have been a short run of what is known as 'supraventricular tachycardia,' (SVT), or..."

@gloaming When I was in my 30's I experienced a frightening episode where my heart began to race and I actually passed out for a few seconds. Afterwards I felt exhausted, as if I had just completed a marathon or a high intensity aerobics workout. I went to my Primary Care doctor, who then sent me to a cardiologist. The cardiologist ran some tests and determined that I have Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) with reflux/regurgitation. (I found out later that mine is most likely hereditary, my dad had the same problem.) The doctor explained to me that my mitral valve is "floppy" and doesn't always close fully, allowing blood to leak backward across the valve. What happens in some instances, the heart senses that there isn't enough blood flowing and beats harder to push more blood, the blood keeps leaking, and the heart beats even harder. Fortunately, my MVP is treatable with medication. I am now 71 and haven't had an episode like that for many, many years.