Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

05 / LIVING WELL WITH SVT

Living well with SVT

SVT can be disruptive, but it does not have to control your life. Many patients return to their usual activities with an appropriate treatment plan. Some common types of SVT can be cured with catheter ablation.

Know your triggers

Some people notice episodes after poor sleep, dehydration, stress, or excessive caffeine or alcohol. Others have no clear trigger. Keep track of patterns and discuss them with your care team.

Reducing triggers may reduce episodes, but it does not remove an extra electrical pathway or abnormal electrical source.

Have a plan for an episode

Work with your care team to create a personal action plan:

• Stop your activity and sit or lie down somewhere safe.
• If your clinician has taught you a vagal maneuver, use it as instructed. Do not massage your neck yourself.
• Take an episode medication only if it has been prescribed for that purpose, following the exact instructions.
• If you can safely capture a watch or handheld EKG recording, save it for your care team. Do not delay medical care to obtain a recording.
• Know when to call the office and when to seek urgent care if the episode does not stop.

Stay active and keep follow-up appointments

Discuss exercise and any needed activity restrictions with your clinician. Contact your care team if episodes become longer or more frequent, symptoms worsen, or SVT interferes with daily life.

Take medications as prescribed and report side effects. If you have an ablation, follow your procedure-specific recovery instructions and attend follow-up visits.

The goal is to help you feel confident, stay active, and spend less time worrying about your heartbeat.