Discussions

well I already have it scheduled and it is with one of the best EPs at the Cleveland Clinic so I feel pretty good about it. I dont understand what you have against ablation?

Thanks so much for responding, I would love to talk,not quite sure about skype do you offer phone conversations or email. And no they released me with diagnosis of acid reflux and anxiety, anxiety tachycardia was also suggested, but not confirmed. So scared to take drugs.

Hi laura I would really appreciate your opinion

if this sounds like svt. My heart starts racing very very rapidly only at night while I am sleeping, I will awake from a dream with my heart in a weird very fast racing mode. It will slow to normal rhythm as soon as I become aware and wake up. I have been going through extreme stress recently, I lost my mother and my beloved 18 year old dog within the last two months. I went to emergency room they did ekg and monitored my heart for 8 hours but since it only happens at night while Im sleeping I knew they wouldn’t catch it. I also feel a strange sensation of buzzing through my body. Could it be too much adrenaline being released. So sick of worrying would really appreciate your opinion.

Hi Annette, you’re welcome! I have also found, as you mentioned, “it’s in so much food”, that ‘reducing’ rather than cutting out all together, has worked just fine too. I also isolated – for me – particular foods with tyramine were worse. That’s worth a try too, sometimes a little lengthy perhaps but well worth it if you discover one major culprit . . . !
For me it was dried fruit, in particular raisins!
All the best with your plan of attack . . (:O)
Graham.

PS: I have had great results using a chiro-masseuse for my back – which in turn has had a really positive effect on my SVT, as the neck and cranial massage gets to the nervous system – that part of the spine connected to the heart!

Hi Annette, you’re welcome! I have also found, as you mentioned, “it’s in so much food”, that ‘reducing’ rather than cutting out all together, has worked just fine too. I also isolated – for me – particular foods with tyramine were worse. That’s worth a try too, sometimes a little lengthy perhaps but well worth it if you discover one major culprit . . . !
For me it was dried fruit, in particular raisins!
All the best with your plan of attack . . (:O)
Graham.

PS: I have had great results using a chiro-masseuse for my back – which in turn has had a really positive effect on my SVT, as the neck and cranial massage gets to the nervous system – that part of the spine connected to the heart!

Hi Graham…thanks for the replies which I am only just reading now! I asked my dr and have read about tyramine but, as you said, one just has to try it! I think there is tyramine in so much food but if one can work on eating a diet low in tyramine, I think it can help a lot. I have noticed a number of my svt episodes occurred hours after eating high tyramine foods.
All the best,
Annette

Hi Graham…thanks for the replies which I am only just reading now! I asked my dr and have read about tyramine but, as you said, one just has to try it! I think there is tyramine in so much food but if one can work on eating a diet low in tyramine, I think it can help a lot. I have noticed a number of my svt episodes occurred hours after eating high tyramine foods.
All the best,
Annette

I have noticed a vast majority of people who have SVT attacks are women. And being women we are ever blessed with the roller coaster ride of fluctuating hormones. I believe that is a trigger for me, although I have mentioned it in the past to doctors and I get blown off. But I have thought back to different times I have gone into SVT and it has always been around that dreaded time of the month. I am 43 and strongly believe I am perimenopausal and I have read a great deal about women developing issues with the beat of their hearts. Another trigger is stress/anxiety/tension. I have a tendancy to let things bother me and then dwell on it. I went through a massive stressful event 4 years ago which messed up my thyroid leaving me with an underactive thyroid. Ever since then I have lost the ability to handle the stressors of life like to used to. One of the places I hold my stress is across my stomach near my diaphram. Call me crazy, but I think there is something around that area that causes my heart to skip and if I am not careful (like sitting bunched up or doing a lot of bending over) I can feel a thud that will cause an SVT episode. I also avoid anything with MSG added to it, because I will feel terrible after eating food with that added in it.

Interesting! My childhood was so so similar it was as though a IWas reading about myself when I read your story and I am linking anger and pent up frustration over a situation to the start of my anxiety tachycardia which started 6 months ago I do believe that it is exhausted my adrenal glands sending to much adrenaline surges through my body! Food effects adrenals! Emotions! Stress!upsetting mineral balance,hormonal balance! The whole connection is exhausted adrenals and too much adrenaline!! Thanks laura

Hi Laura, Thanks for your site. My trigger is msg; I became so sensitive I could not eat ripe tomatoes (forget tomato paste) because of the glutamic acid. I was told on one of my races to Emergency that my potassium was low; however checking bloods it didn’t appear that low. I wonder how many people out there are low in potassium? (I mean the soil is depleted). I have just ordered some potassium chloride to have a little. I had an ablation; at least it my heart may occasionally race however only for a few minutes at most; and not 1.5 hrs over 200bpm. I also suspect stress is an added factor for me.

My trigger is doing any kind of exercise after a meal. I’m ok until I bend over. My heart mis-fires and goes in SVT. The other trigger is gluten. I’m not 100% gluten free because that is just impossible for me. But if I stay on a low gluten diet, that seems to help.

Laura, is there any way you can use a darker font on your site..am trying to find those breakfast recipes and stumbled upon this info on adrenal fatigue but am having trouble seeing the print and it is so light. Thanks for your consideration. Pam

I had the same thing, both. I had 5 ablations done 2 yrs ago. The SVT was the worse, happened sometimes 3 – 5 times a day, and would last sometimes 40min. I found that oxygen would make it
stop, very quickly by accident. I used my mom’s oxy. one day it occurred, used her oxygen and it stopped immediately. I bought a concentrator and used it ALOT. But I didn’t have portable to carry around so I had the procedure done. I do occasionally have a very short SVT where my heart beats 7 or 8 times and then goes back to normal, which I can deal with. Before ablations, my heart would beat 180 per minute, which was painful and scary.

i have my problem since i was 20 years old i turn 50 last December i have 5 sons i have a fib svt i have it all

How do you know which test to order from enterolab?

Wow, Laura, you are so right. I haven’t had an SVT since November. I believe it’s letting go of anger and also not getting overly heated that has done the trick. I know that emotional and physical heat can each be a trigger for me. Anxiety and negative thinking are always a part of it too. It’s amazing that we continue to head down the same path in our healing. I do want to try vocalizing what is bothering me (in private) or to the Lord. I was a Silent Child too. Still am.

Thank you for sharing about speaking your truth…..This is so, so, so very true and the truth will set you free from so many Negative things in your life including SVT’s!!! Be well Laura and thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! Namaste….. Kristine

I am 29 years old. I was diagnosed with A fib last year and have been having that off feeling you described ever since. On Friday night I woke up from a nap with my heart racing like never before. I called 911 and was taken to the emergency room where I was shock paddled back into regular rythem. I was switched from metoprolol to cartisem and I have been in sinus since. I got released to come home yesterday afternoon and have a follow up with my cardiologist today.

My SVT episodes are definitely triggered by stress. Once I started tracking my episodes and the activities I was doing during and before an episode I started to notice a distinct pattern. Throughout college I would always have an episode just before the semester was starting and during finals week. I also notice that the more behind or stressed I get at work the more episodes I have. I also had multiple episodes the closer I got to my wedding day. I have noticed other triggers as well such as dehydration and humidity but stress seems to be the biggest trigger for me. It is also the trigger that I struggle the most in controlling.

I have been battling SVT for 12 years and have never been able to get answers from doctors or specialists. I have seen over 10 doctors and specialists over the years and have spent thousands of dollars in medical bills only to be told that there is nothing that can be done. SVT has taken over my life and I want it back.

I’m so glad that I found your blog and to find out that I’m not alone in dealing with this. Thank you for sharing your story and for shedding light on this very misunderstood condition. Your articles have really helped me to think about the triggers of my episodes and I hope that I can get to a point where I can live life without a constant fear of my next episode.

I have to take medication or have SVT 24/7 & have had it for several years now. I’ve also been gluten free for several years. It had destroyed my life. I was later Diagnosed with Sleep Apnea which obviously contributed to the SVT. If you are waking up at night feeling as if you are not breathing or waking up due to your heart, frequent urination, you need to find a Cardiologist who is also a experienced Sleep Specialist (There are several because it is now recognized in medicine that Sleep Apnea & heart issues of various types can go hand in hand). You do not have to be over weight to have Sleep Apnea. If your spouse complains of your snoring or says they notice you not breathing while your asleep, you need to find a Cardiologist who is also a Sleep Specialist. Apnea can be caused by the structure of your airway. So being over weight is not always the cause of Apnea. The SVT I deal with has improved since I have received treatment, but it went on for so long it has not been an over night cure. I am getting better however. Sleep Apnea causes a multitude of issues ranging from emotional to physical because of the stress it creates throughout the body. Poor immune function, GERD, poor digestive function, depression, anxiety attacks, most persons with Allergies have Sleep Apnea according to research, it can cause issues with hormone function, increased cortisol levels which lead the adrenal fatigue, Diabetes, High Blood Pressue, Congestive Heart Failure, Stroke, Memory Loss, Fertility Issues, Fatigue, Mood Swings, Erectile Dysfunction, Perfuse Sweating, Short Term Memory Loss, Weakness, Inability to remain awake even after being in bed all night, frequent awakening throughout the night, the feeling of suffering from insomnia because you feel as if you lay in bed all night just day dreaming but sleeping deeply, being a,light sleeper (once again not entering deep restorative sleep), having or desiring to nap throughout the day, becoming exhausted/sleepy while driving or riding in a car, going to sleep frequently while watching TV & the list goes on. You do not have to have all these symptoms. Everyone is different and this is one reason why it is difficult for Dr.’s to diagnose sleep apnea. Some people are adamant that they sleep with no issues but after testing are diagnosed with Sleep apnea. Some people aren’t diagnosed until they have a major event such as a stroke or heart attack. I just beg each person who reads this, to find a Dr. who is also a Sleep Specialist in their area if they have any of these symptoms or combination of them. It is not worth suffering & ultimately having years of your life eaten away & stolen from you & your children because the Dr.’s you have seen were just not educated in this area. They can’t help you if they don’t know & treatment can be life altering! It has been for me!

Is there a brand of drinkable electrolytes that you recommend?
Thanks!

Thank you. How long do I need to do this for and when should I start to see results?

Oh, and I’ve not had regular caffeine for 19 years now. ; ) I may have 1-2 12 ounce caffeinated colas a month. I do eat some chocolate, but not first thing in the morning, and high sugar foods I have to avoid first thing of the day as well…like doughnuts or poptarts. Too much sugar rush. Great explanation above, and one I’ve heard reinforced by various docs through the years. Thanks for writing it to refresh my memory on those points. PVCs were what I was stretching to remember.

Regular sleep. Regular food. Low salt food. Regular meal times. More protein (no carb rush days or days skipping meals), stay hydrated, drink before you go to bed (water before you go to bed), and when you get up (have water ready first thing right when you get up). These things help. If I’m doing an amusement park, or having a stressful situation (head cold + performance), I better go on and take a BETA blocker. The pulses you feel are somewhat different from SVT, but a lot of skinny people feel them. Apparently, everyone has them, but we feel them. I let key people in my life know if I’ve gone into it, that I’ll be gone until i can fall asleep or cardiovert, and someone calls me in about an hour to be sure I’m okay. It’s a system. Works for me. All natural, most of the time. Could be all natural, but it will zap the life out of your day if you have a big day planned and don’t want to stress everyone out. I add a BETA blocker on those days, and keep one with me at all times. Cold meds are a big precursor to mine, as well as hormonal weeks.

I read this article on SVT, similar to Afib, and she took iron to curb her SVT, so if I go into afib again, I am going to try the Black Strap Molasses. That is filled with iron. I usually take a tablespoon everydaybut sometimes I forget. It seems like it is a full time job trying to stay healthy.

Thank you all for your posts! I have had SVT for over a decade (I remember my first episode when I was 17, though I wasn’t diagnosed until they caught it on a visit to the ER this fall). My episodes worsened suddenly over the past year–lasting over an hour and requiring ER treatment to end. I had a catheter ablation procedure in October and felt great afterwards. Frustratingly however, I am now having SVT episodes in the middle of the night which are short in duration (5-10 minutes, thank goodness!) but becoming even more frequent than before the procedure (about every month, rather than every 6 months to a year). I also have never had SVT while sleeping before, and now they happen in the middle of the night, often leaving me very tired the next day and worried about another episode as I have trouble going back to sleep afterwards and know a lack of sleep contributes to my symptoms.

It’s been tricky timing for me, as I am both an athlete (who loves endurance sports!) and because I started my PhD program this fall. I don’t want SVT to limit the physical activities I love doing nor the work I hope to do. My career path (in international women’s and girls’ rights) requires me to travel internationally for many hours (think to Nepal, Cambodia, Tanzania, Kenya, etc) and I feel so sad not knowing what is best to do for my health right now–should I travel or no? What I am really comfortable with? What is truly safe? It is so inspiring to know I’m not alone! Thank you for each of your stories! I would GREATLY appreciate hearing from anyone who also travels internationally and to parts of the world that have limited access to hospitals and health care.

Kindest wishes in health, life, and travels!

I recently had an episode of SVT on a flight. It was a short (1.5hr) flight and the SVT started about half an hour into the flight. I find that lying down really helps to revert, so I sent my partner to ask if there was anywhere to do this. They cleared a row for me and sent the flight manager to look after me. He was very reassuring and asked lots of questions. He was trying to determine if I needed a doctor. I said I preferred to wait and see, knowing that I was only an hour away from being on the ground and not far then from an emergency department. He insisted that I take oxygen, which did help me to feel better. After a while I could feel that my heart was still in an SVT beat (that uncomfortable rocking feeling) but it was beating at a normal pace. This felt better, even though it still wasn’t right. I stayed on the oxygen until we landed. Once I got on the ground, I lay down properly and did a few more of my tricks and it reverted straight away. The airline staff said that they had lots of medications on board that could be administered if there was a doctor on the flight, including many for hearts. They also carry defib machines on all their flights (QANTAS). The possible triggers? Anxiety on an extra turbulent flight, lack of sleep and recent surgery.

Paul,
I’ve had both anxiety and SVT (had it since around 15 years old but just got diagnosed this year). I can tell you that they are not the same thing. I’ve had anxiety ABOUT getting a tachycardia episode, and have had heart palpitations which caused anxiety. Suppressed anxiety can cause heart palpitations which leads to conscious and acute anxiety/panic attacks. I’ve had heart racing, pounding, and weird sensations and even pain in my chest. But never have I experienced an SVT episode because of anxiety or preceeded by anxiety. Sometimes, especially during a long episode and in recent years I have had anxiety because of the rapid heartbeat… It’s hard not to panic if it’s racing at over 200 bpm and you feel short of breath!

So what you are experiencing is almost certainly anxiety. But definitely go to a doctor and have tests done to rule out any physical causes. SVT generally starts fairly suddenly (often with no obvious trigger) and stops just as suddenly. It has to be recorded on an ECG or other heart monitoring device to get an official diagnosis. Take a look at your stress, anxiety, and fatigue levels and definitely see a doctor too. Food allergies, caffeine, and other factors can contribute to both heart palpitations and anxiety. I am now following a paleo diet, no sugar, no coffee/chocolate/black tea, and am doing much better. Had an SVT episode the other day but it only lasted 5 minutes and was not accompanied by anxiety so I believe I am on the right track towards healing. An anti anxiety med might help you, and/counseling or biofeedback.

I usually felt my heart missing a beat, then irregular beats, then the rapid beats of 180 per minute.
I found laying on my stomach worked best, I would place my hand under my chest so I could feel my heart beating. I had an oxygen concentrator that was left by my mom, and tried that during the svt attacks, and was surprised that using it while deep breathing, it would stop!! It seems that the longer I let it go, the longer it would last. So now if I am at home and feel it come on, I put the oxygen on ASAP, and it would stop real quick.

Thanks for the helpful tips! It’s giving me some options that I hadn’t considered! It’s always good to learn what has been successful for others!