

Each time the signal completes the circuit, the impulse spreads out to the rest of your heart, forcing it to beat rapidly. The short circuit causes an electrical signal to travel continuously around in a circle. It is often a short circuit in the electrical system of your heart that causes these spontaneous impulses. These impulses override your heart's natural rhythm. SVT is caused by abnormal electrical impulses that start suddenly in the upper chambers of your heart (the atria). You usually feel heart palpitations (noticeable heartbeats) and a fast pulse. This reduces the amount of blood being pumped around the body, which can make you feel dizzy and short of breath. In SVT, the heart muscle is contracting so fast that it cannot relax between contractions. This process is repeated for every heartbeat. They then relax, so the heart can fill with blood again. When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls contract (tighten and squeeze) to force blood out and around the body. 'Tachycardia' means an abnormally rapid heart rhythm.

'Supraventricular' means that the problem occurs in the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.The heart rate may be as high as 250 beats per minute, but is usually between 140 and 180 (a normal heartbeat should be 60-100 beats per minute at rest). They may occur regularly, several times a day, or very infrequently, once or twice a year. The heart will suddenly start racing, then stop racing or slow down abruptly.Įpisodes can last for seconds, minutes, hours or (in rare cases) days. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a heart condition featuring episodes of an abnormally fast heart rate.
