Supraventricular tachycardia, also called SVT, is an abnormally fast heartbeat caused by improper electrical activity in the upper heart chambers. A structural abnormality may add to this arrhythmia. People who live in Central Kentucky and across the Bluegrass can find expert diagnosis and treatment for this condition at the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute.
Supraventricular tachycardia disrupts electrical signals within the heart, causing your resting heart rate to reach well over 150 beats per minute. Because of this rapid heartbeat, your heart chambers can’t fill with blood. This then reduces how much blood the heart pushes into the rest of your body.
The most common types of supraventricular tachycardia include:
- Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT): With this supraventricular tachycardia, a single electrical signal repeats itself in a loop. Your heart rate is typically between 140 and 280 beats per minute. Episodes of AVNRT are paroxysmal, meaning they may come and go. While the abnormal heartbeats can start and end in an instant, they also can last minutes or hours.
- Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT): Though typically connected to structural heart disease, PAT can occur in structurally healthy hearts. Fewer than 15% of all supraventricular tachycardias are PAT, which causes symptoms that come and go.
Symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia vary. You may have no symptoms at all or you may experience a rapid heartbeat with the following:
- Chest pain, tightness or discomfort
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Fluttering feeling in the chest
- Nausea
- Palpitations or pounding heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
In rare cases, supraventricular tachycardia can cause sudden death. This may be linked to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition marked by an extra electrical connection in the heart. The condition often causes supraventricular tachycardia in infants and children. Congenital heart defect experts at the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute work collaboratively with the heart rhythm team to manage care for these patients when needed.
Supraventricular tachycardia can affect anyone at any age. However, you’re more likely to experience supraventricular tachycardia as a child or during or after middle age.
Supraventricular tachycardia is often a random occurrence without a known cause. However, risk factors for supraventricular tachycardia include:
- Alcohol abuse
- Anxiety
- Congenital heart disease (heart disease you’re born with)
- Heart disease
- Sleep apnea
- Smoking
- Use of illicit drugs, such as cocaine
Your first visit to UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute’s Adult Heart Rhythm Program is a time of education and introductions. You meet members of your care team and learn about detecting, treating and living with arrhythmias.
Diagnosing arrhythmias is a unique process that requires detective work. One of the most important steps toward diagnosis is listening to your story. Your team will ask a lot of questions about your symptoms and medical history. The goal is to gather all possible information that can help pinpoint the source of your heart issue. Information from this first meeting helps your team determine the next step in diagnosis.
Based on information from this meeting, your healthcare provider may give you a monitor to wear. This monitor tracks your heart rhythm and allows your team to determine the type of arrhythmia you have. Additionally, your team may prescribe one or more diagnostic tests. If appropriate, these tests take place on a different day, and your team helps schedule them at your convenience.
When coming to your first arrhythmia appointment, plan to do the following:
- Arrive early. You may need to fill out paperwork when you arrive. Getting to your appointment early ensures you have time to complete paperwork without feeling rushed.
- Bring a current list of medicines or supplements you take. You should also list any surgeries you’ve undergone, symptoms you’ve experienced and other past health issues.
- Dress comfortably. Working toward a diagnosis takes time. Comfortable clothes help you remain relaxed and attentive throughout your visit.
- Eat and drink normally. You won’t undergo imaging or other testing at your first visit. Therefore, there are no dietary restrictions.
- Have your insurance information on hand. UK HealthCare accepts most insurers, and financial assistance is available.
- Request a loved one to join you. Bring a family member or friend with you to take notes and ask questions you may not think of asking.
Where we are located
The UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute is located at 800 Rose St. in Pavilion G, on the first floor of UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. We will mail you a map and directions when your appointment is scheduled.
Patient drop-off
Patients can be dropped off in front of the main entrance to Albert B. Chandler Hospital at 1000 S. Limestone. If you are dropped off at the main entrance, you’ll enter the revolving doors on the ground floor of the hospital. Take the main stairs just to the left (or elevator across the atrium) to the first floor of Pavilion A.
After climbing the stairs or taking the elevator, turn left. You’ll pass the Kentucky Wall and Kentucky Children’s Hospital on your right. Continue to the end of the hall until it comes to a T shape. Turn left and the Gill clinic entrance is across from an open area housing the organ donor wall.
Parking
It is easiest to park in the UK HealthCare Parking Garage, across from the hospital at 110 Transcript Ave.
There are two paths from this garage to the Gill clinic:
- You may take the free shuttle from Level A of the parking garage. You’ll exit the shuttle at the Pavilion A/ Pavilion G stop in front of the main entrance to the hospital. After climbing the stairs or taking the elevator, turn left. You’ll pass the Kentucky Wall and Kentucky Children’s Hospital on your right. Continue to the end of the hall until it comes to a T shape. Turn left and the Gill clinic entrance is across from an open area housing the organ donor wall.
- From Level C of the parking garage you may walk or take a golf cart across the pedway to the first floor of Pavilion A. Turn left past the help desk and walk away from the dining hall. You’ll pass the Kentucky Wall and Kentucky Children’s Hospital on your right. Continue to the end of the hall until it comes to a T shape. Turn left and the Gill clinic entrance is across from an open area housing the organ donor wall.
If you need help finding your way, information desks are located inside the main entrances to Pavilion A, both on the ground floor and at the end of the pedway on the first floor. You may also call the information desk at 859-323-5816.
Our Adult Heart Rhythm Program experts help residents of Central Kentucky and beyond regain proper heart rhythm every day. To improve the future of arrhythmia treatment and management, they also participate in clinical trials.
At any given time, UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute staff engages in trials for new medicines or devices. This gives you access to arrhythmia treatment not available at many other facilities.
If you’re a candidate for an ongoing trial, your care team will discuss the possibility with you.
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