Supraventricular Tachycardia

If you have supraventricular tachycardia (SVT),you'llusuallyhave episodes where you feel your heart beating very quickly.

Even though your heart is beating faster, the gaps between heartbeats should still be regular. If your heartbeat is fast and irregular, it's more likely that you havea different heart rhythm problem, called Atrial fibrillation .

Other symptoms ofSVT include:

• chest pain
• dizziness
• light-headedness
• breathlessness
• fatigue (tiredness)

In rare cases, fainting may be another symptom you experience as a result ofa fallin blood pressure.If you do faint and experience heart palpitations (noticeable heartbeats) beforethe faint, you should seek medical attention straight away.

Symptoms of SVT can last for seconds, minutes, hours orlonger(in rare cases). Some people have symptoms several times a day, whereas others mayonlyexperience episodesonce or twice a year.

When to seek medical advice

SVT is rarely life-threatening. However, you should contact your GP as soon as possible if you experience a rapid heartbeat and any of the above symptoms because other, more serious, life-threatening conditions can have similar symptoms.

Dial 999 to request an ambulance i f you experience severe chest pain or breathing difficulties and you feel faint.