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Suggest Treatment For Palpitations And Irregular Heart Rate

Posted on Mon, 30 Jan 2017

Question: I just experienced an unusually intense episode of a racing, pounding heart beat that lasted about 20 seconds; some lightheadedness, having the feeling of needing to " catch my breath",no pain or other symptoms - while at rest - it resolved after about a minute or two- have had similar episodes periodically over the years but this was unusually intense- feeling fine now- any thoughts? Have a history of an irregularly irregular heart rate that can occur out of the blue...

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
PSVT

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. You possibly had an episode of Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). It causes a transient discomfort but does not otherwise need to be treated. Unless the episodes are too frequent and bothersome, you need not get concerned.

If you are apprehensive about the irregularly irregular heart rate, it might be worthwhile to get a 24 hours Holter ECG monitoring done. Thereafter you can upload the report and I can guide you accordingly.

Feel free to write back in case of further queries.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 days later)

What is the difference between PSVT and Atrial fib/flutter?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Separate types of conduction abnormalities

Detailed Answer:
Atrial fibrillation or flutter occur due to a sort of conduction problem which is persistent. PSVT is a transient conduction problem wherein a short circuit loop develops and affects the signal regeneration with respect to generation of heart beats. Hard to discuss more in lay man's terms.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 days later)

I assume then that the difference between these would also include the fact that on an EKG atrial fibrillatio would be in evidence ( since persistent) PSVT would only be detected when symptomatic...all of my annual EKGs have shown NSRn

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Precursors of atiral fibrillation would be present beforehand.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. PSVT is a paroxysmal (occasional, sudden onset) event and hence routine EKG is unlikely to detect one. Atrial fibrillation occurs when there is electrical dissociation between the atria and ventricles and prior to such complete dissociation there would be some precursor form of heart block which would show up on a routine EKG.

Could you please check the full form of NSRn? Possibly the abbreviation is slightly different.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar