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Can Anxiety And Panic Attacks Cause SVT?

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Posted on Mon, 8 Dec 2014
Question: Can you get svt from anxiety and panic attacks . I have severe anxiety not taking any meds and I read that svt risk factors are anxious people and that makes me even more anxious during a panic attack because I'm scared to have a svt
I did have ultrusound of the heart and holter monitor on for 2 weeks and all came back good just have pacs and pvcs , but when I get a panic attack my heart rate is around 180 and I get sooo scared that my heart will go over 200 or go in to svt , then Ofcourse you worry about cardiac arrest when you go into a bad rythm . Can you tell me with anxiety are you at risk for superventicular tachachardya
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (47 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes you can get SVT from anxiety attack...

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!

Yes you can get SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia) from anxiety and panic attack. It's a well known fact that severe anxiety or a panic attack may trigger SVT.

It's a good thing that cardiac examinations were all within normal range, so you have nothing to worry about. I suggest to be relaxed even if HR is increased (above 150 per minute). As long as you have only PAC and PVC on holter monitor, you aren't on a life threatening situation.

If you were my patient i would suggest consulting a psychologist to treat anxiety and panic disorders. This will help to decrease the number and severity of SVT episodes. Moreover i would suggest to take low doses of beta blockers to help you control HR and the intensity of those SVT episodes.

Hope this was of help!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (44 minutes later)
I've never had a svt episode nor my cardiologist says that I'm a risk factor for them , I just read that if you have anxiety you can get a svt episode out of the blue , so now I'm worried that I will develop svt due to my anxiety . So if you've never had a svt and your heart is healthy you can still get a spontaneous svt because your anxious ?
And how dangerous are they , can you up into cardiac arrest from it?

So in a Healthy heart and with no history of rythm problems ,If you do not have svt and never had svt , can you get it because your anxious . I was always told that panic attacks are harmless that is not the case then right ?
And how bad is svt ?
With no other history of heart or rythm problems , just anxiety as a risk factor what are the chances of me developing a svt problems ?

Or if you already have svt then being anxious is the trigger for an svt episode .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (17 hours later)
Brief Answer:
SVT is not dangerous...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for your follow up queries.

1. Yes, it is true that you can get SVT because of anxiety even if you never had a SVT and your heart is healthy. This can happen in very rare cases.

2. SVT is a benign pathology and is not dangerous. In very rare cases, one can get arrest from it.

3. You have minimal chances to get SVT problems although you are anxious.

Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (37 minutes later)
Does one have to have heart issues to develop comlications due to svt ?
Or anyone can get comlications due to a svt episode ?

How do I know the difference beetween a panic and a svt
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Difference in changes in ECG/holter would tell you the difference....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Once again, SVT is not a serious disease and not associated with serious complications.

It is always associated with

- chest discomfort or
- difficulty in breathing (dyspnea).
- and changes in ECG of holter monitoring

Even in cases when in routine ECG, there are no changes, Holter monitoring would detect SVT.

On contrary, no electrical changes is detected in routine ECG, neither in Holter monitoring.

Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Benard


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (7 hours later)
I'm super anxious about developing svt I'm anxious about being anxious :(

Once you get svt do you need surgery and will it stay with you for life ?
Or once the anxiety is controlled they will go away ?

And does age and XXXXXXX matter as far as the risk for complications such as heart attack go ?

Also knowing that there are way more arrhythmias can a svt turn into ventricular fabrillation?
It's just really confusing because I'm being told that panic attacks are not dangerous but then finding out that anxiety can cause a scary heart rythm I know you say it's not dangerous but looking it up it says that svt is a medical emergency :/ its very scary :((
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No case for medical history.....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

1. Being anxious will make your symptoms worst but not dangerous or serious for your overall health.

2. Anxiety is perceived as "stress situation" from our body. Stress is characterized by releasing "stress hormones" like adrenalin etc. These hormones are needed to face and overcome stress. The effects of adrenalin include: increased heart beats (palpitations) and increased blood pressure.

This is perfectly normal.
After the stress situation is over, everything will be normalized too.

3. Tachycardia is referring to increased heart beats that are benign (not seriosu).

Furthermore, SVT is not a medical emergency (ME). It will turn to ME only in cases where it is a complication of an underlying problem like congestive heart failure or other heart diseases.

In your case, you have no history of such heart problems, so, your case is not considered a medical emergency.

Please do not get confused of what you read on internet.

All the best!
Dr.Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Benard Shehu

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2257 Questions

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Can Anxiety And Panic Attacks Cause SVT?

Brief Answer: Yes you can get SVT from anxiety attack... Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you for asking! Yes you can get SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia) from anxiety and panic attack. It's a well known fact that severe anxiety or a panic attack may trigger SVT. It's a good thing that cardiac examinations were all within normal range, so you have nothing to worry about. I suggest to be relaxed even if HR is increased (above 150 per minute). As long as you have only PAC and PVC on holter monitor, you aren't on a life threatening situation. If you were my patient i would suggest consulting a psychologist to treat anxiety and panic disorders. This will help to decrease the number and severity of SVT episodes. Moreover i would suggest to take low doses of beta blockers to help you control HR and the intensity of those SVT episodes. Hope this was of help! Dr. Benard