What triggers cause your SVT? How do they affect you?

i've found this forum helpful too so I'll try to do my part.

Like you, my symptoms seem to only happen when exercising; in my case, jogging, hard biking, cross country skiing or while using an elliptical trainer.  I'm in my late 50's and had my first symptoms while in my mid 50's.  I too can go weeks, if not months with no episodes.  They became more frequent for several weeks this past summer/fall and none at all over the past 6 weeks or so.  I thought one of my triggers was caffeine but now am not so sure.  If you look further in this forum or Google SVT triggers, you will find more possibilities.  I know alcohol is another trigger for some people.  On the other hand, I've read other posts where triggers are not known at all or seem to be multiple.  I sometimes think the intensity of the aerobic activity itself is the trigger in my own case as it usually happens when I'm already working hard.  My docs also said my elevated heart rate during the infrequent episodes are not a threat to my short or long term health.  However, I am almost always able to interrupt my elevated heart rate within a minute or two by "bearing down."

Obviously, you need to consult your own doctors and make your decision on how to proceed accordingly.  But, now you have another perspective/experience to draw upon and I'm sure there will others who came in with their situations.

Good luck and good health!

I'm glad to hear your svt stopped when u relaxed on the plane..so flecainide is fairly new..I will definitely be mentioning this option to my cardiologist : ) ..thx!

I am 43 now and suffered with palpatations during my early 30s. I was also a runner . I had every test performed by MDs and cardiologists . The problem was an episode never occurred when we were conducting them. I was running at the gym one night and my heart rate got up to about 198 but I didn't feel any different. Suddenly I felt my heart accelerate and it was stuck at a pace where I was short of breath and it wouldn't slow down . I went to the ER and my heart rate was at 268 a minute. They had to stop and restart my heart . Scarriest thing I've ever been through . (When your palpitations start cough or bear down like your going to the bathroom and most of the time it will correct itself .) That night I had a soda before going to the gym . I completely cut out diet cokes, tea or anything with a lot of sugar and caffeine . Pasta is also a trigger . When I go for a run i usually do it on a fairly empty stomach. I will eat a few peanut butter Cracker or a small bowl of cereal . If I run after eating carbs or sugar is when I have problems . I had an ablasion 6 years ago . Even still I have heart flip flops but I know my limits . If it starts, i resort to biking or low cardio Once you have an overactive heart it never really goes away if you maintain an active lifestyle especially if you continue to run .