SVT Trigger: Going Uphill
Posted , 6 users are following.
I started having SVT episodes a couple of years ago, and
they have all been intense cardio exercise-related triggers.
Curious if others have had this particular trigger.
The first one was playing competitive tennis. Intense
changes in position and/or speed seem to be the main
trigger for me. I was running back and forth at top speed,
and "boom" I felt my heart shift into a rapid, steady HR.
Walked around for a couple of minutes and it resolved
on its own.
Every other episode has been going uphill. Sometimes
it's right at the beginning, where a couple of minutes
into a mountain hike (I live in a mountainous region)
it kicks in. Other time, it will be 30-45 minutes into
uphill hiking. HR tends to be 160-180. Valsalva maneuvers
work, generally. If I hold my breath and blow out, I
will feel my heart do a little "ectopic skip" and after
a few of these it generally resets. Typically takes
1-3 minutes.
Interestingly, running at a steady state does not
induce SVT episodes, or at least, thankfully hasn't
yet.
Like with many others on this forum, it is a dreadful
experience, though I'm learning to quickly let the
thoughts pass and move into a "take over" mode
where I stop obsessing about adensosine/ER and
do what needs to be done.
I suspect MSG, nitrites, dark chocolate, and possibly caffeine as stimulant-
triggers. And/or hills. Damn hills.
0 likes, 4 replies
s22122 taylor07873
Edited
I have had SVT my entire life, and in recent years I have found that certain strenuous activities - such as a steep hike - will trigger an episode. Like you, I am usually fine with moderate exercise. The episodes do eventually stop, but for me the exercise-induced ones typically last longer than ones caused by other triggers.
bigmommaAustin taylor07873
Edited
Add hormone shifts to the culprits list! I think progesterone aggravates it.
s22122 bigmommaAustin
Posted
Yup, hormones will do it for me too! (Even for people without SVT, it's "normal" for people to experience palpitations during certain parts of the menstrual cycle.)
andrea28756 taylor07873
Posted
yep! treadmill at an incline does it for me if im dehydrated. i drink pediasure and it helps. im tired of trying to tip toe around life. im going in for an ablation.