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What Causes Faster Heart Rate While On Diltiazem?
Question: I am 70...5 ft 6.... 188 lbs... today at 8am, my blood pressure was in normal limits. I began a shower and i noticed my heart rate was fast. After shower, i took my blood pressure again and it was 156/106 with a pulse rate of 157. I was scared. I took my usual Benecar 20mg. It usually controls my blood pressure.It had no effect. I went to my cardiologist office at 9:30am. The nurse took my EKG and the cardiologist said i had SVT.. supra ventricular tachycardia. The heart rate was 155. He prescribed Diltiazem ER....120mg.. i took one at 10:45 am. It didnt go down. I called the doctor and so i took another 120 mg of Diltiazem at 6pm. It is a channel blocker i think. My blood pressure is now (100/66)down .....and the rate is 86 now.... Please give you your comments on treating supra ventricular tachycardia. .... including cause......Doctor said i would have to take Diltiazem for the rest of my life .
Brief Answer:
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir
After going through the medical details provided by you I would like to tell you that first of all Do Not take Stress for this as Stress Is one of the known factors to trigger SVT.
Also I would like to tell you that it's a non fatal Arrythmias although it can cause some unpleasant sensation or discomfort but it's not fatal.
It can also happen in an otherwise healthy individuals and common causes includes
Stress, Anxiety, Thyroid disorders, Electrolyte derangements, Mitral valve disease, Alcohol abuse, excessive consumption of caffeine containing drinks like coffee, Smoking.
Although it's advisable to continue with Diltiazem but if your blood pressure remains stable and heart rate normal and as you had just one episode you can avoid dilzem. But in my opinion you should continue with the medicine as prescribed to prevent the reoccurrence.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir
After going through the medical details provided by you I would like to tell you that first of all Do Not take Stress for this as Stress Is one of the known factors to trigger SVT.
Also I would like to tell you that it's a non fatal Arrythmias although it can cause some unpleasant sensation or discomfort but it's not fatal.
It can also happen in an otherwise healthy individuals and common causes includes
Stress, Anxiety, Thyroid disorders, Electrolyte derangements, Mitral valve disease, Alcohol abuse, excessive consumption of caffeine containing drinks like coffee, Smoking.
Although it's advisable to continue with Diltiazem but if your blood pressure remains stable and heart rate normal and as you had just one episode you can avoid dilzem. But in my opinion you should continue with the medicine as prescribed to prevent the reoccurrence.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Dr can i ask a follow up??? Would a blood test show anything that would be suggestive of a cause for the SVT?? And 2) in your opinion why does stress add to the chances of SPV?
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
1. There is no single test that can rule out all the causes however you can go for Serum Electrolyte level test to look for any derangement which probably have triggered this.
2. When we are under stress some hormones are released inside the blood stream which helps us cope with that situation and also increases the sympathetic drive of the body with ultimately increases the rate and bp. Now if there is some faulty connections inside the electrical system of the heart this SVT's are triggered.
As of now you just had a single episode of this so in my opinion you should not worry for this and relax. Also start doing some daily morning exercises as well as YOGA. It will help you.
Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
1. There is no single test that can rule out all the causes however you can go for Serum Electrolyte level test to look for any derangement which probably have triggered this.
2. When we are under stress some hormones are released inside the blood stream which helps us cope with that situation and also increases the sympathetic drive of the body with ultimately increases the rate and bp. Now if there is some faulty connections inside the electrical system of the heart this SVT's are triggered.
As of now you just had a single episode of this so in my opinion you should not worry for this and relax. Also start doing some daily morning exercises as well as YOGA. It will help you.
Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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