Heart Health
When the heart suddenly starts racing
A rapid heartbeat that happens out of the blue can be alarming. A range of therapies can help.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
You expect your heartbeat to accelerate if you're exercising or feeling extremely anxious. But in a small number of people, an electrical glitch in the heart's upper chamber causes their heart rate to suddenly soar for no apparent reason—sometimes as high as 200 beats per minute.
Called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), the condition is usually not dangerous (see "What is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?"). "People often describe the symptoms as palpitations or a fluttering sensation in the chest," says Dr. Paul Zei, director of the Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation Program at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. While these episodes typically appear out of the blue, exercise, stress, or certain foods and drugs (such as caffeine or other stimulants) sometimes trigger an episode. For some people, bending over at the waist can set off PSVT, he says.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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