SVT Treatment: Effective Options, Medications, and What Works Best

When your heart suddenly races for no reason—like it’s running a sprint without you asking—it could be supraventricular tachycardia, a type of abnormal heart rhythm that starts above the heart’s main pumping chambers. Also known as SVT, this condition can hit anyone, even young, healthy people, and it’s not always scary—but it sure feels like it.

SVT treatment doesn’t always mean pills or surgery. Often, simple tricks like the vagal maneuvers, techniques that stimulate the vagus nerve to slow down a racing heart can stop an episode in under a minute. Coughing hard, bearing down like you’re having a bowel movement, or splashing ice water on your face are real, proven tricks. For recurring SVT, doctors might prescribe antiarrhythmic medications, drugs that help keep the heart’s electrical signals steady like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. These aren’t for everyone—side effects matter—but for many, they cut episodes by half or more.

Some people with frequent SVT end up with a procedure called catheter ablation. It’s not as scary as it sounds: a thin wire is threaded to the heart, and tiny burns or freezes fix the faulty wiring causing the fast rhythm. Studies show it cures over 90% of cases in people with common types of SVT. If you’ve tried meds and still feel your heart jump out of your chest, this might be your best long-term move.

What you’ll find here isn’t just theory—it’s what real people use. From quick fixes you can do at home to the latest drug comparisons and when to push for a specialist, the posts below cover every step of SVT treatment. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what your doctor might not tell you unless you ask.