When a patient is in SVT, their heart rates are 130 to 250 beats per minute. Many people dont know they are having SVT, while others will have fluttering or a racing feeling in their chest, chest discomfort, dizziness, fainting or sweating (Healthwise, 2014). When trying to stop patients from being in SVT, suggest vagal maneuvers such as gagging, holding your breath and bearing down, coughing, or immersing your face in cold water-to slow your heart rate(Healthwise, 2014). When vagal maneuvers, carotid massage, and adenosine don't work, the patient may need cardioversion. If a patient has low blood pressure, chest pain, or a failing heart with tachycardia, the condition is considered unstable, and would need to be cardioverted(Bryg, MD, 2016).
