There are several heart disorders that involve an abnormal rate -- the heart may beat slower or faster than normal. The heart can also have various irregular rhythms. PSVT, or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, is a disorder where the heart suddenly beats too fast. An electrocardiogram will record and show the electrical activity of PSVT; adenosine is one medication available to treat it.
Explaining PSVT
The heart has four chambers, or areas. The two upper chambers are called the atria, while the two lower ones are the ventricles. Electrical signals tell the chambers to contract, which pumps the blood. In PSVT, there is a problem with the electrical signals above the ventricles. The heart normally beats 60 to 100 times a minute. A heart rate more than 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia, which happens in PSVT.
Symptoms of PSVT
PSVT most commonly presents in young to middle-aged adults. Some people with this disorder may become short of breath, have a mild pain in their chests or experience palpitations. The symptoms usually start and stop suddenly, lasting for a few seconds for some, or several hours for others. The heart beats rapidly, usually between 160 to 240 beats per minute.
Adenosine for PSVT
People with PSVT may be treated with diltiazem or verapamil, but adenosine is the medication of choice, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Most of the time, this disorder develops because the electrical signal that makes the heart chambers contract continuously, circles in one area of the heart. This problem is referred to as reentry, and adenosine is the medication of choice because it blocks this reentry cycle. It is given intravenously, or through a vein.
Side Effects of Adenosine
The side effects of adenosine do not last long, because the medicine enters the cells and quickly metabolizes. People may not have any heart activity for approximately five seconds, which is desired to stop the reentry cycle. Most people also have difficulty breathing or feel extremely uncomfortable in their chests for a very short time. Others may become temporarily flushed.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2011
- "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton, Ph.D.; 2006
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Reentrant Supraventricular Tachycardias (SVT, PSVT)
