Learn about Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Visit Dr. Shukla on the web at the Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (CAI) http://www.caiaz.com

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a general name for arrhythmias that start above the ventricles. It is sometimes called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) because it occurs intermittently, or from time to time. This is generally an umbrella term for any disorder arising from the atria. SVT is further divided into three categories including AVNRT, WPW, and atrial tachycardias.

SVTs usually begin and end suddenly, and can last anywhere from seconds to hours. They may cause the heart to beat 160-200 times a minute. Ventricular Fibrillation

SVTs are generally not life-threatening, unless the patient has another heart problem. Symptoms can vary in severity, and the more severe forms may require treatment with medications or catheter ablation. Catheter ablation in general is curative greater than 90% of the time for this type of rhythm disturbance.

General maneuvers that maybe successful to stop the arrhythmias are classified as Valsalva maneuvers. These maneuvers trigger a natural reflex in the body that activates the nerves in the heart and stops the arrhythmia. These reflexes are not always successful. Maneuvers that trigger this reflex include:

* Coughing
* Baring down like strain to have a bowel movement
* Submersion of the head in ice water (this triggers a reflex frequently referred to as the diver’s reflex).

Himanshu H. Shukla, M.D., specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders and is founder of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (CAI) dedicated to providing heart care customized to the individual. Dr. Shukla is a member of the Heart Rhythm Society, has completed training at Columbia University in New York City, the University of Missouri and the University of Oklahoma. He is recognized for numerous published articles on the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, and by the American Heart Association for Outstanding Research. Dr. Shukla’s community works include raising awareness of heart rhythm disorders, safety and prevention measures through speeches, training and counsel; and contributing external defibrillators to local public schools and other entities.

Dr. Shukla has completed post doctoral training in electrophysiology at the University of Oklahoma/Oklahoma City which is recognized as a world leader in treating heart rhythm disorders, participating in an Advanced Fellowship in Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. He also acquired post-doctoral training at the University of Missouri-Columbia, completing a Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine, and spent his residency for internal medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons’ St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.

In 2003, he was honored by the American Heart Association, receiving its third Annual Cardiology Fellows Forum of Excellence Award.

Dr. Shukla serves on the medical journal review boards of the Journal of Cardiovascular Research: Journal of the European Society of Cardiology; and the Heart Rhythm Journal, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society.

His work has been published on several occasions in medical journals such as the Heart Rhythm Journal; the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology (JICE); Cardiovascular Research; and PACE, the official journal of the International Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Society. His teachings include Advanced Physical Diagnosis as well as presently participating in an Electrocardiogram Lectureship at the Arizona State University School of Nursing.

Dr. Shukla speaks regularly throughout the country on the topic of heart arrhythmia, is recognized nationally by his peers on intervention, and is consulted often on the use and development of defibrillators, pacemakers and other devices to regulate the heart.

Founder of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute based in Mesa, Ariz., Dr. Shukla also leads a nonprofit foundation dedicated to providing education and awareness of heart arrhythmia and contributes defibrillators to schools and other facilities within the community.

Dr. Shukla presently has a provisional patent application pending. He is fluent in Spanish and Gujurati.