What Increases Your Risk?

SVT can happen to anyone – even among those with otherwise healthy hearts and at younger ages.

If you have an episode of SVT, you have a problem with your heart's electrical system, which can be triggered by several factors. Examples include:

• Drinking too much alcohol 
• Having severe emotional or physical stress
• Using drugs that quicken the heart such as amphetamines or cocaine
• Having family members who have a history of SVT, in some cases

In addition, certain conditions can increase your risk of developing SVT:

• Congenital heart defect or problems with the heart’s structure or valves
• Prior heart surgery or heart attack
• Acute illnesses
• Abnormally high thyroid function (hyperactive thyroid)

Sometimes certain medications can make SVT more likely.

Women are more than twice as likely as men to develop SVT.