Exams and Tests

SVT can be hard to detect because episodes can start and stop quickly. For some people, this can be an ongoing source of worry. Writing down your symptoms and when they happen can help you and your care team better understand your heart rhythm.

 Tracking your symptoms

It can be helpful to keep a record of:

• When episodes happen
• What they feel like
• How long they last

 This information can help your care team decide which tests you might need. 

Tests that can help detect SVT 

• An ECG (electrocardiogram) is usually the first step.

  Your care team will often start with an ECG. This quick, painless test records your heart’s electrical activity. Small sticky sensors are placed on your chest, arms and legs. You will lie still for a few minutes while the recording is taken. 

  If you are not having an SVT episode during the test, the results may look normal. 

• A heart monitor may be needed to record your heart’s electrical activity over a longer time period and during everyday activities.
  You may be asked to wear a heart monitor at home for several days or weeks. This helps track your heart activity over time and can catch SVT episodes when they happen. 

Your care team may order other tests, such as:

• An echocardiogram, an ultrasound that looks at the heart’s structure and function
• A stress test to check how your heart works during exercise or activity 

These tests can help rule out other heart conditions and give a more complete picture of your heart health.