What causes Paroxysmal supraventricular (atrial) tachycardia(PSVT)?
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia may be triggered by a premature heartbeat that repeatedly activates the heart at a fast rate. This repeated, rapid activation may be caused by several abnormalities. There may be two electrical pathways in the atrioventricular node (an arrhythmia called atrioventricular nodal reentrant supraventricular tachycardia). There may be an abnormal electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles (an arrhythmia called atrioventricular reciprocating supraventricular tachycardia)as in the case of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.. Much less commonly, the atria may generate abnormal rapid or circling impulses (an arrhythmia called true paroxysmal atrial tachycardia). This may be induced by premature atrial or ventricular ectopic beats. Other triggers include digitalis toxicity hyperthyroidism and stimulants, including caffeine, drugs, and alcohol. You must know that PSVT can occur in an otherwise normal heart. As a matter of fact it is not serious in a
