I'm trying to figure out several things......such as:

What exactly is sinus? And what is sinus rhythm? If the rhythm isn't a sinus rhythm, then what might it be called? So is sinus rhythm a good thing or a bad thing?

Trust me.....I really have done quite a bit of reading about this stuff, and I find myself getting more and more and more confused!!!

So let me get this straight. There are many kinds of SVT's? Correct? So once someone is told they have SVT's, I suppose the question would be what kind of SVT's they have? (I sure hope I'm making some sense here...)

Does anyone know what the possible SVT's are?

Thanks for any info.

See if this page helps you:

http://www.rchc.rush.edu/rmawebfiles/abnl%20rhythm%20for%20parents%20body.htm

sinus rhythm is normal, there are variations in normal sinus rhythm. There is sinus bradycardia, which is heart rate,less than 60, which can be normal , there is sinus tachycardia, which is heart rate greater than 100, stress or anything can raise heart rate over 100, which can be normal. SVT is supraventricular tachycardia which is not normal that is when the heart rate 140's to 200. People are very short of breath and often have pressure in their chests. The supraventricular means that the impulse started somewhere above the ventricle. Sinus rhythm is called sinus because there are sinus nodes in the heart that send impulses for the heart to beat.

Michelle

Hi.
This information will be helpful for the non- healthcare provider.

Sinus. Sinus is the small cavity or 'sinus', smaller than the point of a pen, that is in your upper right heart (your atria). This is where you heart beat originates. Its like lighting a fuse. The sinus node is the start. The electrical impluse started here traveles to the rest of the heart, causing it to contract.

therefore, sinus rhythm is the rhythm that comes from your sinus node (and therefore is normal). You will hear health professionals say a person has 'normal sinus rhythm' this means 2 things. 1: the rhythm is originating from the sinus node, which is normal, and the rhythm is normal, 60 to 90 beats per minute depending on your gender, size, and age. Sinus rhythm is a good thing.

If the rhythm isn't sinus, is is called several different things, depending on the rhythm. You see, if for some reason, the sinus node fails to fire its impulse, another node lower in the heart will take over. If this happens you can have an arrythmia. When the sinus node is working correctly, it overides all other possible nodes in the heart. sometimes several uncontrolled nodes fire sporaddically. this is called fibrillation. If it happens in the top of the heart, it is called atrial fibrillation. If it happens in the bottom of the heart, it is called ventricular fibrillation. And sometimes, a node lower than the sinus takes over because it is beating faster. This is organized, but the heart beats too fast to push blood. This is called tachycardia. If it happens in the top of the heart, it is called atrial tachycardia, and the lower is called ventricuar tachycardia.

As for your question about SVT's

SVT means Supra Ventricular Tachycardia

Supra means above

Ventricular means the lower 2 chambers of the heart

And tachycardia is the rapid rhythm, usually above 100bpm.

So, this means a fast heart rate above the ventricles.

Atrial fib, and atrial tachy are types of SVT. There is also paroxysmal SVT, which is of sporaddic occurance and hard to diagnose
BB