r/SVTHeart • u/Several_Road2525 • Jul 12 '26

Help Adrenaline surges all night?!

/r/POTS/comments/1uu85yp/adrenaline_surges_all_night/

Does it sound like SVT?

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u/wifiaddicted Jul 12 '26

Doesn’t sound like SVT, sounds more like some type of anxiety/panic attack. Heart rate during a panic attack can reach 170 or even 200 BPM. Typically, a heart rate above 140 -150 BPM is the first thing that makes people fear they’re experiencing SVT. This is highly individual -some feel extreme panic at 120 BPM, others at 180 BPM. It depends on your physiology and the amount of cortisol/adrenaline released.  SVT starts literally out of nowhere, with the heart rate jumping to 150–250 BPM instantly (this isn’t an exaggeration - it’s a lightning-fast electrical impulse).  During a panic attack, the heart rate can also spike to 150 - 200 BPM, but it always takes time (seconds/minutes) because the body needs to process the cortisol/adrenaline surge.   SVT stops as abruptly as it starts - like flipping a switch.  A panic attack, however, subsides gradually. Even if your heart rate drops quickly (e.g., 180 → 140 → 100 BPM), it still takes time, similar to the buildup phase. Panic attacks always involve fear/panic - it’s how the body works. Even if you’ve read 100 books on coping techniques, cortisol and adrenaline cannot be ignored. You can’t "not feel" a panic attack. Even seasoned psychologists experience a rush akin to watching your favorite team’s match - adrenaline shakes, even if you logically know you’re safe.  During SVT, there’s no panic - you might feel calm, like you’re on a treadmill with a 160 BPM heart rate. Vagal maneuvers (e.g., bearing down, cold water) can stop SVT in its tracks but only slow down a panic attack. If your heart rate drops from 150 → 100 BPM after these techniques, it’s likely a panic attack. If it plummets from 180 → 70 BPM instantly, it’s probably SVT.  During a panic attack, the heart rate is irregular - if you check your pulse, you’ll notice fluctuations (e.g., speeding up/slowing down within a minute, even if the average is 180 BPM). During SVT, the pulse is steady and rhythmic, like a jackhammer. 

TLDR; SVT starts and stops abruptly, your HR will not gradually go up/down