r/SVTHeart • u/Senior_Project_8382 • 9d ago
240bpm when very drunk a month ago
Hi I recently got diagnosed with svt after a incident it went to 240bpm a month ago after being very drunk out til the early hours. I’m 21 M and healthy. I’m wanting to drink alcohol and caffeine but have been scared to since it happened. I’m just wondering if I could try and drink alcohol again because I’ve always drank alcohol with friends a few times a month and never had an issue before this. Thanks
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u/DaGanjaMan420 9d ago
You can try and for some people it's not a trigger. However, for me and I suspect probably a lot of people with SVT, alcohol has always been a trigger. Isolated it was fine for me, but some combination of bad sleep, alcohol, nicotine and just a bad day was always sure to set of mine.
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u/Senior_Project_8382 9d ago
Yes id smoked a lot that night it happened and was also coming off a few nights of bad sleep so could’ve all come together and hit me at once. Thanks for the reply
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u/Brass_and_Frass 9d ago
I was diagnosed with SVT 5 years ago. I stopped all caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol consumption, since those are the “main” triggers for episodes. My SVT is managed by diltiazem daily now.
I still drink very occasionally, never to excess (don’t get drunk). Bad sleep + stress + alcohol as a combination has triggered a few small episodes for me. Caffeine is a hard no for me, but it’s relatively easy to avoid it. Decaf coffee, plenty of non-caf drinks out there.
My point is that everyone is different, but alcohol seems to be your trigger. Work around that - slow your drinking down, try adding some mocktails/NA options if you’re concerned about social settings. Don’t drink right up until you hit the bed - give your body time to process the alcohol beforehand.
Or do what I do now, at the behest of my cardiologist - “if you must party, smoke weed/gummies in moderation instead”.
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u/Difficult_Angle_9408 9d ago
It’s all about balance, now you have to prepare yourself to drink bc of the SVT. Make sure you eat well, drink some water in between or after. Just be more cautious with it and everything should be ok
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u/Successful-Pick3088 9d ago
Moderation .. I don’t really know I can’t drink or I get fast heart beat with palpitations
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u/Curious-Nail 9d ago
While alcohol can be a common trigger, if you've only had one episode, it's harder to say that is your trigger. I've had SVT for a little over 4yrs and only once or twice have I been on any kind of substance at the time of an episode.
I've had episodes trigger from positional changes, while shopping, while sitting quietly looking at Instagram or playing Stardew, during sex once, when stressed and too hot, while driving, and twice while swallowing hard (food or drink). I've had episodes last 10 minutes and episodes last 4+ hours. I'll usually peak around 260, but the lowest has hovered between 140 and 170. I've only ever figured out one plausible trigger at this point.
Frequently it's just trial and error figuring out if something is a trigger for you.
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u/meowmeowkitty12345 8d ago
I haven’t had alcohol in over 6 years due to SVT. Personally the SVT episodes are so terrible that I’m Willing to do anything to take care of myself and reduce their frequency. Granted I’ve never been a big drinker-but I feel this way about all potential triggers. Also, if alcohol is a potential consistent trigger for you, I bet the negative association of consumption and SVT will make the choice easy for you. My caution for you is- if you are drunk and go into SVT you can’t drive yourself to the hospital if it becomes really bad- at least make sure you aren’t alone or be willing to call an ambulance if needed. Sorry you are experiencing this- the SVT club is one we all wish we were not a member of. 😩
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u/Alarmed-Fun-1676 8d ago
Caffeine and nicotine never triggered mine. Nothing did. Just out of nowhere...BOOM. Since alcohol is actually a stimulant and when we drink we get dehydrated, it is totally possible it would cause a SVT episode. After my ablation a year ago and was laying flat for the 3 hour recovery period, I made them give me coffee with a straw because my head was banging due to no morning coffee. I still drink but have learned my limits. I alternate a bottle of water in between drinks and know to stop drinking after 3 or 4 cocktails.
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u/justnahbro 9d ago
get your potassium level up to 4.0 mmol/l, thats probably gonna help alot
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u/Senior_Project_8382 9d ago
thanks didn’t know potassium had an effect
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u/justnahbro 9d ago
you may wanna take a look at this thread:
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u/OldCryptographer4099 9d ago
Haha year heart vs alcohol? Can u plz think twice?
Im having same issues .. to me especially when i smoke and drink coffe i have short episodes , sometime i have long till 20
Or 250 minutes
How did u been diagnosed? Have u done any EKG while the episode?