Supraventricular Tachycardia (cont.)

Supraventricular Tachycardia Causes

Paroxysmal, or sporadic, supraventricular tachycardia usually occurs without other symptoms. However, it may be associated with a number of medical conditions, such as the following:

• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
  
  
• Heart failure
  
  
• Thyroid disease
  
  
• Chronic lung disease
  
  
• Pneumonia
  
  
• Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots migrating into the lung arteries from elsewhere in the body
  
  
• Pericarditis
  
  
• Certain drugs and social habits
  
  
• Cocaine abuse
  
  
• Alcohol abuse
  
  
• Smoking
  
  
• Drinking too much caffeine in coffee, tea, or soft drinks
  
  
• Emotional stress
  
  
• Structural abnormalities, such as Wolff Parkinson White syndrome, in which extra electrical tissue sets up abnormal electrical circuits

Supraventricular tachycardia may also be a side effect of medications such as digitalis, asthma medications, or cold remedies.

In some cases, the cause of supraventricular tachycardia is unknown.