FAQs Understanding A-Fib: Supraventricular Tachcardia
“Is Atrial Fibrillation different from what doctors call Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia?”
‘Supraventricular’ refers to the upper part of the heart, the atria. “Tachycardia” means the upper part of your heart is beating faster than normal. “Paroxysmal” means occasional.
“Supraventricular Tachycardia” in clinical practice commonly refers to atrial tachycardia, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), and atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT), an entity that includes Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. While Atrial Fibrillation is a distinct entity classified separately.
The term “Supraventricular Arrhythmia” most often is used to refer to Supraventricular Tachycardias and Atrial Flutter. In practice, “Supraventricular Tachycardia” is often used loosely to include all arrhythmias in the Atria, including A-Fib.
Thanks to Sol Yuyitung for this question.
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Last updated: June 18, 2018