I've been suffering from these episode since I was 15 years old, which was directly right after removal of my appendix. The episodes are rare, sometimes it subsides by its own, but sometimes it can really lasts up to 2-3 hours. During these episodes, initially it felt like my heart just skipped a beat, and suddenly it starts to beat really fast, and the feeling of light syncope is usually there. Then, palpitations, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, tightening of the chest, lighheadedness, numbness, cold sweats starts to manifest. I tried to hold my breath, and breath out slowly but it doesn't go away, instead it starts to beat faster.
The last one I had was 2 weeks ago, and I had to be taken to the hospital for adenosine injection. My heart rate was around 230 beats/minute. The doctor diagnosed my condition as PSVT specifically AVRT, but he says that it is clinically normal? What does it mean?
What do I usually do when these episodes occur if Valsalva maneuver doesnt work? I can't always go to the hospital. Sometimes I get them during exams, which scares me a lot.
Please help. How do I prevent an episode from occuring? any aggravating factor? and is AVRT a congenital defect?