Valsalva Maneuver
The Valsalva maneuver is a set of physical maneuvers. They're used to slow the heart and possibly correct abnormal heart rhythm when the heart is beating in a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The Valsalva maneuver can change the pressure in your chest. This slows down the heart rate and the speed at which the heart's electrical signals travel down special pathways. If an SVT is using some of the heart's normal electrical pathways, these maneuvers may slow or stop the abnormal heart rhythm right away.
If you have an episode of SVT that doesn't stop within a few minutes of lying down, you may try the Valsalva maneuver:
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Sit or lie down.
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Take a deep breath and hold it.
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Now bear down hard with your stomach muscles, as if you were trying to have a bowel movement.
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Strain hard and hold the strain for 10 to 15 seconds. The harder you strain, the more likely the maneuver may work.
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If this doesn’t stop your symptoms, wait for at least 1 minute and try a second time.
You may also try this maneuver by lying down and raising your legs at a 45 degree angle. Or by resting your legs on a chair if you're lying on the floor. These maneuvers may make it more likely for you to stop the SVT.
What to do next
If this procedure does stop your episode of SVT, call your healthcare provider and let them know what happened.
If this procedure doesn't stop your SVT and the palpitations continue for more than 20 minutes, you may need to go to the emergency room (ER) for treatment.
Don't go to your healthcare provider’s office or to a clinic instead of the ER. These places won't be able to give you all the testing and treatment needed for this condition.
Even if symptoms are mild, don’t drive yourself to the ER. Have someone else drive you.
Call 911
Call 911 if your symptoms are severe. This is the fastest and safest way to get to the ER, because paramedics can start treatment on the way to the hospital.
Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms along with the palpitations:
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Pain in your chest, shoulder, arm, neck, or upper back
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Shortness of breath
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Weakness
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Feeling faint or lightheaded
Online Medical Reviewer:
Anne Clayton APRN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Steven Kang MD
Date Last Reviewed:
5/1/2022
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