Ask the doctor: How to slow a racing heart
After several episodes where my heart suddenly started racing, I was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia. My doctor said I could try gagging or coughing to help slow down my heart when these episodes occur. Why would those things help? Often, an episode of SVT stops on its own. But if it doesn't, you can try the things your doctor suggested, which are known as vagal maneuvers because they affect the vagus nerve. This nerve runs from the brain to the abdomen and affects many bodily functions, including your heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
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