Sometimes you may have felt that your heart rate suddenly increases for no reason. As if you had just run away. This can be a bit of a scary experience for some people. So today we are talking about a simple method that you can do yourself at a time like this, without even taking any medicine. But this is not something that anyone can do, at any time. Let's take a look at it in detail.
What is the Valsalva maneuver?
Simply put, this is a special breathing technique. It involves closing your nose and mouth and exerting some pressure on your body as you try to exhale. To be precise, you should do this with a feeling like you are straining to defecate when you go to the toilet .
This method is often used to control a heart rhythm disorder called ``Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)``, in which the heart rate suddenly increases. Sometimes, this is the first method that doctors try to normalize the heart rate before giving medication.
But this is not something you should do on your own. You should only do this after your doctor has told you about it and confirmed that it is appropriate for your heart rhythm disorder.
In what situations is this method used?
This method helps a doctor diagnose and treat diseases. The Valsalva maneuver is mainly used for the following:
- Control Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), a condition in which the heart rate suddenly increases, and return the heart rate to normal.
- Identify the type of heart murmur you have.
- Find out if you have heart failure .
- Identify other problems such as venous disease or varicocele.
- Find out if there is a problem with the autonomic nervous system, which is the system we unconsciously control, such as our heartbeat and breathing.
- Remove any unnecessary debris from the middle ear.
Who is not suitable for this method?
This method may not be suitable for some people because it puts pressure on the eyes and stomach. If you have any of the following conditions, do not try this method without medical advice.
Those who should definitely avoid:
- People with problems with the blood vessels in the retina of the eye (retinopathy).
- People who have had artificial lenses implanted inside the eye (intraocular lens implants), such as after cataract surgery.
Those who should be especially careful
If you have any of the following medical conditions, you should definitely talk to your doctor before trying this method and only do it under his supervision.
- Heart valve disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Congenital heart disease
How exactly is the Valsalva maneuver performed?
If your doctor has advised you to do this procedure, here's exactly how to do it.
| Steps | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Sit in a chair or lie down on a bed. |
| Step 2 | Take a deep breath. |
| Step 3 | Close your mouth and nose and try to exhale forcefully, as if you are having a bowel movement. Hold this position for about 15 to 20 seconds . |
| Step 4 | Now open your nose and mouth and exhale normally. |
Are there other variations of this method?
Yes, there are two other methods that are more effective in treating SVT.
- Modified Valsalva maneuver: This is where, as soon as you stop doing step 3 (squeezing), your doctor or a caregiver raises your legs. Studies have shown that this maneuver is more effective than the standard maneuver. This is because raising your legs increases the blood flow back to the heart.
- Reverse Valsalva maneuver: This involves sitting down, closing your nose and mouth, and trying to breathe in for 10 seconds.
What happens inside our bodies when we do this method?
When doing this method, our body's blood pressure and heart rate change in several stages. Simply put, it's like this.
1. When you strain: When you strain, your blood pressure rises slightly for a moment.
2. When you are stressed: Then your blood pressure and the amount of blood pumped by your heart decrease. Since there is less blood coming into your heart, your heart beats faster to compensate.
3. After stopping the compression: After stopping the compression, the blood pressure drops slightly again.
4. Final stage: Next, blood pressure rises even higher than before. In response, the body slows down its heart rate. Eventually, blood pressure and heart rate return to normal. It is in this final stage that the rapid heart rate is controlled.
What happens if the system is successful and what happens if it is not?
If this method is successful, your rapid heartbeat will return to normal within a minute. However, the success rate is between 5% - 20%.
If your SVT doesn't improve after three attempts, your doctor will move on to the next step in treatment. Depending on your symptoms, vital signs, and type of SVT, this may include medication or electrical cardioversion.
What are the advantages and risks of this method?
The biggest advantage of this is that it can quickly try to restore normal rhythm to a rapid heart rate (SVT) without using any medication.
Most people can safely undergo this procedure without any complications. Side effects are very rare. However, very rarely, some people may experience:
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Other abnormal heartbeats
- Stroke
Although these are very rare events, it is important to be aware of this.
Take-Home Message
- The Valsalva maneuver is a special breathing technique used to control rapid heart rate conditions such as SVT.
- Never try this on your own without the advice and guidance of a doctor.
- People with certain medical conditions, such as eye diseases and heart valve diseases, should avoid doing this.
- If you do this as directed by your doctor and it does not work, do not try again and call your doctor immediately or go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
- The modified method, that is, the method with leg elevation, often produces more successful results.
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