Most people with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) don't need treatment. But if the fast heartbeat occurs often or lasts a long time, treatment may be needed. Treatment for AVNRT may include:

• Vagal maneuvers. Simple but specific actions such as coughing, bearing down as if having a bowel movement, gently massaging the main artery in the neck or putting an ice pack on the face can help slow down the heart rate. These actions affect the vagus nerve, which helps control the heartbeat.
• Cardioversion. Paddles or patches on the chest are used to electrically shock the heart and help reset the heart rhythm. Cardioversion is typically used when vagal maneuvers and medicines don't work.
• Medicines. If the fast heartbeat happens frequently, your healthcare professional may prescribe medicines to slow or control your heart rate.
• Catheter ablation. This treatment may be suggested if medicines don't work or if their side effects are too bothersome. A doctor inserts thin, flexible tubes called catheters through the veins or arteries, usually in the groin. Sensors on the tip of the catheter use heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart. The scars block irregular electrical signals and restore a typical heartbeat.