Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
 | 
continuous irregular heat beat with healthy heart
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Post a Question Back to Forum
MedHelp Member's Question

continuous irregular heat beat with healthy heart

by Renn, Dec 03, 1999 12:00AM
My cardiologist diagnosed me with Atrial Fibrullation .

I’m a 34 year old male and I have had an irregular heart beat for at least 10-15 years, although it was only recently “officially” diagnosed. I had a treadmill test, EKG and an echo sonogram. The sonogram showed my heart in great shape physically.  The doctor said it was electrically abnormal and that was causing the irregular heart beats.

My heart beats normally for about 7-11 beats (sometimes longer,maybe 60 beats in the morning), then skips a beat or maybe a double beat. Then repeats. It’s continuously doing this all the time (24 hours a day). I feel great. I exercise moderately and have no dizzy spells. Occasionally, in the mornings, my heart sounds as if it is beating regularly.

My doctor wants to send an electric shock to my chest to hopefully regain normal rhythm. But he said that usually only works if you catch the arrhythmia early. He doesn’t believe me that this has been going on for so long. He say’s if it was going on that long, that my ventricles would be enlarged to 4-5 inches wide (not the normal 3 inches it is now) and that there’s no way this could have been going on longer than 6 months.



What is your opinion of my condition?

Increased risk of stroke?

Anything to really worry about?

Doctor's Answer

by CCF CARDIO MD JMF, Dec 06, 1999 12:00AM
You are considered to have "lone atrial fibrillation" that is atrial fibrillation in a normal heart.  While your stroke risk is low, it is not completely zero.  I would follow your physicians advise and consider either electrical or chemical control of this arrhythmia.
Member Comments (9)

by Gina, Dec 03, 1999 12:00AM
Hi

I also have an arrythmia like you are describing. I am 30 and recently had a Mitral Valve replacement. I did not have the PAC's "Atrial Arrythmia" until after surgery. Anyway, I also have a 1st degree A/V Block which is a conduction problem like you mentioned. I was told that if I am not having spells or feeling bad that they are begine. I am not a MD but a very expenienced individual when it comes to the matters of the heart. If I were you I would obtain a second opinion with an EP doc before proceeding. I have decided to live with my extra beats. Another alternative is a pacemaker which I want to avoid.

Take care

Gina, ***@****

by Renn, Dec 03, 1999 12:00AM
Gina,

Thanks for the reply. It's kind of reassuring to know I'm not the only one with a condition like this.

I do plan on seeing an electrophysiologist, but probably not until the first of the year or so.

Thanks,

Renn

by Eddy, Dec 03, 1999 12:00AM
My 16 year son has a heart beat that skips every so often. He went through all of the tests. stress, electro-cardiogram, etc. His heart was found to be normal. Since he is an athlete his heart rate is real low. The cardiologist said that his problem is an electrial problem. When his heart skips a beat he gets a lot of pain before it beats again. The other night this was very severe and he felt lethargic afterwards. We are going back to the cardiologist since it has been a year since his last visit. Does anyone else has severe pain with the skipped heart beat? Thanks

by Jan Hooper, Dec 08, 1999 12:00AM
I am a 49 year old woman.  I have had heart "palpitations" on different occasions all of my life, but they have been much more severe in the last 4 or 5 years.  This last year has been the worst.  I have been through echo-stress tests and have also worn a heart monitor for 24 hours.  The cardiologist says I have an extra heart beat that can happen as often as every other heart beat and sometimes even two in a row.  He says my heart muscle is strong and that my condition is benign.  It is very hard for me to believe, since the discomfort is so great that it is all I can think about when I'm having the problem, which is up to 1/2 or 3/4ths of the month.  I have actually seen two cardiologists about this condition, and both feel it is hormonal and will get better after menopause.  I have already given up all caffeine, I don't smoke and never have, I have given up sugar related foods, and I avoid the altitude (all things that seem to bother my heart more).  I am overweight and am working very hard to drop the weight so as to help my heart.  The challenge is, whenever I walk my heart begins to beat all wrong and the discomfort will last for hours, even days.  Why does excercise bring on the palpitations so greatly? and what can I do about it?  The cardiologist prescribed "Inderal" to use on my bad days, but I feel I had a reaction to it (he doesn't agree, but says just take it at night then).  My reaction was light headed-ness, dizziness, hands and feet cold, and basically shivery all over and the worst part was mental fogginess.  Is there any hope for me?  I don't want to have to live with this problem.  I'm sure there must be something I can do.  Any suggestions?

by CCF CARDIO MD JMF, Dec 10, 1999 12:00AM
Palpitations in a perfectly normal heart is generally of little concern.  All of you should have full cardiac evaluations by cardiologists to determine if there are any underlying valvular or heart problems.

by Christina (SoleilPie@bigfoot.com), Mar 09, 2000 12:00AM
Hi there.  I'm not sure if I have a condition of any kind or if it's something that is considered "normal".  My heart skips a beat every once in awhile.  There are days however, when my heart beat will skip throughout the day. When this occurs I'm immediately out of breath. I seem to feel out of breath on many days also.  I remember a friend telling me that it seemed like I breathed a lot when I spoke.  I started jogging about 2 years ago and I cannot for the life of me get above 2 miles.  At 2 miles I am extremely exhausted.  Most people I would imagine improve over time.  Not me.  I've always wondered if that had something to do with not enough oxygen making it around.  The day before yesterday I was on a treadmill at a gym and got to 1 1/2 miles and just had to stop from exhaustion.  I was sweating profusely.  I then thought I was going to pass out and had to sit down.  I almost didn't make it to my car!  I know this incident could have been from heat exhaustion but I can't help but think that it could also be related to my heart.  I checked my blood pressure and BPM before I got on the treadmill.  My blood pressure was 118/62 and my BPM was 59.  I checked it all again today and my blood pressure was 105/67 and my BPM was 56.  I know that my BPM is considered low.  I'm not sure at this point if I have what may be a potentially serious problem or if this is a normal occurrance.  ANY information would be helpful. I appologize for making this so lengthy.

by Christina, Mar 09, 2000 12:00AM
Hi there.  I'm not sure if I have a condition of any kind or if it's something that is considered "normal".  My heart skips a beat every once in awhile.  There are days however, when my heart beat will skip throughout the day. When this occurs I'm immediately out of breath. I seem to feel out of breath on many days also.  I remember a friend telling me that it seemed like I breathed a lot when I spoke.  I started jogging about 2 years ago and I cannot for the life of me get above 2 miles.  At 2 miles I am extremely exhausted.  Most people I would imagine improve over time.  Not me.  I've always wondered if that had something to do with not enough oxygen making it around.  The day before yesterday I was on a treadmill at a gym and got to 1 1/2 miles and just had to stop from exhaustion.  I was sweating profusely.  I then thought I was going to pass out and had to sit down.  I almost didn't make it to my car!  I know this incident could have been from heat exhaustion but I can't help but think that it could also be related to my heart.  I checked my blood pressure and BPM before I got on the treadmill.  My blood pressure was 118/62 and my BPM was 59.  I checked it all again today and my blood pressure was 105/67 and my BPM was 56.  I know that my BPM is considered low.  I'm not sure at this point if I have what may be a potentially serious problem or if this is a normal occurrance.  ANY information would be helpful. I appologize for making this so lengthy.

by John, Jul 18, 2000 12:00AM
In addition to a heart murmur (not the serious type), I have quite a history of irregular heart beats. I go through periods when the irregularities are enough to cause me alarm, to times when there are no irregularities. In five years, I was tested on a treadmill with very good, almost identical, results. The last test was about 1 1/2 years ago.I also had ultrasound tests about 4 years ago, no problems detected. After what seemed like a year of solid regular heartbeat, the last three days have been almost constant irregularities. For example, I skipped one out of 2, then 3, then 6, then 9,then 36 in the last minute or so. Often, I have to cough when a beat is skipped.



I have looked at holistic (herbal) products to aid the heart and circulatory system. I would prefer that type of treatment rather than electrical or chemical stimulation.



Any comments would be appreciated.
Back to Forum
Continue discussion