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sinus arrhythmia
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MedHelp Member's Question

sinus arrhythmia

by niña, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
I am wondering why at my age I would feel skipped heartbeats.  I have had them since age 18.  I have seeked a second opinion and she told be that I have a sinus arrhythmia wil PAc's.  She also told me that my hears is in good shape.  She verified this with a 30 day queen of hearts monitor.  

QUESTIONS:

I have been researching this for quite some time and I was wondering if Sinus Arrhythmias actually cause ectopic or skipped beats??  



Will this arrhythmia go away as I get older?  For I am only 23 and they (skipped beats) have been happening since age 18.



I feel these mostly at rest.  I know that everyone feels them at rest, but why are the  main causes stress and caffine...I have stress at times but no caffine.  When I am resting why do they tend to happen most disregaurding stress and caffine?



Can this be hormonal?  I do have them worst some months and the others I can go without them for weeks???  two weeeks before PMS I tend to get them the  most?



Will I have difficulties in the future?



I would appreciate a response.  I have been trying to ask questions for a while!!  THANK YOU!!!!!!!



Doctor's Answer

by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
Dear nina,

Sinus arrhythmia is the normal cyclical changes in the timing of the heart rate.  A good example of sinus arrhythmia can be seen by measuring ones pulse during a slow deep breath in and out.  There is a normal variation with breathing that can be noticed.Sinus arrhythmia does not cause ectopic beats.  Premature atrial contractions (PACs) are different.  These are an early beating of the atrium that is benign and normal.  PACs may be affected by caffeine and the hormonal cycle as well as stress but they may also occur without any of these influences.  PACs don't usually go away and do not predict any future heart problems.
Member Comments (15)

by Jocie, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
I have been told that when you are at rest some people are more aware of their heartbeat than while you are up and doing things.  The skipped beats (PVC's) are usually still happening even when we are not resting.  I also find a correlation between my monthly cycle and skipped beats. I have been told by cardiologists not too worry about them, but I still get concerned when I feel them. Exercise, no caffeine, plenty of sleep and avoiding stress are some things that can help. Avoiding stress is not so easy to do. I have had times in the middle of the night that I would wake up from a dream and have hot flashes and become very anxious and my heart would race. I also wore a event monitor and my heart would race mostly 150,s - 160,s.  At one time it did get to 180. I was told it was sinus tachycardia and not to worry about it. But it scared me to death. I opted to start taking Atenolol 25mg per day and I have not had the racing heart but I still have skipped beats once in a while (usually when I am stressed). I have been trying to post a question for a long time also.  What time did you get through?

I live in mountain-standard time. Has anyone ever had sinus tach diagnosed at rates as high as 180? Thank you and I hope this helps!

by niña, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
To: jocie
My highest heart rate was 120 or 125 reported by the 30 day monitor.  I think that was right before bed.  I dont have PVC's but only PAC's.  I recorded exactly what I felt at that time (which is what I always feel) and she told me that they are PAC.  She also said that this is very common among women my age (young adults).  I guess Birth control does not bring them on at all.  When did you record the 180 hr?  At rest?  Lots of poeple have that, even higher which is known as tachycardia.  I never really get the fast heart rate.  However, a couple of times (like 2 times a year) my heart would beat fast and erratically without no sysmptoms.  Panic attacks??  I finally posted today for the first time.  I alo tried it again and let me in.  I have been trying all different times but finally got through around 830 est.  Did your DR tell you that skipped beats are common with Sinus Arrhythmia??

by jan, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
To: nina
If you meant that you tried posting "again and it let you in", you just used someone else's opportunity to post.

by Jocie, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
My 180 heart rate was at rest in the middle of the night after waking up. I think it might be panic attacks but I am not sure.

My doctor did not address PAC's and sinus arrhythmia. I am an RN and I know that PAC's are common to everyone as well as PVC's. The key is if they give you symptoms when you have them. SOB, dizziness, etc. If they are symptomatic and bothersome, sometimes medication is warranted. I still believe you feel them more at rest eventhough you have them throughout the day.

by niña, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
To: jocie
They are sooo annoying though.  I had a holter monitor before the event for 48 hrs and it only showed a total of 3 skipped beats.  I have NO caffine anymore and my echos were normal and echo was good.  My dr said that I Have a strong heart.  My aunt has tachycardia and my mother had palpitations.  Sometimes when it happend I get a "headRush".  I get dizzy for a half a second.  Is that normal?  My Primary care is a cardiologist and he always ignored what I was saying to him.

by Buzz, Jun 01, 2001 12:00AM
I have sinus arrhythmia also.   I have a hard time just before my periods also.  I used to have rates in the 180's all night long.

I;m now taking Toprol XL and it slow the heart down to 90's most days.   On a really good day as low as 75.  I also noticed my blood pressure is back to my normal levels of 116/75.  



What I noticed first is blood pressure going up to almost high levels, I like to measured it at Wal=mart every week. ;-) (my place to shop).  It was a good year before I thought of the racing heart.  When I almost passed out several times, I still did not put it together. My mom made me go to her heart doctor cause I started to get short stapping pains in the center of the chest. So when I got my event monitor results I was suprized to hear of the hight heart rate.  It sure does explain all them bad days.



I still get pain from day to day..but is very rare,,,only when I am really stressed like today.  



Sinus arrhythmia will not kill you, but sure can keep you on your toes about taking your meds.  So now I am the classic,,,ehehhehe

Asthma, GERD and Sinus tachycarda.... they sure all go hand in hand.



Good Luck,

Buzz









by wvgrl, Jun 02, 2001 12:00AM
I am a healthy 24/f.  Don't have any family history of heart trouble, I'm not overweight, don't have any other medical problems, and I keep in shape  I have rates in the 180's most nights, too.  When I first noticed it, I asked my husband to take my pulse and my heart was beating so fast that he really couldn't even get a good count, so we went to the ER.  By the time they got me on a heart monitor, my heart rate was at 220 and irregular.  They kept me in all night and gave me meds to slow my heart but it raced most of the night and when they sent me home the next day my heart rate was still only 100 which is considered to be in the normal range, but my normal heart rate is around 60.  The doctors concluded that it was a reaction to Claritin that I had been on for about three weeks, but I stopped taking it and my heart is still racing, and I feel some nasty PVC's.  My lowest heart rate that I've found lately was like 120.  Anyone else go through anything like this?  I'm scared to death.

by WEASY, Jun 05, 2001 12:00AM
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A CHILD OF FOUR WHO HAS A SINUS ARYTHMIA THE DOCTORS TOLD HER NOT TO WORRY BUT SHE IS HER DAUGHTER ISNT GROWING NORMALLY HAS ASTHMAS AND