Extra Heart Beats

Hi,
I am a 35 year old female with long history of anxiety especially around heart issues.  For the past two months I have been experiencing what I would call extra heart beats (it seems my heart will go beat,beat,beat beat, beat beat sometimes more like beat, beat, beat beat beat, beat, beat, beat beat).  I don't feel this in my chest or experience any symptoms, I only notice it because I am OCD about my heart and check my pulse regularly.  Before all of this my heart was always regular beat, beat, beat.  About a year and a half ago I experienced what I felt was a very rapid heartbeat after overdoing it on the exercise bike and went to a cardiologist.  They did an EKG, Echo, Stress test, and stress echo, all came back fine just two trace to mild leaky valves.  They told me not to worry about it, that something would kill me but it wouldn't be my heart.  I run 3 to 4 times a week and walk on the other days, so 30 to 45 minutes of cardio a day.  I also just recently went off birth control pills after ten years and had a really bad time will anxiety, depression, flushing, bp spikes, etc so my OB-GYN put me back on them and it has been better. I told my OB-GYN and my GP about the extra beats and they told me that it is stress and not to worry.  My question is should I follow up again with a cardiologist?  I feel like I have had all of the neccessary tests and know that a visit to the Cardio will really stress me out and they will most likely tell me it is benign.  I know I should stop taking my pulse (I take it 10 to 15 times a day) but I am afraid I would then be ignoring a potential problem.
Help
Ivy

[Lee Kirksey, MD]

Hello
It sounds like you have had a very thorough evaluation of potentially harmful causes of your irregular beats. And as you said, you are not experiencing any symptoms. It might diminish some of your concerns about these irregular beats if you are re evaluated.

Also remember that the mind is very powerful and the persuasive nature of anxiety can influence our body's tendency to focus on benign issues

Nevertheless, use this opportunity to focus on you comprehensive health to make sure that you are doing all things possible to optimize your health including optimizing your personal nutrition, creating an ideal exercise program for your age and goals, recognizing the preventative health strategies and creating an optimistic personality.

Return to your cardiologist and get support that its time to move ahead
You may also learn more about a comprehensive approach to personal health at www.personalwellnesswheel.com