Can you tell me what this might be?

Posted by Laura on April 29, 1999 at 17:10:10
Hi,
I've been going through the posts and archives, but can't find this specific problem.
I have left ventricular hypertrophy. My doctor has me on Avapro.
I am overweight (by about l00 lbs.) and have mild high blood pressure.
I have recently noticed that my heart will sometime beat 2 or 3 times in rapid succession and then beat normally. This doesn't happen all the time, just sometimes. And at other times it will be a normal beat, a pause, and then normal again.
I should say, that I can't feel this. I use a blood pressure monitor (automatic) that also measures your pulse. It will beep in time with the heart. This is how I can tell my heart is doing this. It's like beep beep -beepbeepbeep- beep beep.
Can you tell me what this is? A name, so that I can discuss it with my doctor (who refuses to refer me to a cardiologist)? I would really appreciate it.
Could you also tell me if being overweight has anything to do with it?
Thank you,
Laura

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on April 30, 1999 at 13:49:39
Dear Laura, thank you for your question.  Most likely, you are having premature beats (termed premature atrial/ventricular contractions).  As I have listed in my responses to other questions from 4/29/99, premature beats are most often benign and can be precipitated by alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.  Being overweight, however, should not cause premature beats.   The easiest way to determine if you are having premature beats is for you to wear a portable cardiac monitor for 1-2 days.  You should ask your physician about this test which should help to sort out what's going on.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.