Erratic heart rate during waking

(1) Often as I'm waking from sleep I notice my heart rate is erratic. My heart seems to stop for a second or two, then there might be two rapid beats in succession, then slows, and speeds up again. This continues for about a minute or so. It's quite dramatic. Once I reach full waking consciousness my heart is as steady as a metronome. What is going on here? I'm a 45 yo male nosmoker, regular exercise, normal weight but with a past history of anxiety and PVCs.

(2) Also, an ED doctor told me as I was being discharged for a non-heart related event, "oh by the way, you have a slightly long PR interval, but it's totally benign." I've had many EKGs in the past and no one ever told me that before. The only change between the last EKGs and recently is that I've exercised much more and increased my muscle mass and aerobic endurance dramatically in the past few months. I've also dealt with stress and anxiety issues so I'm much calmer than in the past. How is it that becoming "healthier" causes a longer P-R interval? Is it related to the sleep-wake erratic heart rhythm?

(3) I've been told that PVCs in a structually normal heart is benign. And now, a long P-R interval in a structurally normal heart is benign. How many "abnormalities" in rhythm can a structurally normal heart take and still be benign?

(4) And what happens to all of us people with "benign" PVCs and or long P-R interval when we get older and we start to develop arteriosclerosis?

[Cleveland Clinic]

wxci,

1) Without looking at a monitor its impossible to tell.  I would imagine it really is more related to your waking from sleep and not a primary rhythm problem. A holter or even monitor would tell you what your heart rhythm is in these instances.

2) Have your ECG looked at by some one qualified to read them officially. 'kind of a long' pr interval is not an accurate statement. Its either long or not. Either way without symptoms there is nothing that makes any difference.  It is not related to your lifestyle or your sleep wake cycle.

3) Both are benign as long as they are not related to excessive symptoms such as fatigue.

4) If you suffer significant structural damage to the hearts pumping function it could have some impact. I would cross that road when you get to it and continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.

good luck

[Abeybaby]

I have exactly what you have. Sudden movements, either getting up, walking, eating, bending or just plain living- bamm i get PVC's ... the cardio really doesnt care at all but i certainly have a tough time dealing with this i will tell you.

its benign at least for me but it not easy coping i wil tell you.

[prjose56]

I'M GOING CRAZY!! I too have a very variable heart rate. My resting rate is anywhere from 55-80 and it constantly jumps around. The slighest exertion and my heart rate jumps to 100+. This variability began about two months ago. I've had numerous tests including an echo and all came back normal. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder (currently taking 20mg of Celexa) but have a hard time believing anxiety is the cause for my dynamic heart rate. I understand panic attacks will cause your heart rate to increase, and I've learned to deal with these attacks. When I move or even talk my heart rate jumps up. I feel like there's no rhythm to it, and of course whenever I have an EKG done it beats normally. For some reason I calm down at the doctor's office. It's become so debilitating. I used to be extremely active and now I'm afraid to walk up a flight of stairs because my heart rate immediately jumps up. Does anyone else have these symptoms? Any advice on how to control it will be greatly appreciated.