Fast heartbeat, mitral valve insufficiency?

  Dear doctor,
  I am 35 years of age and since 1991 my heartbeat is too fast. Until now
  it was treated with beta-blockers (tenormin or betaloc) and it worked,
  although there was no disease diagnosed. Since Christmas my problems
  increased. The beta-blockers don

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

_
Dear Markus, thank you for your question.  The fast heartbeat you describe sounds to me
like sinus tachycardia (ST)  - a normal heart rhythym that is going too fast.  Common
causes of ST include fevers, low blood counts, caffeine, stress, tobacco, alcohol, and
many medications.  Once these causes are ruled out, beta blockers can be tried to slow the
heart rate down and it sounds like that approach worked for you for awhile at least.
Now, with your recurrent symptoms, I have to wonder about another rhythym disturbance that
could be causing this problem for you.  To evaluate that, you would have to wear a
portable heart monitor for a few days.  
  I don't know what to make of the focal, chest wall pain you describe but at your age, I
doubt it's being caused by angina (or blockages in the coronary arteries).  Additionally,
I don't think the relapsing tonsillitis is involved here.
  The mitral valve insufficiency will need to be confirmed on follow-up echocardiograms
to prove that it really is a problem and the valve leaflets would have to be closely
examined to determine what the cause may be.  
  Overall, I hope that you are seeing a cardiologist and I would suggest you inquire about
a heart monitor and mention the symptoms of focal, chest wall pain than you've been
experiencing.  I hope you find this information useful.
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Specific diagnoses
and therapies can only be provided by your physician.