Sometimes during intense exercise I experience a series of skipped beats and it often worries me so much that I'm afraid to exercise. I also had an episode of
tachycardiaArrhythmias
Multifocal atrial tachycardia
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (psvt)
Sick sinus syndrome
Ventricular tachycardia after riding my bike at high altitude in Colorado...I thought I was going to die :) The doctor attributed it to an anxiety attack. I was born with slight ASD and slight pulmonary
stenosisAortic stenosis
Blocked tear duct
Carotid stenosis, x-ray of the left artery
Carotid stenosis, x-ray of the right artery
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Mitral stenosis
Pulmonary valve stenosis
Pyloric stenosis
Renal artery stenosis
Spinal stenosis each of which were monitored closely as I grew up and concluded to be of no serious threat. I can't seem to shake this
fearFears and phobias of my heart going nuts during exercise. Any suggestions?
Thank you
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Dear Kirsten:
I think it is important for you to get a
cardiacCardiac catheterization
Cardiac tamponade
Left heart ventricular angiography evaluation. In addition to a thorough medical history and examination, I would recommend an
EKGAtrioventricular block, ekg tracing
Ecg
Exercise stress test and an exercise stress test. This will enable your doctor to determine what the skipped beats really represent. It may be prudent to get an
echocardiogram [cardiac ultrasound] with the stress test to see whether either of the previously identified problems with your heart are currently relevant.
Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
