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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Arrhythmia or Palpatation?
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Re: Arrhythmia or Palpatation?
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on May 26, 1998 at 16:09:30:
In Reply to: Arrhythmia or Palpatation? posted by Louise on May 22, 1998 at 11:37:04:
I've experienced palpatations all of my life and have thought nothing of them other than the sensation of a fish flopping in my chest. However, recently I've experienced what at first feels like a palpatation but it doesn't stop. It only occurs when I am reclining. It is an altogether different rhythm attested to my pulse - regular beat quickly followed by a very weak beat, pause, normal beat followed by weak beat, pause, etc., and is completely consistent and will not stop until I stand up. I let it go for 20 minutes once, just to see if it would stop on it's own accord and finally got sick of the feeling and stood up - it immediately went away. During the episodes my chest feels very strange as in a palpatation but it is a constant sensation. My question is...am I wrong in assuming that it's basically a benign condition since all I have to do is stand to stop it? And if I can controll it by standing, why bother with a doctor? It doesn't occur often. I called my doc yesturday and picked up an event recorder which was prescribed for a week. I also assume that chances are I won't catch it on the recorder, so I'm paying a lot of money for nothing and am considering turning the recorder back in. Is it ok to wait and see if the symptoms become more severe or more recurring befor continuing with tests? I'd prefer it financially. Please respond, and thank you.
Sincerely,
Louise
Dear Louise,
When a person says that their palpitations have changed or they develop new
symptoms (such as the sensation you describe in your chest)it is time to
reevaluate. The event monitor is a good idea actually and it would be awesome
if you could not only catch one of the episodes but also let it record for a while
before standing up and then of course recording the time of these events.
In general it is a bad idea to assume anything is "bneign" when it causes
symptoms like shortness of breath and chest discomfort. I say this because
young people can have tachyarrhythmias(fast heart rates)that can feel like
fluttering but when sustained cause symptoms which are the warning signs that
your body is not going to tolerate it for very long. Even though the palpitations you
describe can be aborted by standing up it would be better to know exactly what
your heart rhythm is during these eposides if only for reassurance. More tell tale
symptoms (of potential danger) are dizziness or lightheadedness; if you experience these
symptoms with or without palpitations it would be best to get to the hospital emergency room and
the best route being by ambulance (you do not have such symptoms from what you have said, however it
is better that you are informed than not.) I hope that you catch some of these bothersome episodes on
the event monitor. Good Luck. Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general informational purposes only.
Actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).
In Reply to: Arrhythmia or Palpatation? posted by Louise on May 22, 1998 at 11:37:04:
I've experienced palpatations all of my life and have thought nothing of them other than the sensation of a fish flopping in my chest. However, recently I've experienced what at first feels like a palpatation but it doesn't stop. It only occurs when I am reclining. It is an altogether different rhythm attested to my pulse - regular beat quickly followed by a very weak beat, pause, normal beat followed by weak beat, pause, etc., and is completely consistent and will not stop until I stand up. I let it go for 20 minutes once, just to see if it would stop on it's own accord and finally got sick of the feeling and stood up - it immediately went away. During the episodes my chest feels very strange as in a palpatation but it is a constant sensation. My question is...am I wrong in assuming that it's basically a benign condition since all I have to do is stand to stop it? And if I can controll it by standing, why bother with a doctor? It doesn't occur often. I called my doc yesturday and picked up an event recorder which was prescribed for a week. I also assume that chances are I won't catch it on the recorder, so I'm paying a lot of money for nothing and am considering turning the recorder back in. Is it ok to wait and see if the symptoms become more severe or more recurring befor continuing with tests? I'd prefer it financially. Please respond, and thank you.
Sincerely,
Louise
Dear Louise,
When a person says that their palpitations have changed or they develop new
symptoms (such as the sensation you describe in your chest)it is time to
reevaluate. The event monitor is a good idea actually and it would be awesome
if you could not only catch one of the episodes but also let it record for a while
before standing up and then of course recording the time of these events.
In general it is a bad idea to assume anything is "bneign" when it causes
symptoms like shortness of breath and chest discomfort. I say this because
young people can have tachyarrhythmias(fast heart rates)that can feel like
fluttering but when sustained cause symptoms which are the warning signs that
your body is not going to tolerate it for very long. Even though the palpitations you
describe can be aborted by standing up it would be better to know exactly what
your heart rhythm is during these eposides if only for reassurance. More tell tale
symptoms (of potential danger) are dizziness or lightheadedness; if you experience these
symptoms with or without palpitations it would be best to get to the hospital emergency room and
the best route being by ambulance (you do not have such symptoms from what you have said, however it
is better that you are informed than not.) I hope that you catch some of these bothersome episodes on
the event monitor. Good Luck. Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general informational purposes only.
Actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).
