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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Palpitations, rapid heart rate
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Re: Palpitations, rapid heart rate
by Nicole__0__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Nicole on May 26, 1999 at 09:54:26
I have been having random palpitations and a recurrent rapid heart rate for a few years now. Recently, my doctor decided to check for MVP. My echo came out clear and showed no signs of MVP. He also ran an EKG and had me use a 2-week event monitor. What he discovered were harmless (as he described them) PACs and an occasional rapid heart rate. He instructed me not to worry, and indicated that if it bothered me, he could put me on beta blockers, but that it wasn't necessary. He is now following up by checking my TSH level every six weeks, because it seems to be climbing. He originally thought my thyroid could be causing the palpitations, but from everything I've read it seems that palpitations are a symptom of hyperthyroidism and I believe with an elevated TSH level I am being checked for hypothyroidism. Anyway, my question has to do with my palpitations which are still occuring. The skipped beats I feel do not worry me so much as the rapid heart rate. Some nights, for no apparent reason, my heart will begin beating rapidly and feel like it's pounding in my chest. I've checked my pulse during these episodes and it's always upwards of 95 - normally, I'm at 75 or so. The episodes can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours and frighten me! There is a long history of heart disease in my family, so I'm just wondering if there are any other tests I should have done or if my doctor has covered all the bases he should with the ECG, EKG, and event monitor. Could my potential hypothyroidism be causing any of this? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
I have been having random palpitations and a recurrent rapid heart rate for a few years now. Recently, my doctor decided to check for MVP. My echo came out clear and showed no signs of MVP. He also ran an EKG and had me use a 2-week event monitor. What he discovered were harmless (as he described them) PACs and an occasional rapid heart rate. He instructed me not to worry, and indicated that if it bothered me, he could put me on beta blockers, but that it wasn't necessary. He is now following up by checking my TSH level every six weeks, because it seems to be climbing. He originally thought my thyroid could be causing the palpitations, but from everything I've read it seems that palpitations are a symptom of hyperthyroidism and I believe with an elevated TSH level I am being checked for hypothyroidism. Anyway, my question has to do with my palpitations which are still occuring. The skipped beats I feel do not worry me so much as the rapid heart rate. Some nights, for no apparent reason, my heart will begin beating rapidly and feel like it's pounding in my chest. I've checked my pulse during these episodes and it's always upwards of 95 - normally, I'm at 75 or so. The episodes can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours and frighten me! There is a long history of heart disease in my family, so I'm just wondering if there are any other tests I should have done or if my doctor has covered all the bases he should with the ECG, EKG, and event monitor. Could my potential hypothyroidism be causing any of this? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
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Dear Nicole, thank you for your question. Generally, hyperthyroidism causes rapid heart rhythms, not hypothyroidism. If your TSH is indeed elevated, then that is a sign of hypothyroidism. Thus, I don't think any thyroid abnormality is present here. You have already had all the appropriate tests done to investigate the palpitations, however, the rapid heart rhythms may be something new. Thus, I think you should contact your physician to discuss the current problem. PAC's are a benign problem that won't harm you and do not portend a bad prognosis. Common precipitants of PAC's that should be avoided include alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.
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.
Thank you for your quick response! My doctor is aware of the rapid heart rate episodes and assured me he saw nothing irregular in the ECG, EKG, and event monitor. He did detect a slight heart murmur, which was why he ordered the ECG for MVP. Could these rapid heart rate episodes (they probably occur every other week or so) be in any way dangerous, or would the EKG have picked up any abnormalities in my heart rhythm? I am only 26 years old, and, as far as I'm concerned, in good health (i.e., I feel fine!) I don't feel the need to challenge my doctor, but wonder if I should do more to look into this. Horror stories about young people dropping from ARVD or other similar disorders freak me out, to say the least!
Dear Nicole, I don't think you have structural heart disease and I doubt that you have a serious ventricular arrhythmia. The tests that have been done have already ruled out those possibilities. Therefore, you should speak with your physician regarding the rapid heart rhythm because I can only speculate in this forum. You need more definitive answers. Good luck!
Follow Ups:
Palpitations, rapid heart rate Gabriel 5/27/1999
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Re: Palpitations, rapid heart rate cindy wexler 5/28/1999
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Palpitations, rapid heart rate Jonna 6/26/1999
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Palpitations, rapid heart rate CCF CARDIO MD - CRC 6/08/1999
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