Re: palpitations

Posted By Frederik on July 04, 1999 at 14:17:43
hello, I'm having something strange.
It feels like gass is moving around my heart. Could it be the fluttering
from my heart?? When I lay my hand on my chest, I can feel that there
is something moving very fast, now is it just a spasm or is it my heart??
I must say that I have been examined twice, and that I don't have a heart
disease or a malfunction. The doctors said it's stress.
I also suffer the last few days from PVC's a can actually feel now.
I didn't feel them before. I also have a acid reflux. And when my heart flutters, I sometimes feel it in my neck.
Could it be my heart, or is it just stress again that causes spasm and make
me afraid???????
thx

[CF-CARDIO-MD-JMF]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD JMF on July 05, 1999 at 17:54:42
Dear Frederik,
Thank you for your question. I suspect what you are experiencing is PVCs. Here is a brief summary of what a PVC is, what causes them and the treatment (if any) for PVCs. You can find additional information in an article in New England Journal of Medicine, May 7, 1998, Vol. 338, pages 1369-1374. Your local medical library will have a copy of this. Hope this helps.
PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) are extra heartbeats occurring out of sync with the normal regular rhythm of the heart. PVCs may cause no symptoms at all or may be felt as a irregular heartbeat or as the sensation of a hard heartbeat. PVCs are common findings in persons with otherwise normal hearts, in which case the prognosis is excellent and there is no decrease at all in life expectancy. On the other hand, they may indicate that there is an underlying abnormality of the heart muscle (from any number of reasons). If there is an abnormality, then the prognosis and treatment depends upon the specific problem of the heart. The usual evaluation of PVCs is a history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram (ECG). Also your doctor may wish to check an ultrasound of the heart. If all those tests are normal, then you would fall into the category of people who have PVCs but otherwise no underlying heart problem. In that case, treatment depends on how much the PVCs bother you. If they are essentially asymptomatic, then no treatment is required. If they bother you, then a medication called a "beta-blocker" may reduce the frequency of the PVCs. PVCs cant be "cured", but the medication can decrease their frequency. The potential side effects of beta-blockers are tiredness, impotence in men and breathing difficulties in individuals with underlying lung disease. Be sure to discuss these issues with your doctor and under no circumstance should you take medications for the heart without the supervision of a doctor.
It is less common for people your age to have these symptoms but they may occur at any age. Again, I would consider hat is called a holter monitor to monitor your heart for several days to determine the significance of these extra beats and increased heart rate.
Below are some web sites with additional information about PVCs.
http://www.amhrt.org/Heart_and_Stroke_A_Z_Guide/prevent.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/cardio/other/gp/arrhyth.htm
http://www.MedicineNet.com/Forum.asp?li=USA&ag=Y&ArticleKey=1946
http://www.onelist.com/
Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist

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