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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Skipped Beats and Stress Echo
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Skipped Beats and Stress Echo
by kevtt, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
I frequently get a series of skipped beats (beat, skipped beat, etc.)for minutes at time throughout the day (I can tell by feeling my pulse). Each skipped beat is matched by a out-of-breathe sensation and hollow flopping feeling in the chest. This is not serious, right?
When I swallow my metoprolol pill, a few seconds later, I get a skipped beat - is this a coincidence because I can't imagine the pill dissolving that fast to have any affect that rapidly?
What is the purpose of a stress echo test as it relates to atrial fib? Thank you. Kevin.
When I swallow my metoprolol pill, a few seconds later, I get a skipped beat - is this a coincidence because I can't imagine the pill dissolving that fast to have any affect that rapidly?
What is the purpose of a stress echo test as it relates to atrial fib? Thank you. Kevin.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Nov 14, 2002 12:00AM
Kevin,
Thank you for the question.
The skipped beats sound like premature atrial contractions (PACs) or premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), both of which can be relatively disconcerting. However, in patients with otherwise structurally normal hearts, they are benign.
The metoprolol pill will not have an effect for at least 20 to minutes, at the quickest.
The purpose of a stress echo is several fold: (1) to monitor the function of the heart during physical exertion, (2) to check for signs of a lack of blood flow to the heart during exertion, (3) to check the baseline structure and function of the heart, plus others.
One way to sort out what are the skipped beats is to have an EKG or holter monitor to monitor your heart for some defined time period (usually 24 to 48 hours).
Hope that helps
Thank you for the question.
The skipped beats sound like premature atrial contractions (PACs) or premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), both of which can be relatively disconcerting. However, in patients with otherwise structurally normal hearts, they are benign.
The metoprolol pill will not have an effect for at least 20 to minutes, at the quickest.
The purpose of a stress echo is several fold: (1) to monitor the function of the heart during physical exertion, (2) to check for signs of a lack of blood flow to the heart during exertion, (3) to check the baseline structure and function of the heart, plus others.
One way to sort out what are the skipped beats is to have an EKG or holter monitor to monitor your heart for some defined time period (usually 24 to 48 hours).
Hope that helps
I am a 27 year old male that has been diagnosed with an anxiety/panic disorder. Quite frequently, I have episodes where my heart seems to skip a beat. I can feel this when I take my pulse. Also, I feel a little bit of a thudding sensation in my chest/abdomen. These episodes occur most often when I am feeling anxious but not always.
I am in good health and am very physically fit. I have had three EKGs all of which have showed nothing unusual. The doctors I have seen always brush off my compliant as nothing or "I don't see it on the EKG". I am writing to see if there is some sort of medical/scientific explaination. What can I do about this problem because it really bothers me and triggers/exascerbates my anxiety?
Thanks, Matt
Thanx,
Billy ***@****