Skipped/Missed Beat

[Prism77]

Does anybody ever check their pulse and notice a pause but have no palpitation?

The missed beat comes at a rate such as (beat, beat pause,beat pause, beat pause)

It is irregularly irregular. However, it is beating about 55-65 BPM.

Any thoughts?

[laurie1966]

I have frequent PVC's. It feels like a beat then a pause and then a hard beat. My heart feels like it is pounding when I have them and it is very uncomfortable.This could be what you are having. Usually they are harmless. I am in the middle of being evaluated for them to try and find the cause. When you take your pulse you will not feel the PVC just a pause.

[va_tony]

I suspect that because of your low heart rate and the fact you don't take meds that you likely don't have afib (but I'm not sure). It's likely, as you said, wandering atrial pacemaker or strings of PACs or something akin to those. PACs are completely harmless (with or without a "normal heart"). They will never damage your heart.  Some of the other atrial arrhythmias (afib and especially atrial flutter) can hurt your heart over time.  Aflutter can cause your heart to race at a high rate and over time that can be damaging to ventricles. In my case, my cardiologist believes my frequent and persistent bouts of afib have contributed to the enlargement of my atria (which is a vicous cycle of sorts in that enlarged atria beget more afib). But even in the afib case, as long as one takes precautions to avoid strokes (by taking an anticoagulant) and controls rate (with a beta or calcium channel blocker), lifespan statistics seem to be about the same as the "normal" population.

As for plaps, some people (like yourself) never feel PACs or PVCs. The fact that you don't feel them does not rule out PACs.

[Prism77]

I do not take any medications for my heart.  I am in pretty good shape.

Could it be wandering atrial pacemaker (since I cannot feel the palps) or is it likely PAC's?

If one has a normal heart based on diagnostic testing, is there ever too many PAC's?

Thanks for your input.

[va_tony]

I'm in afib right now and experience what seems like pauses in my pulse (but feel no palpitations).  My heart rate is regularly irregular and typically varies from 55-75 at rest. The HR is low because I'm on several BP drugs (cardizem and altace) that slow the heart rate as well as rythmol, which has some beta blocking capability and slows rate as well. Do you take meds that might slow your heart rate?  If not, it's probably not afib, just PACs.

[Victric]

I sometimes notice something similar, often when I bend forward, or lay down. I have no pauses though, only extra beats. I guess it could be PACs or maybe a short episode of A-fib. It could also be PVCs but my impression is that PVCs are much more noteable than PACs.