Skipped or Pause in Heartbeats

[Willard]

I have had numerous bouts recently with atrial Fib And have been in to see my physician. My physical went very well but he did detect a slight murmur and said I have a breathing arythmia. Meaning when I breathe my heart rate slow and speeds up! I have had an appointment with a cardiologist and he listened to me and thought it was a benign sort of thing! I am having a holter monitor put on tomorrow for 24 hrs. and thursday I'll have an echocardiogram done. My symptoms are sometimes a fast heart rate for me 90-100bpm..maybe 110. I experience missed beats or a pause in beats..right as I write this I'm getting 2-3 pauses per minute or so. I get tingling sensations in my arms and upper chest area. The feeling is scary as it happens alot at bedtime feeling a little like tightness or a muscle tightening in my left shoulder in the front. I have been able to put up with these episodes but they really bother me and sleeping is almost impossible.Can sleep deprivation make these worse? I have stopped all caffiene and alcohol...but still continue to have these almost daily..maybe more than once daily. What do you think I should do if all the tests come out negative? Should I proceed with more tests? Thanks for any input you can give me..

[Danni]

Hey all..I'm 17yr old female..and i too suffer from PAC's and yes this stuff is scary...but I was told if I didn't faint I was ok..well I fainted this weekend and now I'm afraid to go to sleep..this is so hard to try to explain to my parents and doctor..my mom is scared, but I really don't think she understands..I'm ssssoo glad that other ppl know what I feel..wow this is great!! Thanx all for the support! God Bless!

[Tim (UK)]

Ventricular Ectopic Heartbeats:
I have suffered from this utterly miserable problem for 20yrs..
Had all the tests etc. All OK.. But still very disturbing. It can go away for weeks, then suddenly reappear, and can last for several days/weeks. Have taken myself off to hospital many times,convinced that my heart was going to throw a complete wobbly. No pain, but a feeling of light headiness and mild nausia. I often find that alcohol or a hot curry can often calm things down a lot...maybe coriander(?) Just a suspicion..any feedback welcomed...***@****

This is a great site...it is comforting in itself just to share experiences and thoughts about this very disturbing (but not serious) problem. Thanks.

[Pam]

I am 37 yrs old and have been experiencing these exact same beats for a few years. I suffer form anxiety and am on Paroxatine. About 6 months ago I tried unsucessfully to lower my dose significantly and found that the anxiety came flooding back. It has taken me some months to get back to almost 'normal' but whenever I have anxious times I start getting eptopic beats. I had no idea so many people experienced the same. I am now convinced that they are stress related. Even though I am now back to 20mg per day I still experience anxious days which I am sure I did not used to. I wonder if your body can become less effected by the dose?

[elizabeth150]

A related discussion, Heart Skipping was started.

[annameads]

A related discussion, Missed Heart Beats was started.

[Danni to Jodie]

Yes I will e-mail u and tell you how my app. goes...i had the skippy beaty one..PAC's..this weird heartbeat stuff is pissing me off at hockey though..even though i try to tell myself i'm not gonna croak, my brain still thinks it..but i get through the episode and then i'm fine..so I'll be letting ya know as soon as i find out..c ya

[Jodie]

e-mail me if you want
***@****.
Let me know how your doctor visit goes.  Try not to worry, I've heard really active people have alot of wierd heartbeats.  My doctor told me that because I am also very active.   What kind of skips did you feel before you fainted?

[DANNI TO CHRIS AND CAN SOMEONE HELP ME!]

Yes i did feel the skips before it happened...I have never fainted in my life..so it was sooo scary...these started when i was 13..we just never really took them serious other than my first episode where i had super bad chest pain...i'm super active so my parents are afraid that it'll happen again and i'll stay out longer than a few seconds...have u read my 2nd post..this is my 4th..the other one on this thing is my 3rd the only one u haven't replied to? I explain things a bit better...i slept good last night knowing i was not an idiot for thinking i was gonna die in my sleep or in class or wherever thay happen..i never said n e thing to my doc cuz i thougt it was dumb...but i realize it's like a symptom. I have an appt. to see the doc in like a week so that's good my mom made sure i got one after i fainted...well thanx and God bless

[Jodie]

Good luck to you Danni.  You are way too young to be worried about these things.  I was 17 when mine started so I know how you feel.  I was afraid to go anywhere and it really disabled me just from the "fear factor" for many years.  Don't let that happen to you. I'm 36 now and still here.  I've never fainted from them.  You should go back to the doctor to let him know what happenned.  Maybe it wasn't even heart related.  Did you feel the skipping before you fainted?  If your doctor tells you not to worry after he runs all the tests, then DON'T.  Try not to be afraid to fall asleep.  All that fear just makes them worse.  You will be okay.  Stay in touch and let me know what your doctor said.  You can e-mail me at ***@****.

[bob]

I'm a 75 y.o. divorced, live-alone, sedentary male with hypertension and diabetes both controlled w/ oral medication. I have suffered the skipped beat -- followed by a whopper of a beat -- for the last 6 years with a recent period of remission of 2 years. That is until last night when trying to get to sleep: WOW, there it was again! I got up and took a mild anxiety drug: Xanax 5mg. and 2 Tylenol. I got a sound night's rest. That event precipitated my visit to this page.
During previous active sessions with this more-than-nuisance malady I saw the Doc, wore the holter, took the stress test, etc. I was assured, as most of you were, not to worry; which is a little like the alligator and the swamp anecdote.
I recently lost my full-time job, eliciting financial concerns. I attribute this new siezure(?) to $$$ envy. I have no idea what to do if these "attacks" continue other than to ignore them (ho, ho) or mix the Kool-Aide. As I have no Kool-Aide, I will attempt the ho, ho treatment. I have found that some sense of humor can help. I tell my friends that they should envy me: I am merely saving up the missed beats for when I really need them.
I doubt these comments helped anyone but me, and I appreciate this forum's existence for what therapeutical value it has.
        Happy New Year to all.

Bob

[Elizabeth....]

I would like to thank everyone for submitting their feelings and problems. I has been so helpful to me.  My heart arrythmia has seriously scared me and affected my life.  I am 32 and just recently was diagnosed with SVT and a right bundle branch block that is incomplete.  I have been having all sorts of strange episodes with my heart.  The one that is the most disturbing is this feeling of pressure/anxiety that rises in my chest, and  then a wave of feeling comes over me then there is a thump in my chest and its over.  It almost feels like all the blood drains out of my head for a second and sometimes I can't catch my breath during the episode it feels like there is pressure keeping my lungs from expanding.  Is this what a skipped beat feels like?  

I am a runner, and was excercising regularly when all this started to happen.  It started with one of these episodes and then an intense feeling of anxiety which I had day and night for a whole weekend, with shortness of breath and weird feelings in my chest.  I feel that the anxiety feeling and the heart arrythmia go hand in hand. I also have had a significant change in my BM, and mild diarherra everyday since this started.  My heart symptoms seem to get better when my BM becomes more solid.   Has anyone every heard of that?  

Those would be my two odd questions.  I am so happy to have found this forum though.  It is so comforting that other people have strange symptoms.  My doctor also has told me not to worry about it, but when you are talking to someone minding your own business and all of sudden you feel like you are going to pass out...it does tend to throw you off for the day.  Plus I am all shaky afterwords.  Thanks for listening and thanks for talking.

[Dora M.]

It's so helpful to read all your posts about skipped heart beats. I am 28 yrs old and these skipped beats were found on me since I was 21 yrs old.  I don't really feel the skipped beats myself, not even when the beats skip once every 2-3 beats.  However, I started to feel uncomfortable in my heart 7 months ago when I was under extreme stress and depressed.  I was given medication (forget what are they) by my cardiologist for 3 weeks and the symtoms disappeared exactly the day after the 1st death anniversary of my dad.  
Then everything looked OK until June when I went hiking w/ friends on a hot day -- 36C (96.8F).  I had extreme palpitation -- 200+bpm and was admitted to the ER.  I was OK after taking some rest and cooled downed.  I went check-up w/ my cardiologist again and he didn't give me any medication, just reminded me not to place myself in such a stressful condition.  
Another experience was in July this year after I drank 3 glasses of red wine.  I've been a good drinker and could drink quite a lot.  But this doesn't happen anymore after the 3 glasses, I got palpitation and was admitted to the ER again.  I was OK after I rested for 30 mins or so.  This time I didn't go check w/ my cardiologist again.
After all these experiences, I don't know whether I have panic attacks (in fact, I don't exactly know what panic attacks look like), or just afraid of experiencing the same thing like that after the hiking, or simply just the stress.  I feel uncomfortable or kinda like short of breath after walking a certain distance esp. in high temp.  But sometimes these uncomfortableness and/or palpitation appear after having dinners. Very often, they coincide w/ discomforts in my stomach too.  I usually have minor diarrhea during/after these discomfort in my heart.  
Is there anyone who have similar experience?  I've read some posts here, knowing that many of you experience skipped heart beats or palpitation after meals.  I may go see my cardiologist again and see whether he'll give me medicines for such discomfort.  I am so scared that I will die anytime...  

Thanks for listening.

[judith]

I cannot tell all of you how much I have been helped by the answers on the forum.   I have realized that I am not alone.  I would like to tell all those with palpitations that frighten them that my mother has had them for 45 years and is 84 years of age.  She is still going strong.  I figure that, if she can do it, so can I.  

Good luck to all of you that may read this message and be assured I'll be praying for all of us!

By the way, Arthur Bloom, I would not wish these problems on anyone, but I certainly hope you have no need for these forums someday and someone answers as smart alecky as you have

[Peter]

I have never answered one of these before but I feel moved by all the people who fear skipped beats. I have researched this for myself for years because I too suffer from them from time to time. Whenever I look up this subject on the internet, I find many, many people suffering from the fear of skipped beats. I have also been to the cardiologist for mine.

Here are some things I know:
1. everyone says that skipped beats are harmless except if you have advanced heart disease.
2. If you put a holter monitor on everyone, about 60% of the people would have some in a 24 hour period.
3. There is a syndrome associated with mitral valve prolapse. People with this condition, (which is not a disease, but a condition) tend to suffer from skipped beats, panic attacks and other things.
4. I get them when I have not gotten enough sleep, too much stress, depression and anything that causes an adrenaline rush.
5. My doctor put me on atenolol which I take when I feel like I am going to have a bout of skipped beats. Since skipped beats are not harmful, I only take atenolol to decrease my anxiety. It comforts me to carry them in my wallet. At least for me, I have come to realize that skipped beats are not a heart condition but a hormone condition. I can feel when I am going to get them. Atenolol works by blocking adrenaline receptors.
6. For some reason, there is a connection between upset or painful stomachs and skipped beats. Over the years, I have seen other people report this on the internet just to have this idea shot down by an expert. However, me and many other people have experienced this.
7. The problem is not the skipped beats, its the anxiety. Over time, I have learned to not let them worry me.
8. My cardiologist says that skipped beats will not hurt your heart or cause it to stop beating. You see, PVC's and PAC's actually add extra beats. The skipped beat is caused by the heart trying to catch up. He also said that your heart could have continuous PVC's or PAC's without any breaks for quite awhile (more than half an hour) and all that would happen is your heart would get tired.

[From: Evelyn To: Sherri]

I too suffer from skipped heart beats.  Now that I have been reading what it really is, I feel MUCH BETTER!!!!  I actually thought that Ectopics heart beats were harmful, thank god their not.  Now I can stop stressing over it.  All of you do the same.  The more you stress, the more you aggrevate your heart and have all of these wierd symptoms.

EB

[Scott]

I too am suffering these ectopic heartbeats. I started getting them at age 35. I noticed that they definately occur more frequently when I am under more stress than usual. The deep breath method works fairly well for most of them, but they sure do scare the heck out of me. I am going to see the doctor to fine out if there are any meds that can control this. Does anyone know if high blood pressure could be causing this?
thanks.

[Michelle Hamilton]

      My mother suffers from skipped heart beats, but it seems to cause leg cramps at night, when her heart slow down to about 30 beats a minute.  She was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome, but it seems like her muscles are being deprived of oxygen because of such a low heart rate.  The doctors will not consider checking out her heart, and have called it a heart murmur, which I believe is something different.  Does anyone out there have something similar to this?

[Mike]

My heart usually skips a beat once or twice during a 10-second pulse count after an 8-mile jog (about 123-128 bpm) and skips a beat once or twice a minute while at rest (about 52 bpm). I'm 75, have been in this routine 3 times a week for 35-40 years, and find the skipping is less if I take it easy, more if I strain. I shouldn't press, right?

[Snooks]

I first began experiencing "skipped beats" in April 1994, on Easter Sunday to be exact. I ended up in the ER completed stressed out when they continued, intermittently, for more than 1/2 an hour. No chest pain or anything indicative of a heart attack. The premature/skipped beats were recorded on a EKG(?) strip, so I knew I wasn't going crazy. It was very frightening! I was 33 at the time. Since I was in a stressful job at the time, my primary physician passed it off as being stress related,...but I wasn't convinced.

Without meds the symptoms subsided, at least until the Fall of 1995. My second child was born and, again, the symptoms intensified.I began to think maybe it "was" all stress related. I, too, wore the holter monitor but, of course, nothing was "captured" during that 24 hour period. Later I wore a loop monitor for a week and several irregular episodes were captured.

My Cardiologist told me my problem was not life threatening,  and said he could put me in a room with lots of other people  
who had the same problem and still not come to a definite conclusion as to why this was happening. Very reassuring...NOT!

I have lived with this malady for six years now. My symptoms are not as intense as those described by some of you, but are none the less annoying...worrisome...and still as scary as they were the first time. More recently the skipped beats are sometimes followed by pressure in my head and then a strong beat until things get back into sync. I also sometimes feel what I'd describe as spasms(like the left side of my heart is flopping around).

I have been told the problem could be related to diet(low blood sugars, an irritable vegas nerve that runs through the stomach and heart?, and stress)As I rarely consume caffiene, that was ruled out as a cause.

This is my question: Do any of the women who have experienced these skipped beats believe that hormones play a part? I have thought that all along...but have yet to find anything conclusive that hormones can cause this problem. Have any of you explored this possible relationship with your doctor? And, if so, what was the response?

I still do not believe that what we're experiencing is "normal" or non-life threatening. Are there any good books out there on the subject. If so, or if you have a favorite informational web site, please let me know.

Thanks! And best of luck to everyone in their search for a cure...or at least in finding a definite cause for this affliction!

Snooks

[weyman]

Chris, I also have a slow heart rate. I first noticed it about 15 years ago, 24 at the time. Just recently the skips or palpatations have gotten worse, the only thing I have at night sometimes is my arms going to sleep, or becoming numb. I don't think that's the same thing you were talking about. My normal heart rate is 60, lower at night, I've been told this was normal and nothing to worry about.

[shannon]

yes i am 19 years old and i have found out in the last 3 years i have skipped beats by my classmates. I went to the docter and he gave me a EKG and everything came out normal. Recently, i have been experienceing rapid heart beats, even if i just lying down!
and i'm afraid to go to the doctor! does anyone have any suggestions? my-email is ***@****

[Andy Michael]

The Doc says that I've got atrial ectopic beats !! What an awful feeling when they are at their worst. They seem to upset my stomach and be worse after meals. Is this a common experience?

[chris]

I have been having these irregular heartbeats for many years and in the beginning was very worried about them. After having an ECG and wearing a monitor for 24hrs my doctor told me nothing was wrong. I have not worried about them for over 5 years and have had no other problems in that time, even when under stress.
During the past 6 months I have had many nights where I am woken with total loss of use of both arms, which is not nice at all.
My resting heartbeat can drop into the low 40s, I hate to think how slow it might be when I am asleep. Has anyone else suffered from loss of limb control in this way? Control returns once I am awake and sitting up.

[Terri]

Can you tell me what palpitations feel like?  I have had the occasional skipped beat feeling. I have also had a quick beating feeling that thumps irregular.  I can feel it in my chest and it beats fast and irregular. Kind of like thump....thump thump thump pause then thump.  I'm sorry if this sounds silly. It will do this  then stop then do it again.  Sometimes it will last for 30 minutes on and off.  It's frightening.  I have no pain or other symptom when this occurs.  I wore a Holter Monitor and they told me that everything was okay.  I have been under some stress lately and wonder if this could make it worse.  I would appreciate any reply.

thank,
Terri