Skippsed beat

[Scott]

Recently I have had a series of test done to my heart due to some dizziness and shortage of breath that I have been experiencing.  The out come of the test were good, but my doctor did notice that I have a low pulse rate.  It sometimes dips into the 40's and while I sleep, it even dips into the 30's.  Yet, because I'm lightheaded as well when it is in the 60's he seems to think that all is ok.  I have had a stress test, EKG and 24 heart moniter.  He did notice that on the 24 heart moniter, my heart tends to skip one full beat, which lead him to consider a pace maker.  But, since my stress test was normal, he said that we will just hold out for a while and see.  My question is last night I was playing tennis and felt my heart skip a beat.  My pulse was up because of the exercise, so I think I was able to feel it more.  As of recently, I haven't been as lightheaded, but sometimes I'm short of breath.  I'm 6'1 195 pounds and do some sort of activity 3-4 times a week dealing with soccer, tennis or surfing...

Thanks!

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

The "skipped" beat you felt was probably a PVC and I don't think it is related to your dizziness. As far as the dizziness it can be caused by a variety of different things.  Blood loss and dehydration are more serious causes.  Neurological problems are a potential source with strokes and TIA's as potential causes.  Inner ear problems such as labrinthitis (an infection of the inner ear) and Mineniers disease ( a progressive degeneration of the inner ear) as possible causes. Migraines are a possible cause of dizziness.  Medication side-effects are common causes of dizziness with many different medications causing this complaint. Autonomic dysfunction, more common in older men, can lead to dizziness. Cardiac causes of dizziness are usually due to fast or slow arrhythmias.  A diagnosis of psychogenic dizziness should be made only after all other causes have been excluded.

The work-up for dizziness is guided by the symptoms and the suspicions of the doctor.  It may include an ECG or Holter monitor test for heart rhythms, a tilt-table test may be used to exclude autonomic dysfunction, scans (MRI, CT) can be done to evaluate possible neurological causes as well as other neurologic tests that can be used.  A good medication review and basic blood work is usually a good idea.

[Susan]

I, too, had experienced the same symptoms as you.  In fact,
I went thru a whole year of lightheadedness and shortness of
breath - also either skipping a beat or an extra beat.
Finally after seeing many doctors, I had a ablation - this
past April.  I had every imaginable test - and like you,
I continued to play tennis etc. I'm hestitate to give too  much information because I am not a Dr.  However, ask any
question you might have because I am sure that I have been
there.  Also, I feel great now!

[Scott]

Susan,

Thanks for the reply....I'm just curious what your final conclusion was....Did you just come to the realization that it was something you have to live with that is just one of those things that comes and goes, or was there some sort of treatment?

I'm really interested in what you have to say.....

Thanks!!

[Susan]

Scott,

My first answer was not very clear.
I sure tried living with the lightheadedness and the shortness
of breath.  Since I never knew when it was going to occur
or how long it would last, it was very disruptive in my life.

In April I had an ablation (procedure or treatment as you mentioned)   and since then I feel much better.                    I know alot of people who are able to adjust to having
PVC's  -  I wasn't too successful at it.

Even though I may still have a bad day (maybe once a month),
my quality of life as well as everyone around me has
greatly improved!

Keep the faith.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks for your comments.