Thumping Heartbeat every 10 seconds! UHG!

[orlandotommy]

Im a 32 year old male, pretty healthy, I smoke about a pack a day, i know its bad, i dont really drink and im not overweight, pretty healthy family history..here is my issue..

Every so often my heart will thump a beat, like almost a delayed beat then it thumps, it goes away, about 10-20 seconds later it happens again, this can go on all day, its extremely annoying.

If I eat something, say at lunch time, that is fatty or spicy, it starts doing it really bad, then it tapers off but doesnt completely go away.

It seems when im very busy, such as playing softball or out with friends, it goes away and I dont really notice it, but when i wake up in the AM i notice it and it drives me crazy, almost the more i think of it, the more it happens.

Now one more thing, this will completely go away sometimes for months, then it sneaks back up on me.

I take Prilosec once a day for heartburn and im somewhat convinced this irregular heartbeat stuff has to do with Gastrointestinal issues.  Maybe im wrong but i seem to belch, get heartburn etc.. alot when i have these irregular beats.

Any words of wisdom from the community?  Im I the only one with this annoying issue???

Thanks everyone,
Tommy

[Emily34]

I suffer exactly the same as you, have done for about six years.  Strange how it comes in episodes... I can have months symptom free, then it is back.  There are a few archived threads on this board and the Gastro one, linking GERD or digestive problems to PVC's. Apparently it is all down to the gas and acid innervating the vagus nerve which also controls the heart.

When I had a cigarette, I can immediately feel light 'flutters' in my chest (esophogeal spasms?) then I get this feeling of fullness, then do this 'odd' belch.  Its like I know the belch is coming, from my boots, but not the kind of belch you do after food.

Same thing happens after chocolate.

I get a lot of missed beats (PVC's) and sometimes the beat comes back with a REAL thump, like the valve opened and closed like a door. Scary.

I have quit!!  I was only smoking 5 per day but I figured the worry I had about my heart wasn't worth them.  I couldn't 'enjoy' the physical act of smoking when I  really thought I would drop dead with it still burning in my fingers.

Best
Em  

[fjohn]

Whenever you refer to anything with the words, "The more I think of it, the more it happens" you can bet that the "it" is Anxiety. Unless you feel that thinking about it makes it better and there are not too many "its" that carry that kind of message.
Anxiety can only reside in your head so get thee out of your head and into some Action. I guarantee, it won't be able to catch you. And one day, I guarantee, it will get lost trying to find you and you will be Free.

[anacyde]

I do notice that my reflux issues trigger my palpitations.  I also notice that spicy food can affect and trigger them too, pointing to a GI relation.  Many people have said this, so I think it's not uncommon.

I used to smoke too, about 1/2 to 1 pack a day.  I quit almost four years ago and I have noticed a substantial decline in the palpitations.  Any stimulant, including nicotine, can play havoc with the thuds.

[AussieLynnleigh]

i've had this type of beat also accompying my other weirdo beats