frequency of pappitations increasing

[Til]

I am a 33 year old female. I Have been experiencing palpitations for 8 days. Initially, it occured early in the morning and only lasted for a minute. However, the palpitations are now occuring several times a day.  Sometimes I feel as if my heart is in my throat. They occur when I am at rest or when I change positions.I am currently taking adalat XL 30 mg for high blood pressure. I have one functioning kidney. I am currently overweight.However, I have recently lost 20 lbs due change in diet and exercise. I monitor my blood pessure at home and have noticed that  since the weight loss it has been consistently low ( in the range of 95/55). I am wonderiing if the palpiations can be related to my blood pressure being lower than usual. Approx. one month ago I was frequently feeling dizzy, however that doesnt occur anymore. also. I used to smoke,however quit approx. 6 weeks ago.

Thank you for taking the time to review my question.
Marie

[lau3]

A related discussion, high blood pressure was started.

[arthur]

...radio-frequency catheter ablation is a technique wherein a probe is inserted through a catheter leading up into one of the main veins which ultimately allows one to reach various portions of the heart/pulmonary vein systems.  Many arrhythmias have been found to be caused by sub-parts of the pulmonary vein connections to the back of the heart.  This technique can map out their exact locations and toast them so that their electrical activities are isolated from your heart.  The result is often (60%+) effective in curing a number of arrhythmias.

[Stephen C]

I am not familiar with the terminology you are referring to. I have only just started to look at the website and are not as well informed as many of the people looking at this website. To summarise I have had the stress test, 24 hour monitor, dye pumped into my arteries and electrical current charged through my heart. I haven't had any tests for 7 years and my condition hasn't got any worse. I do get the pounding racing occassionally (80 - 300 BPM in 1 second) and have a jumpy/fluttery beat a lot of the time. My specialist informed me that my heart is structurally fine and not a problem to my health and has closed the file on me - alright for him to say as he doesn't have to put up with the nuisance!

I would be grateful for a bit more input in plainer English!

Thanks for your input Arthur and any pointers you or anyone else can pass on.

Stephen.

[arthur]

Have you considered an ablation to rid you of your occasional tachycardia and premature beats?  The rf ablation technique has come a long way in the past couple of years, and may offer an acceptable risk/benefit for you.

[wifey]

i am a 49 yr. old female . i was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse when i was about 29. i take metoprol daily. i still get scared to death by this so often. i have recently had a stress test (ok) cardiac cath. along with it (ok) the only diag. is mild MVP. i feel it is worse with the change of weather temp. when i eat i am often bothered by palpitations after, i take alot of pecid. i eat hardly any red meat, no coffee, hardly any caffine, dont smoke or drink. i go to the gym 5 days a week. do an hour of cardio workout and twice a week lift weights. i am not overweight. 5 ft. 8 in.  155 lbs.    i am always feeling tense when these episodes happen.  would love comments from other people feeling the same things.  peace to all!!!!

[Stephen C]

The previous comments all sound very familiar. I am a 27 year old male from England and have suffered from irregular beats for many years. I too have been taking Metoprolol for 6 years. The heart flutters all the time, every minute of every day, you just get used to it. My initial area of concern was hitting over the 300 BPM mark(!) or 50 beats in 10 seconds, like a car going from 5th gear to 2nd, however, only for 10 seconds or so before returning to normal. This is aggrevated by aerobic exercise if I don't take my medication/or it hasn't started to work yet. I exercise a lot, eat well and I too get aggrevated beats if I visit Starbucks! I was told to get on with my life and forget about it and that's what I've been doing. Recent increases in my flutters have brought me to this website and I can see that I have got a very similar problem to many people. This is my first website visit, any pointers or comments about very fast beats would be much appreciated. Good luck to you all and hats off to organisation that has put this site together.

Stephen C, Kent, England.

[hal]

The cardiologist says I have mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation and this causes PVC's. Also some high blood pressure which is now well under control (120/60). I take Diovan 160mg, atenolol 100mg, zestril 2.5mg.  I had no symptons for a year but now get PVC's everyday off and on, morning, noon, night. I had a cardiagram yesterday which cofirmed the missed beats.  He said ignore it and possibly raise the zestril to 5mg. Is this too much medicine?  What else can I try? I have no shortness of breath, play golf, exercise daily and walk alot. However I now am leary about doing some of those things now that I feel my heart missing and that heavy feeling in my chest.
Hal

[NancyA]

Thank you all, for such good advice.  I'm seeing a cardiologist this week, and will be asking lots of questions, and info about consulting an EP.

It turns out that I've been on Atenodol before.  I've had these skipped beats before, (but not as much), and I found in my personal medical papers a receipt for Atenodol, 50mg.  But somewhere else I have a reference (on the same date) that the Doctor perscribed Tenormin 25 mg.  Perhaps the pharmacist didn't have Tenormin, and gave Atenodol instead, and I took a half dose.  It's been a few years ago so I'm not sure.  Anyway it did the trick, because I remember taking it...whenever it felt like I was having a PVC it didn't really come through.  A big relief.  And I weaned myself off the medicine.  I don't remember any side effects.

Sometimes it's hard to just ignore these PVC's , especially when you're trying to sleep. (The noisy neighbors don't help either).  What do some of you do go decent sleep?  Just curious.

[dodgybeats]

I find that I just can't sleep whilst having PVC/PACs no matter how tired I am, so I get up, make a cup of chamomile tea and log on to this forum. I look up all the Drs comments that say that ectopic beats are harmless in normal hearts! This usually gives me some peace of mind and I can sleep (unless they're really bad)

[LaurieD]

And I'll again state get a GOOD EP-electrophysiologist to diagnose and treat you. Don't accept diagnoses of stress, GI disturbance, esophagus, menopause, etc. Again these are TRIGGERS not causes. Most people don't go around with thousands of palipatations a day because of stress, caffeine, tobacco, GI probs, etc. Only when the heart is out of whack do these things cause MORE palpitations. I've been down this road, never mind what you think the causes are, get to a GOOD EP doctor and get treated and get your peace of mind back! You need help and I've found lots of doctors blow it off. Keep at them, eventually you'll get somewhere! Good luck :)

[arthur]

Doctors are people too...and as such, they are often limited by their own range of experiences, education, and personalities.  That's why "second opinions" are extremely important.  

In my own case, when 2 yrs ago I had my first PAF out of the blue, I started the progression through a number of doctors.  The first was the cardiologist on-call the weekend I checked myself into an hospital (due to the atrial fib)...this one proceeded to panic me with suggestions of pacemakers and ablations (I had been and continue to be an active athlete and this whole thing was a complete shock).  This cardio had no real experience in electrophysiology (EP) and could not figure out what might be causing the atrial fib.  After a few more pointless office visits (and intervening PAF episodes), I went to an EP who apparently was a bit unsure about his abilities as he persisted in pontificating and avoided any real action.

Throughout all this I spent hours in medical libraries (and the web) researching AF/PAF and basically had to figure out for myself what might be the best course of action...it was during these researches that I discovered the PV foci connection and possible treatment.  I went to a cardiothoracic surgeon next, since the first two cardios actually couldn't answer some basic questions I posed regarding heart anatomy (surprising?).  After the surgeon, I went to another cardiologist who was smart enough to realize that my problem was electrical and not physical, and suggested I see a well-known EP.  This final (and fifth) cardio was able to instantly diagnose the problem and offered a solution (rf ablation)...which I took 1 year ago...and which worked.

Bottom line...it's completely up to you to research your problem (because the doctors are simply too busy with easy problems to figure it out for you)...and you need to keep pushing the doctor for advice re. second opinions.  When you find a doctor who has just the right experience (has seen your problem before) you will know it right away.

GOOD LUCK.

[NancyA]

Hi all,

This thread is full of good advice!  Arthur you make a good point, the mind does play a part in PVC's and other similar problems, and I can see how blood pressure etc. contributes.  So do vitamins and eating right.  But it's important to have things checked out by a physician to see what-else may be contributing.

jmcky29, the feelings vary from a very hard drop-sensation (like a roller coaster) to barely none at all, like indigestion.  Sometimes they're felt clear from my throat to my stomach, or just in the heart or throat area. Sometimes a moving or flip-flop, or muscle moving.  Depending on how hard my pulse is, sometimes I can feel a pulse into my stomach.  

I went to see my personal physican (HMO) yesterday.  To my disappointment, she pretty much blew off my problem as stress.  It's not just her diagnosis, but HOW she addressed me...you know, how some doctors (no offense to sponsors of this Forum, or any good physican) seem to stare through you, and not even care about your concerns?  Being callous, and demeaning?  Well, that's pretty much what happened.  True, she did do tests last year when I had similar problems, and said all were normal.  I told her that last year's Holter monitor said that too, but the one at the ER recently definitely showed the PVC's. (same sensations).  She had no comment.  In fact, she said she could have me do the Holter for a week but it's only good if they catch a arrhythmia.  HELLO???  I just told her that the ER caught them!  One ear and out the other.   But I have reason to believe it could be something else (my period starting earlier, etc).  I had questions, and they weren't answered. I felt I was treated unfairly and with disrespect, as a patient. I guess she was trying to impress the new intern who was with her...whom she didn't even explain or introduce.

If you can't open up to your doctor, who can you trust?  What happened to a Patient's Rights?

I was even scheduled for a complete physical with her, since I'm 40 and haven't had one in years.  What did she do?  She just said she'd have OB/GYN do it.  In other words, she refused doing my physical.  Why?  

She reluctantly suggested setting up an appointment with a cardiologist "just to give you the peace of mind I apparently can't".  I asked her about medications and got little explanation of side effects.  I even asked her about the ER's blood lab results and about the 2 areas (C02 and DL) that were abnormal.  Not only was she not sure what they meant, but blew them off as unimportant if the doctor there didn't discuss them.

Sorry for venting...guess I'm wondering how many of you have gone through this.

[arthur]

The feeling that skips impart can vary depending upon body type, blood pressure, etc.  Some people hardly notice them, others feel every exquisite vibration that they impart.  Basically, a skip results in a overfull ventricle which empties on the next available beat.  When this happens, you can feel it as a brief pressure up into your throat.  The vibrations come from the extra turbulence due to the extra blood volume, and these can be felt from your throat down to your abdomen.  

Depending upon the timing of the skip, you can sometimes feel them during an inhalation or exhalation as a sudden but brief loss of breath...this gets very disconcerting, expecially if you are exercising at the moment.

Bottom line:  They are unpleasant sensations, and it takes a great deal of mental effort to ignore them. The mind is a funny thing...if you learn to ignore them, they seem to go away (but do they really?)...so, since you're not sure, you start paying attention, and you find some are still there (or did they come back because you paid attention and got a bit nervous?).  

Since they are not considered life-threatening, then it's your job to ignore them, as the alternative is to run yourself into the ground by worrying about them.

Good luck.

[Jean27]

Just reading all of these comments can you tell me what these PVC's you describe feel like. You said you can feel it in your stomach is it just a pulse you feel? I get that all the time or is it like your heart is turning over and you actually feel the skipping sensation? Thanks so much Jean

[Jean27]

what you said makes so much sence. I spend a lot of time worrying over what I feel in my chest and then I dont know if I feel it because I am paying so much attention to it or because there is something wrong. 3 years ago  I had what they told me was an anxiety attack where my heart raced and have had it several times since then. This caused me to be very afraid of what my heart is doing. I went for every test possible and all they found was an elongated mitral valve with trace regurgitation but without prolapse. The Dr said this is nothing but because he told me there was "something" I became very scared of this and hope that it will not start racing so I became very focused on my heart and am having a hard time dealing with the worry that something is wrong. Thanks Jean :)

[LaurieD]

Let me be more specific, hope this helps you. I have PAC's not PVC's. I do throw an occasional PVC like 55/24 hours but the majority <thousands> a day are PAC's or Premature Atrial Contractions. As one poster said, they can lead to Atrial Fibrillation. I've had bouts of PSVT, which is Paroxymal Supraventricular Tachycardia, along with bouts of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and also some tachycardia. One morning a couple of weeks ago I had a bout with tachycardia and PAC's having like 11-12 PAC's in a row alternating w/ tachycardia. Lasted about fifteen minutes and scared me almost to death. Anyway, the verapamil is working wonderfully. I still have the skipped beats, but can't feel them and they are much less than what they were. My doctor is changing my meds <as of today> to 120 mg long acting verapamil twice a day versus once a day, and cutting back on the tenormin which was 75 mg a day, now down to 50 mg and then to 25 mg and perhaps phasing it out. I don't know why they wouldn't try you on verapamil, my pulse isn't lower at all with it. It's usually around 66 resting but can go to 59,but that's from the tenormin. I feel real tired is the only symptom, but that's normal considering I'm on a large dose of beta blocker as well as a calcium channel blocker. These may be "harmless" PAC's but it's hell to feel them, so glad I can't now! It's made a huge difference in my life already. Keep after your doctors and try to get an EP doctor, an electrophysiologist. I think all on this forum need an EP because he or she is a specialist in the electrical conduction system of the heart, and that's what PAC's, PVC's, afib, aflutter, etc all are! I'll stay in touch and best of luck to all. Any questions or more specifics email me at ***@****.

[arthur]

Atrial premature depolarizations (commonly referred to as PACs, APCs, "skips", and incorrectly termed as PVCs by many in this forum...PVCs are premature ventricular contractions, and can also be generated as described herein) are generally caused by electrical noise emanating from normally isolated specialized cardiac tissue.  These foci (locations) are often found in the connections of the pulmonary veins to the top and back of the heart. There are a whole host of reasons, many known, that precipitate their activity (which is largely electrical, sometimes accompanied by a nervous, vibrational feeling deep in the chest).  Once they get started, the APDs follow.  Their frequency and intensity depends upon odd things like posture, physical activity, HR (low heart rates are a bit more sensitive).  If they get really intense (many times a minute) and your heart is susceptible, they can lead to atrial fibrillation.

There are drugs that can make the atria less sensitive to the PV foci,  and there are ablative techniques which can toast the PV foci.  Depending on the severity of the symptoms you use drugs or get an ablation.

I have had such an ablation which removed one of many PV foci and cured me of atrial fib.  The remaining PV foci are busy causing some "skips" ... anywhere from 1 to 6 per minute, each and every day.  I am an active soccer player and have learned to ignore these "skips" (this was not easy, since they also occur during play which presents itself as a huge psychological hurdle).  Someday, when either things get worse or the methods get safer, I'll have the remaining foci ablated.  Life is too short to be overly concerned about a skipping heart, once you learn what causes it and how it can be treated.

If I can play competitive soccer with this condition, you can safely assume you'll make it to the next day with it.

[Gatal]

I take atenolol and it can pull your heart rate pretty low.  I got a shock to find mine was 46 one time sitting working at my desk when i know it's normally 60-something

[LaurieD]

Regarding palpitations, I have about 6,000 a day now. Last December my holter showed three in a 24 hour period. When I had another holter in March, it was something like 677 skipped beats in 24 hours. Another holter in July showed 1,127 in a 24 hour period. My last one last month only had 877, a mild day. They've progressed terribly, no reason why. I will tell all you fellow suffers out there, do NOT be afraid of verapamil or tenormin. I am taking a combination of these, my EP doctor prescribed 120 SR verapamil and 75 mg of tenormin, 25 mg three times a day. I feel like a new person after starting the verapamil yesterday. I still have some skipped beats to deal with this may be just a case of adjusting the dosage of these meds, or he may add something else, etc...but I don't FEEL them like I did. My chest isn't jumping and pounding. So far, no side effects at all with either drug. Don't give up without a fight, it took me eight months to find a good doctor who knew what he was doing. If you are suffering palpitations, skipped beats, whether it's PVC's or PAC's or atrial fibrillation etc. you NEED an electrophysiologist. It's a specialized field of cardiology. My regular cardio told me NOT to take verapamil, that it wasn't my heart causing all this trouble, it was stress, it was my esophagus, it was sugar, it was ANYTHING but my heart. Finally after pestering him for two months he reluctantly sent me to this EP doctor. Guess I don't have to add the NEW doctor is my permanent doctor now. I wish everyone lots of luck and don't give up hope, keep trying. God Bless all!

[mairey]

I too am on the West Coast and hve Kaiser as my HMO. I took verapamil, atenolol and then lopressor for PVc's None helped the PVC's. WIth Verapamil I got very depressed and constipated. Atenolol  my bp and heart rate were very low. I still got the PVC's but hey wer more like a sinking feeling in my chest and th epause was extra long. With lopressor  I felt like I was having an asthma attack which I have never had in my life before.

[NancyA]

Hi there,

Laurie, had your medication changed your heartbeat rate?  I'd like to know...here's why:

Yesterday it seemed my skipped beats had a mind and clock of their own.  They started coming at almost regular intervals, one or two every 3-5 minutes, for several hours!  No rhyme or reason why they do this. (They still do). Anyway I couldn't hardly sleep last night, full of stress and anxiety about these semi-predictable skipped beats.  (They got better as I lay in bed, but not completely gone).  Plus I could just lay on my back, as turning on my usual side or stomach made things worse.

This morning, I got up disgusted, and thought Forget This, I'm calling my HMO (Kaiser).  Since it's Sunday, I couldn't see my physician.  So they sent me to a nearby hospital, ER. I got in, and they hooked me to a monitor, for maybe 1 1/2hrs.  Yes, they caught several skipped beats (happening further apart, maybe every 5-20 minutes).  They did a chest X-Ray and lab work, and EKG, which just missed a skipped beat.

Finally, the doctor came. He said I was having PVC's.  The lab work came back normal (except CO2 was a bit low, and some LD level was a bit high).  He said the chest x-ray was fine.  I had no unstable angina, which is what they looked for.  Good news, as far as this goes.

He just believed I was under a lot of stress, but assured me that my PVC's are not lif-threatening.  HOWEVER, that didn't comfort me in finding a solution/treatment for the PVC symptoms...feeling like everytime a beat skips, I just dropped off a big roller coaster!  A very unpleasant sensation when you're trying to relax!  Especially when you have them every few minutes, all day or evening.

Okay, here's my question.  This doctor WOULD NOT perscribe any anti-arrhythmic.  Why not?  He says it would slow down my heart rate.  At rest it was around 64...he said it would fall below this, if I take meds.  All he would perscribe is Zantac for my reflux, and Halcion for sleeping remedy.

Is this true?  Anybody?

I'd like to hear from the Doctors on this one.  I'm on the West Coast and can never seem to post a question.  These PVC's are a REAL DISTURBANCE for me now. How can I deal with these very unpleasant symptoms?  I still think it's caused by more than stress, I wonder if hormones are unbalanced?  I'm 40, my menstrual cycles come sooner, and I do get sweats and have to go to the bathroom (urinate) often.

[NancyA]

Mairey,

Your comment about Atenolol is very interesting.  Since my resting heart rate is fairly low, I wonder if that's why I really feel these skipped beats so strongly.  

Does anyone else out there have both HARD skipped beats/PVC's (pulsing into your stomach, with that dropping feeling) AND a low pulse?  If your pulse is faster, do you feel the intensity of the PVC's less?  

This Forum is a Godsend to all of us...Thank You to the folks who make it possible.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Marie,
Lower blood pressure does not usually cause palpitations.  Electrolyte abnormalities, which may be increased in someone with only one kidney, do increase palpitations.  You may wish to have your doctor do some basic lab work to make sure your electrolytes are within normal limits.

P.S. Congratulations on quitting smoking!  This is the single best thing you could do for your health.

[alexawesome1]

Hi Nancy, I've also experienced an occassional skipped beat from the age of 23. I'm 27 now, 5' 11", athletic for most my life and usually exercise about 5-6 times per week.  I'm also not a Doctore but have seen 2 Cardio's in the last 2 years with a battery of test. On my 2nd 24HOUR Holter Monitor they found 1 Ectopic Beat. I usually will feel one about 1-2 per month sometimes 1 in a day and nothing for a month etc... I'm also a personal fitness trainer and have done extensive reading on posts, medical journals, web sites, books, etc... You're advice is excellent in Diet and Exerciss and STRESS RELIEF IS NO.1.  I'm only cautioning HAWTHORN BERRY AND CQ-10 Enzyme.  You can find reference in many current books on Herbs and Natuaral Medications at your local book store like Chapters etc. Though the Hawthorn Berry Extract has the relative antioxidants to help support heart muscle tissue it could also increase the occurance of skipped heart beats! I know that it's supposed to help but in my case I found it made things worse! The best alternative, don't go over board is Cranberry Juice, Strawberry, Blueberries... Cranberry carry the same antioxidant in a small concentration as do the Hawthorn berry and extracts.  CQ-10 enzyme studies on CHF patients are not clear whether the CQ-10 supplements are supportive because studies are short and patients are given a number of other medications. Reference at the American Heart & Stroke Foundation Official Web Site.  Also with book reference, CQ-10 supplements with streneous exercise could actually cause damage to heart tissue according to the side effects of this supplement as I have read.  Clear yourself first with your Cardio, then follow a rational exercise, relaxation and diet routine. This will help! Feel free to email alex_dolgonos***@****

Alex.