irregular heart beat

[mosaic404]

I am a 40 year old woman, my heart beats fast for four to five beats and then pauses then one time really hard then repeats the cycle. it's been doing this for a week. Should I be concerned

[Momto3]

WOW!  I can't believe people are automatically hospitalized for 20%+ ectopics.  I know that sometimes there are underlying conditions, but other times they are still just benign extra beats.

The one Holter report I have which has the most information had me at 24% ectopics, but no one was concerned.  About a year later I developed PVC-induced cardiomyopathy and had 2 ablations.  That was in 2003 and today the ectopics are very infrequent and the cardiomyopathy resolved...YEAH!!

Hope you are doing well.

connie

[DameDove]

I have just 8 mths been patted on the head for the same thing.  You need to go to a cardiologist, or to at least get your local doctor order a 24 hour test to identify how many etopic beats you are having - medically I am told 20% is worrying, 30% is dangerous and 40% is extremely dangerous.

You get put in hospital in my country - immeidately - for 20% or more and you stay been monitored and tested for around 14 days.

[MASTER007]

I am a 36 year old male.I do have palpitation and arrythmia sporadically, especially when huge amount of coffee is consumed or if consumed alchohol. I am experiencing the same if i get tensed. I went through tests like, echocardiograph, Holter montitor test, Thyroid function test, Treadmill test etc and found that it is only benign. My holter test detected ectopics but no recurrence noted. Now I am doing regular exercises and managing stress willfully, that gives me the real strentgh. I had been asked to take inderal for a long period, but I am able to manage it without any medications. Whenever I feel the symptoms I will boost my courage in me and do breathing exercises and believe this is something I can overcome. It really works.

[cj3333]

I have almost the exact same heart beat cycle at different times too.  It will be beating what seems normal and then there will  be an obvious pause and then a really hard beat and then repeats again.  The thing is I have this sort of cycle happen every once in awhile, like maybe once every 3 months or something.  I have done heart testst in the past and was told that I do have PVCs.  Could PVCs cause this sort of beating?  I notice that when I do have this cycle it usually happens after I have drank alcohol the day before and smoked cigarettes.  I don't smoke all the time....just when I'm having alcoholic beverages.  When do you experience that type of beating?

[Momto3]

It sounds like you are having ectopic (extra) beats.  It feels like your heart is skipping beats, but in fact, it is throwing extra beats.  The hard beat after the pause is the heart kicking back into its normal rhythm.  It's always good to check out new symptoms with your doctor.  That said, PVCs and PACs (extra beats originating from the atria or ventricles instead of the heart's normal pacemaker) are very common.  In the setting of a structurally normal heart, they are generally considered benign.  Still good to double check with the doctor to be sure your heart is healthy and strong.  

connie