tachycardia stress?

Posted by kjk on April 23, 1999 at 11:32:07
I am a 40 year old woman in good health, other than borderline high blood pressure. Since December, I have had episodes of tachycardia, with a heart rate of up to 160 beats per minute. It lasts about a minute or so. I have had PVC's since the age of 12, and have had several heart tests, all of which show that the PVCs are benign. I have had my heart beat skip up to three beats in a row, which have concerned the doctors, but the tests have time and again shown no structural damage to the heart, so the PVCs are always considered benign. The tachycardia, however, iis new. I do not get dizzy or get short of breath. My doctor ordered a cardiolite stress test and two-D echocardiogram, all of which I passed with flying colors. I have had fewer episodes of the tachycardia since February. The tachyardia usually happens when I'm running late for work and I'm rushing, while sitting down after a meal, or whjile walking in the park, which is when I first noticed it. Sometimes, just a negative thought will bring it on. Over the last nine years, I have had chest pains, with pain traveling down my left arm. The pain never happens during the PVCs or tachycardia, according to two halter monitors I've had over the nine year period. A thallium stress test and cardiolite stress test, and two echocardiograms have shown my heart to be in good health over that nine year period. In fact, the chest pains go away when I move around or exercise. Doctors don't know what's causing the chest pains. I have no other symptoms and I exercise about 30 minutes every day. My doctor says the tachycardia is probably caused by stress and that it can't harm me. But he says if it continues, I should see a cardiologist. If it can't harm me, why would I need to see a cardiologist. Is this tachycardia life threatening or not? I am totally confused by this. I have learned to live with the PVCs all of my life and can easily play a hard game of tennis without any problems. But why are doctors always worried about the three skipped beats in a row if it's considered benign?  Thanks for any help you can give me.

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on April 23, 1999 at 12:32:59
Dear kjk,
Three PVC's in a row are not a concern.  Only when they don't stop does it become a concern.  However you doctor may have been concerned about other things when he mentioned a cardiologist to you.  Hope this clarifies things for you.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.