Arrythmia?

I am 24 and have been experiencing an irregular heartbeat for the past 3-4 years. My heart seems to start a new beat before the last beat completes and it causes a fluttering/tightening in my chest. I have worn a holter and had ekgs but never seem to experience an episode during the tests. It comes and goes but seems to get worse 1-2 weeks before my menstrual cycle every month without fail. Does this sound like a PAC or something more serious that I should look into further? Like I said it when I feel my pulse or listen through a stethescope it sounds like a new beat comes too fast or before the last beat finishes and then it'll even back out. Any insight would be appreciated.

[gothic_beauty]

Sounds like a PVC to me (premature ventricular contraction.) Just as you say, this means that the heart starts a new beat before it finishes the old one. Essentially, it adds an extra beat to your heart rhythm. This can indeed cause a fluttering in the chest. Or, you might feel your heart pause right after the extra beat, because it's trying to compensate for the extra beat by skipping a beat so that your overall number of heartbeats will remain constant. Many people will feel a heavier beat after the pause, because your heart has to beat a little harder to get back on track.

This may sound scary, but it's not. It's completely normal and not dangerous in the least. If there was something wrong with the structure of your heart, it might indicate a concern, but as you've said, you've had all the necessary tests done. You're healthy. Hearts just like to go a little wild sometimes. When you think of all the factors that contribute to heartrate, such as diet, mood, hormones and everything, it's not surprising that our hearts act a little funny every once in a while. We just have to let them do their thing and stop micromanaging them! Your heart knows what it's doing. It's been beating your whole life; it's not going to stop now without very good reason.

You're not alone. I get these too. All the time, sometimes two or more in the same minute. I used to freak out every time I felt one and was constantly convinced I was dying. I was ready to put 911 on speed-dial! However, my wonderful cardiologist explained to me just how harmless they are and has since set my mind at rest. Now, I treat them like hiccups: something that can be annoying to feel in daily life, but nothing that's going to make you keel over. There are loads of people on this forum who also deal with these issues, who have reassured me further in the past, and who I'm sure will reassure you now as well!