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Skipping Heart beats

I have had my heart skipping beats for years however if is much more frequent now than it has been in the past. When I first noitced it I asked my doctor about it and he said it is usually just from nicotine and caffiene. For the last several years I have been drinking decaf coffee and now six months ago quit smoking however the skpped beats keep happening. At one time there was usually about 20 seconds between missed beats and it may not happen for several days in a row. Now they are almost everyday although there are some days I don't notice it, so whether it isn't happening or I simply don't notice it, I am not sure. They are now usually about 3 seconds between the missed beats.

Just wondering what if anything can be done about it or if it is something to be concerned about.

Thank you
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Avatar universal
You really do need to have a holter or event monitor to find out whether they are pvcs of pacs or some other form of arrthrymia. All are most likely to   be benign, but be aware that if PVCs are frequent (more than 4000 a day - i was getting 16,000 a day) there is a risk they  can cause cardiomyopathy. The good news is that there are effective treatments. If diet and lifestyle changes don't make a difference  there is always the option of medication (most likely  a beta blocker).  If that does not work, you then have the option of ablation, which more and more cardiologists seem to be recommending. Ablation was very successful for me - I went from 16,000 pvcs to 2 pvcs a day.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the replies. You mentioned lifestyle changes will likely do the trick, but not sure what other changes to make.  I have stopped caffiene as mentioned above and don't drink tea and only decaf coffee. I don't drink energy drinks and have not drunk alcohol for better than 20 years.

A few years ago I had one episode of Afib. I thought it would correct itself but after about an hour and a half went to the emergency room. They had me lay down and about an hour and a half later it corrected itself, and was the only time that it happened. I have no idea what might of triggered it.

I always thought or assumed the missing heart beat was related to either smoking or stress or both. As mentioned I quit smoking last summer and my stress level is very low in comparison to what it used to be when I worked full time.
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Avatar universal
Skipped beats are almost always benign even when they are quite frequent.  One thing I would note though is that I was diagnosed with PACs (skipped beats initiating in the atrium) and I went into afib following several nights of heavy drinking.  Luckily it lasted only a couple hours and I converted without getting shocked.  You didn't mention your drinking habits but it's worth noting that skipped beats can be a harbinger of the potential for 'holiday heart' which is alcohol induced afib.  

Like Jerry mentioned, sounds like it wouldn't hurt to see a cardiologist just to make sure but most likely you've got nothing to wory about even though the skipped beats are more frequent.  Basic lifestyle changes could likely do the trick.
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612551 tn?1450022175
COMMUNITY LEADER
Keep in mind caffeine comes in lots of forms: coffee, tea, (both available in decaf) chocolate ... sugar may also be a driver/upper it is for some people. Congratulations on stopping smoking, I don't know about the relationship between skipped beats and smoking but I know there is a relationship between smoking and early death.  I quit myself about 25 years ago and may still be alive because of that decision.

It sounds to me like you have enough heart issues to consult a cardiologist, or if you already have one either get the skipped beat on an EKG, possible if they are regular - my atrial fibrillation was/is always constant when I have it (like now) and so a recorder was not needed to diagnose it, a simple EKG always catches it, it is always there.  I will be going on an 30 day monitor soon because I have complained about fatigue and that will tell the doctor if there is anything besides the AFib.  

If your condition can not be caught on an EKG office visit, the doctor may prescribe a "holter monitor" which may be know by other names.  It is a monitor that is usually worn for 24 hours only.  

I think it worth discussing with a cardiologist.
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