Structurally Normal Hearts

[JimBy1236]

So I understand that when you've been to the cardiologist, they do a holter monitor on you, an EKG, and tell you that your heart is normal, there is absolutely no heart rythm disorder that could kill you, whether it's PVC, PAC, SVT, AF,non. sust. VT etc, no matter if it runs for 1 second or 5 seconds or in doublets, triplets, couplets, whatever....because there's nothing in your heart to cause it to stay in a potentially fatal prolonged rythmn, Is that the general idea?

[Mom2four85]

I'm still confused about this all also.  In July I went through Ekg's, Holter montior, stress testing, echo & CT.  I was told I have a "normally" structural heart by my cardiologist & EP.  

They found I have trace MVP, Mild Tricuspid regurgitation, LVH and over 54,000 pvc's that were wrecking havoc on my heart, PAC's; and some other stuff - how can this be "normal'? I believe it was normal as long as it didn't go into the moderate or severe ranges.

They did not find my dangerous arrhythmia (sustained V-tach) until my EPS/ablation; which stopped my heart a few times.

V-tach (sustained) can be a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia because it may lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death.  I would assume that my heart is not "structurally" normal as they first told me, because with V-tach in normally structural hearts appear with little or no incidence of increased risk of sudden cardiac death.

I'm going to ask my cardiologist that next week when I go for my surgery followup  - I had to have a pacemaker/icd implanted because of this, so maybe my "normal" isn't so normal anymore?

I guess I'm the weird 1% section that leaves the doctors baffled & guessing WHY?

[PikaPika88]

My cardio told me that my a-fib is not lasting more than 2 minutes so no need to take med or blood thinner.  Not given aspirin.  I asked my cardio do I've a structure normal heart or not?  He's not answering me.  Same as my GP, until now, I still don't know do I have a structure normal heart or not?

[Jerry_NJ]

The tests you named are just the beginning in the analysis of one's heart.  However, if there are no symptoms testing usually goes no further than an EKG.  

I think you are about right that the various heart rhythm conditions are not usually life threatening, but many do have physical effects that can be debilitating. Most are treated in some way or another to reduce symptomatic discomfort.   Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), for example, while not life threatening in and of itself, may cause blood clot formation which in turn can cause a stroke with possibly disastrous results, including death.