can you tell the difference between a sinus pause or a skipped beat (pvc) without a ekg

[locoboy]

ya i get like weird heart rythms, like a beep, beep, beep, short pause, beep, beep, beep    

how do u know if its just a skipped beat, pvc, or a sinus pause,   can you tell without a ekg

[jondsam]

I disagree with you.  If you have an EKG machine at home, you are able to catch your arrhythmia when it happens.  That way when something you think is serious is going on, you can take an EKG of it and bring it to your doctor to read.  Most of the time a holter or EKG at the doctor doesnt capture all of your issues.  If you have your own EKG, you can capture those really scary events that happen when you are at home.  I have never had a problem with the EKG interpreting something false.  Yes it does happen, so if you think something is false about the reading, take it to the doctor. Peace of mind is what a home EKG gives you.

[is_something_wrong]

Sorry if I'm kicking a bit in all directions here.

To Jondsam:
I disagree on buying EKG machines. If you have serious cardiac issues and you are VERY cold and not scared, and if you in addition can read EKGs, this is possibly a good idea. 99,99% of us does not fit this description.

You cannot trust machine interpretions of EKGs. They suggest all kinds of ********, like infarctions, hypertrophy, PVCs when you in fact have PACs, etc.


To Itdood:
Your description fits AV block I think, sinus pauses can be shorter or longer than "2x PP interval between the noticeable beats. In addition, a PVC is rarely noticeable as a heart beat, I think. If you feel the "beatbeat" sensation it's usually a PAC (based on my own experience). Otherwise I think what you say is very correct:)

To locoboy:
In your age, if you feel skipped beats, it's almost always a PAC or a PVC, if you have no known heart disease. Sinus pauses are possibly a sign of sinus node dysfunction or SSS, and extremely uncommon in young people. You would have very noticeable symptoms. The same goes for heart (AV) blocks.

You should get a Holter monitoring just to make sure.

Good luck!

[jondsam]

I would recommend that you buy an EKG machine for your home.  I bought a 12 lead EKG "interpreted EKG" that tells you exactly what is wrong and all the values of the different aspect of your heart.  If you get one that does not interpret you have to know how to read a EKG.  It is comforting when the heart starts acting up at home, to throw the EKG on to see what is going on.  This will give you a real idea of whats going on instead of waiting for the doctors appointment.  Try DotMed or another medical supplier for info.  Should cost around $200 - 500 dor a decent model.

I also bought a holter monitor the other day that came with a program for the computer the reads out the data on the holter and interprets it.  Its pretty amazing i love it.

[itdood]

The only things I can think of is it's heart block, a PVC, or possibly even a PAC.

A PVC can usually be felt but not always.  Mine tend to knock me on my butt.

So let's look at a heart block with this diagram,

B=SA beat signal itting the ventricles

B-----B-----B-----B----------B-----B-----B
----------------------------^ notice the pause, didn't make it to the AV node or the AV node blocked it, ventricles didn't contract at all.


Here's a PVC diagram, B=SA beat signal hitting the ventricles, V=PVC


B-----B-----B-----B--V---------B-----B-----B

Notice the longer pause, this is because the SA node keeps beating at the same pace, however that PVC blocked the the SA beat right after the PVC (even though it was there), so the ventricles don't beat again until the next SA beat.


So the heart block will feel like beat - beat - beat -pause - beat
The PVC will feel like beat - beatbeat - pause - beat.  I'm oversimplifying but a PAC will do sort of the same thing as a PVC in terms of the pause.

Like Jerry says, diagnosing based on this is a REALLY bad idea.  Especially if it's heart block.  Needs an EKG.

[Jerry_NJ]

I'll comment, which is a way of saying I don't know, I don't know the difference between a skipped beat and a sinus pause.  Those two, if different, and pvc, can be detected with a EKG if they are active when you are on an EKG.

I do not recommend diagnosing you condition based on web comments/ideas.

That said, if you have an occasional skipped (whatever) beat and no other symptoms I'd just go with it... talk about it to my primary care the next time I needed to see him.  I'd also take an aspirin a day, just-in-case.  This too should be discussed with your doctor if done long term.  Many people take the "reduced dose" aspirin for just such reasons.