Question about PACs.

[malynaine]

Hi! I was just diagnosed today with PACs, I don't know why that happened because I don't feel any abnormalities like shortness of breath, chest pain etc. The doctor said that it might be because of anxiety or stress. I am 20 years old college student. He advised me to do a 2d echo test to know what is causing it. I'm just wondering if is it possible that it can become a serious problem? How come I don't experience any symptoms?

Thanks.

-Malynaine

[is_something_wrong]

It's not very weird. PACs (and PVCs) often show up on routine EKGs without providing symptoms. I remember when my dad was in the ICU after surgery, I was watching the screen above his bed and 1-2 PACs/minute showed up. At that time, I was suffering quite bad from PACs (probably had something to do with stress because dad had to have major surgery) and I asked him if he felt any skipped beats. He did not.

If you don't have any symptoms with your PACs, I think it's a bad idea to work very hard to find causes. We all have PACs during 24 hours. Some of us have 5-10 of them, some have hundreds or even thousands. I think I have 10-100, depending on how stressed I am.

If you only sleep 3-4 hours, that's unhealthy and something you should try to correct. It can cause PACs, yes, but the PACs are not the reason why you should sleep more.

[malynaine]

Do you think it is related to my lack of sleep? Sometimes I sleep for 3-4 hours  only  ? Thanks

[malynaine]

Thanks for the info, I find it weird though that it was only discovered yesterday, I always have my medical check up yearly. :] I told my mom about it and she said that she also has experienced the same thing when she was younger so I think it is normal.  I'll be doing a 2D-Echo Test soon.

[is_something_wrong]

You will not get any problems with PACs regarding health requirements.

We all have PACs. Some more, some less. Most of us also have PVCs, at least on occation.

From the health requirements necessary to be a pilot in my country (and those requirements are fairly strict): PACs or PVCs do not cause disqualification.

Some people can feel their PACs and some can not. It depends a bit on when they occur in between the normal beats, they can feel like a double beat, a skipped beat followed by a big thump in the chest, or a quivering/popping sensation. Some people sense a throat fullness. It's very different from person to person, and from PAC to PAC.

In most people, the cause is stress, anxiety, coffee, exhaustion, everything that is stressing the body and mind. Please don't worry about this but you may correct any obvious cause if the PACs are bothering you.

[MichelleP_3811]

Well that is good news to hear that it is just for a physical.  I would say if your company questions it to get information from the doctor supporting the fact that they are not a concern or risk to you at all in a healthy heart which I suspect you have if your first echo came back fine.  As a matter of fact they suspect that everyone gets them so they even generally consider them to be rather normal. I am not sure how many you have and if you exceed what is normal but at least in the States they really don't pay them much mind unless someone is being made really sick by them.  I would say you should be OK but get some literature to back you up on this if an issue arises with your company.  Take care.

[malynaine]

I didn't actually expected that I have PACs because I don't feel any symptoms of it. I requested for a complete medical exam yesterday because it is a requirement for my internship company. I'm just worried that I might not be accepted in the company because of it. Thanks for the info.

[MichelleP_3811]

Pacs generally are not a health concern.  My doctor did not even tell me I had them.  Some don't because they are essentially benign.  Your doctor likely ordered the echo just to make sure your heart is healthy.  Though I find it a bit strange that you already had one and he is ordering a second one.  Was the first one normal?  Why did you have the first one prescribed?  Were you having some sort of symptoms?   Do you have some known heart condition?  Did your doctor say how many pacs you were having?  Pacs are an extra beat arising in the atria.  There is not always a pause with them so they actually can simply feel like a normal beat though for some it feels like the heart is jumping around a bit or a popcorn type feeling.  Everyone is different and from what I understand from my cardiologist it is more likely a person wouldn't feel them as opposed to those of us who do feel them.  In any event, I would not be too concerned.  Get the echo but I would not be surprised if it came back normal especially if your first one came back normal.  Then just try to put this all out of your mind only giving it a second thought if troubling symptoms occur which the chances are good they won't.  That said, if you do have a known heart condition then it may be prudent to manage the pacs a bit more closely.  Take care and do keep us posted on how you are doing.