heart beating hard

[kat709]

First, I have been diagnoised with Peripheral Neuropathy and Fibromyalgia.  Now, I'm experiencing  my heart beating extremely hard(not fast).  It started about 6-8 wks ago while I was laying down (not on my left side) and I had to sit up because it became hard for me to breath.  I have had a stress test and it came back normal??  Now, the hard beating is becoming more often and it's happening anytime I'm not exerting myself.  And I've never noticed it while I am being active...it's only at rest!.  
Can you give me any ideas as to what is happening or any additional testing that could done to find out what is going on with my heart.....or if this is truly my heart and not the nerves around my heart from my other diseases?

thank you
Kat    

[deedle1976]

Sinus arrhythmia just means that your heart rate increases when you inhale and decreases when you exhale. Most young people have this; it tends to decrease with  age but having it is a good thing as it indicates good autonomic nervous system  control. The 'arrhythmia' part of the name is misleading as it's not an abnormal rhythm.

[jackiealvarez39]

I had an ECG done at the emergency room after having sharp chest pains; the results were (according to the doctor) that I was fine; but, according to my records it states that I had a "normal sinus rhythm with sinus arrythmia-normal ECG".  An arrythmia is irregular rythms, correct? And the rhythms originate from the Sinus Node, correct?  so how can this be?  Unless they are refering to the SA Node being compared to the AV Node, or how the rythm travels?  Excuse my ignorance.  lol.  these were the complete test results of the ECG (below):

Vent Rate: 70
PR Interval: 120
QRS Duration: 82
QT: 384
QTC: 414
R Axis: (they did not put any result)
T Axis: 39

Now which part of these results indicates the "sinus arrhytmia"?  the PR of 120?  Because I know the Sinus Rhytm is supposed to be between 60-100.  

Another question, anyone knows the normal range for:
1) Vent Rate
2) PR Interval
3) QT
4) QTC
5) QRS Duration
6) P Axis
7) R Axis
8) T axis

Do I subtract the 120 (PR Interval) form the 65 (P axis) to get the R axis rate (which they left blank and did not write down the results of my R Axis)?  I think I remember reading that the normal QRS Duration is from 60-80?  or am I wrong?  I will keep researching tomorrow, but for now, can anyone explain at least how I can have "A normal Sinus Rhythm with Sinus Arrythmia" (as quoted by my doctor's written report on my records).

Thank you in advance-Jackie

[sugarpea013]

Pacemakers are not only for slow beats, they are for all sorts of arrhymias. I have inappropriate sinus tachycardia and one of my cardiologists has recommended having my SA node ablated and a pacemaker put in. In my opinion I'd rather rule out all other options and be absolutely sure that's what I would want to do.

[deedle1976]

As far as I know a pacemaker is for a heartbeat that is too slow or has pauses. Perhaps a Beta blocker may help you as these make the pump less strongly and therefore decrease the sensation of the heartbeat. Obviously you'd need to discuss this with a doctor. I don't even know if you can take them with your afib or with the other drugs you are on. Also they can have side effects (fatigue, dizziness), which some people find hard to tolerate.

[ABBIELANE]

I TOO HAVE HARD HEART BEATS WHICH STARTED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO.I have afib and take fleconide 50mgs twice daily.This keeps my heart in rythm but does nothing for the hard beats I have during the night.I am very tired during the day because I can't sleep.I am 60 years old and looking forward to retirement and I have to get this fixed. Does anyone know if a pacemaker would help or control the hard beat.I quit smoking an occational cigar and drinking daily glass of wine, still having the problem. There has to be something out there for this type of problem.

[tickertock]

Atenolol works wonder for me both with the force of the heartbeat and PVCs to be honest I rarely feel them anymore but don't want to speak to soon, they have a way of letting you know they're still hanging around :), I'm the glad acebutolol is working for you , I understand it has been recommended specifically nowadays for PVCs.

[deedle1976]

I can also feel my heart beat all the time and always have.  I can take count my pulse just from the feeling of my heartbeat, without having to put my finger on my wrist or neck. It doesn't bother me at all and I find it strange that other people can't feel their heart beating.  I tried proranolol for PVCs once and couldn't feel my heart beating (except for the PVCs which were even more frequent). I've become so accustomed to my normal heartbeat that I found the lack of sensation on propranolol really unpleasant. I'm on aceubutolol now for PVCs and can feel my heartbeating away now as normal. Plus the PVCs have reduced about 90% in fequency.

[tickertock]

This post is to Dr. MJM if he cares to answer , as you know i've posted several times here on the forum , but this question here interests me, I've always been aware of my heartbeat most of the time, whether fast or slow , it really doesn't matter, I can remember this as a little boy 4-5 years old.I'm now nearly 43 years old and even though I take atenolol 100mg daily i'm still aware of my heart beat wwhich after all these years I've learned to live with , this is just basically a curiosity question, I have EKGs with this pounding sensation that was completely normal, though I've had attacks of rapid heatbeat with PVCs occurring at the rate of around 180bpm, though this didn't last long, few and far bewteen. A concealed accessory pathway has been mentioned one internist not a cardio. I have mild to moderate pectus excavatum which one EP told 20 years ago might make me more heart aware, as a side note both my sons has pectus excavatum more severe than mine and they are not heart aware like  so that makes me wonder also. One last have you ever had any patient that was super heart aware and finally are person with concealed pathways are at less risks with a-fib than person with manifest WPW?

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Hi Kat,
Hard heart beating sensations are usually associated with high catecholamine (adrenaline) states -- people under stress or anxiety.  Beta blockers will sometimes help with this.  If there are no other heart related symptoms, other testing is usually not necessary.
Thanks for posting.