skipped beat sensation

[malik185]

hi my name is malik and im 31 years old , ive been worried on the fact that i tend to have a skipped beat senstation feelin which can be a flutter at times. ive been getting this feeling for about a year now. i already seen my doc about this and his said that he cant really do much about it because it dont happen daily. the feeling i get of a skipped beat happens about once a week. i just wanted to know if you could give me more advice on this , is it dangerous ? would it ever stop? .etc. any information will be helpful thanks hope to hear from you soon. bye

[malik185]

ive just went to see my doc about the extra heartbeat im getting, my regular doc wasnt there due to holidays but the doc that was there adviced me to take more tests, just wanted to know what test would be best for me to take i know there are a few tests i can take, ive already taken the 24 hr monitor test last year but failed to pick up on anything, the reason why i dont see the point of taken that test (24hr monitor)is the sensation that i do get is about once a week so the chance of it picking it up is slim. and also i relise the more i exercise it increases the chance of getting the sensetion again, if i dnt execise i dnt get it for a month or so.and if i do execise i get them like once a week or after a few days, i would be graful if u could give abit more adive on which test i should take to see the structure  of my heart is fine . thankyou for you help so far i find it very helpful, many thanx god bless.

[malik185]

hi , no i dnt work at nights, but i do sometimes fine it quite difficult to sleep at nights , im not a very heavy sleeper, y do you think that might have something to do with the problems im having , thanx

[Zeid]

Hi,

Do you work night shifts or do you sleep well at ((night))?

Zeid

[dolfnlvr]

To test your heart to be sure it is structurally normal, there are several tests that may be run.  Your doctor may order an echocardiogram, an EKG, perhaps a stress test or he/she may order a stress echo.  A stress echo is a combination of a stress test and an echocardiagram.  Basically, the stress test has you walk on a treadmill while hooked up to an EKG and they watch the electrical activity of your heart during exercise to see whether it is beating appropriately.  Then, they send you off to another room to take sonogram pictures of your heart to see the valves and the arteries etc. to look for any abnormalities.  Sometimes they use this stuff called contrast which is a dye that is radioactive (not in the bad way) so that they can "see" the flow of blood through all the chambers of your heart to make sure there are no blockages or "leaks."  

All of this sounds scary, but if your only symptom is the "skipped beats" then it is likely that everything will come back 100% normal and you'll have the piece of mind of knowing that, while those palps are a nuisance...at least they really are harmless.

Take care,

[malik185]

thank u for u advice i found it most interesting and helpful, so i shouldnt really worry to much about the PVC,ok  i just wanted to know one thing about the structure of the heart, what kind of test can my doc do to reasure me that there isnt nothing wrong with the structure of the heart. thank you

[mummyoftwo]

Wow, you sure know your stuff, Im glad im reading all your fourms, they are making more sence then my doctors..lol, I do get the fluttering at times, and it scares me, so maybe i do have PVC aswell as SVT, I find if I have a high energy day with the kids, when its times to relax, I tend to get them, Thank goodness, ny P.S.V.T, hasnt acted up in about 2 yrs, but thanx for knowing your stuff, and sharing it with us....

[dolfnlvr]

Hi there!!  I'm sorry your going through this right now, and I hope we can bring you some piece of mind.  What you are describing sounds like a PVC or premature ventricular contraction.  Your heart does not actually stop...just the opposite actually.  Your heart beats an extra time a little too early and then sort of pauses in order to "refill" with blood before going back to normal rhythm.  

In most cases, what you are experiencing, as uncomfortable and scary as it may seem, is benign and will not cause you any permanent or future harm.  If your heart is structurally normal then PVC's cannot harm you physically, but they sure can throw you for an emotional loop.  It is important to try not to worry (nearly impossible, but important) because worrying increases adrenaline levels and adrenaline is the number one trigger for PVC's.

At one or two "skips" per week, your situation is fairly mild.  However, if you notice an increase or change in your symptoms you should contact your doctor.  There likely will be nothing different, but informing your doctor of changes is still important.

Take care.