High blood pressure and irregular heartbeat

[conciliary]

I am a 30 yr old male and have had high blood pressure for about 4 years.  Over the past 2-3 years or so I have had many problems with palpitations.  They come on pretty violently (for me at least) for about two weeks or so and then go away for 1-2 months sometimes.  When I do get them, they are very scary and occur in bouts of several in a row at times, or off and on throughout the day but lasting about an hour or so at a time.  I usually feel a bit "winded" when they come on, and feel sort of out of breath and lethargic from simple exercises like walking up the steps or to the mailbox.  When I am not having a bout of the palpiations, I do not feel that way at all from those types of small exercises.  I have had an EKG, Echo, stress test and worn a holter, all have come back fine.

Am I considered to have an irregular heartbeat because of these palpitations that come and go, even if they sometimes go away for a month at a time, or is an irregular heartbeat somehting that is always present?

Also, can my high bloodpressure be one of the causes for the palpiations?

Thank you

[conciliary]

I dont drink often.  2-3 beers a month or so.  I have been on a Beta Blocker for about 3 years.  My dosage has fluctuated over the past 3 years, but I have never noticed a difference in the palpitations.  I have not noticed a huge difference in by BP either.  It is normally in the 130/88 range, give or take.

[CardioEric]

Do you drink alcohol? If so how often? Just curious. I work in a Cardiologists office (Medical Asst). A lot of different things can cause an irreg heart beat and palpitations. Your risk factors will be a big indicator as to why this is happening. Your high blood pressure at 30 yrs old, and for the past 4 yrs, isnt helping any. You want to get this under control.

[Mukesh Garg, MD]

Yes,
high blood pressure can be a cause for both irregular heart rhythm and palpitation. I agree controlling the BP is very important. Also, an occasional missed beat is usually not significant.