Arrhythmia at rest every night

[donnab38]

I'm a 38 year old female who is experiencing a heart flutter every night, at rest, accompanied with a need to cough or, I guess, slight shortness of breath and pressure in my chest (but no pain).  It was occasional at first (8 months ago) but is now so frequent it's every night.  If I exercise it seems to correct the heart rythm (until of course I rest again).  It makes resting difficult.  I have had 2 ECGs but because I have to exert myself to get there (ie; walk in to the surgery) my heart has been fine by the time I arrive.  I swim regularly and am of average fitness and I am not overweight.  My husband listened to my heart on several occasions and once recorded it on the computer which seems like a dropped beat followed by an extra 'catchup' beat.  Can anyone help???

[Momto3]

Hi donnab38!  

Welcome to our "home."  

What you describe sounds like PVCs or PACs.  I'm not a doctor, but the symptoms and feelings you describe sound right on the money.  I have had lots of PVCs, but they never work me up (I had them at night, but just slept through them).  I know what you mean about getting to the doctor's office and they're gone!!  

Ask your doctor if you could wear a Holter monitor.  It's a small, portable monitor that has a couple of leads attached to areas near your heart.  It's like a 24 hour EKG.  The monitor records all of your heart's beats so it would catch those nighttime episodes. Although exercise can get them to stop, let's face it....we can't be running all day and night : )

PVC's are extra beats that originate from the heart's lower chambers (ventricles).  PAC's are extra beats that originate from the heart's upper (atria) chambers.  Most people can't tell the difference.  If you have them, it often feels like a skipped beat (it's actually an exta beat), a pause and a thump, or "catchup" beat.  

Let us know how you're doing.

connie

[Sammie4258]

I do the same thing everynight.  I think it is a very common an normal thing.  You will also find that if you lay on your left side, you will feel it more.  I also understand the shortness of breath.  But I have found that if you curl up in fetal position, it shoves your organs upwards and therefore pushes againt your lungs.  If you are slightly over weight, even just a few pounds, this will definetly fall true.  Try straightening your legs out a bit and notice the difference.  I also ask my cardiologist about it.  He was not too concerned.  But if your worried, see a cardiologist for sure.  Always better to be safe than sorry.  Good luck/  
sammie