Are my arrhythmias dangerous?

[LaurieD]

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and paroxymal hypertension in my twenties. I've always felt skipped beats to some degree. About three years ago I had onset of paroxymal atrial fibrillation, this was diagnosed in the emergency room. My heart rate was 153 bpm and irregular. I've had about twelve bouts of this atrial fibrillation since this time. It does seem to be triggered by stress, but no one can figure out the cause. Echos show a mild mitral valve prolapse, that's all. I started having many skipped beats around October last year. I went to the doctor, who put a holter monitor on. It showed approximately 680 skipped beats in the 24 hour period. She diagnosed this as PSVT. I then followed up with my cardiologist who did a thallium stress test, which revealed all was normal. He then put a holter monitor on last week. The computer print out said I had 1,127 narrow beats within the 24 hour period. I believe that, as my diary showed almost constant skipped beats. My cardiologist told me I was imagining them, that I had only truly had 14 skipped beats, and that the computer errored.He feels it's my esophagus causing this. If it was my esophagus, why would I feel skips in my pulse? Does any of this sound dangerous to you? I am currently on tenormin 25mg t.i.d. It doesn't seem to help this PSVT from occuring. The only two things I know is they are worse at period time, and they are worse depending on how I move (bending over can cause them to start) and once they start sometimes they just won't quit for awhile. Is there a cure for all of this? I am also wondering if these "narrow beats" which he also referred to as PAC's are to do with the atrium and maybe my heart is trying to convert into a-fib full time rather than paroxymal? Any info you can give me is much appreciated. Thanks.

[dodgybeats]

which vitamin did you add??

[ni]

Hello,

I have been researching skipped beats/ectopic heartbeats for years and I am only 23.  I started to get them when I was 18 years old.  Something happened to me during that time and it startled me and ever since then I have been getting skipped beats.  A couple times a year my heart would all of a sudden go into overdrive-I am not sure if would have been a panic attack of some sort or what.  It happened at a carnival and I almost went crazy.  my heart was thumping very fast.  I thought that I was going to die.  It was never that bad.  I have complained to my primary care dr (who is a cardiologist) and he never seemed to care.  Over time, he did a few ekg's and and echo and they call came back in good health!!!  However, i could not stop complainging about them.  I have been trying to diagnose myself, which is a terrible thing to do, oever the internet.  I seeked a second opinion.  I wore a holter for 48 hrs and she said that I had 3 skipped beats (ectopic).  Then I went to her again and she ordered me a king of hearts for one month.  I actually called her today cause she never called me back with results.  It has been almost 6 months.  I am trying to figure out what is wrong with me, since no one else will.  It may be hormonal and it does occur after I eat.  I read on info about stomach spasms, but I am not sure.  It goes away some weeks, but then it will happen lots after.  I would love for someone to reply to this.  I wrote numerous comments on other search engines, but never received replies!!!!

[ZEET]

Im not a doctor, I just post things here as well. I just read your last post and like yourself I post some things above asking for some ideas or answers what the things I experience could be, but have not had any response. I have things like the fast heart rate, that feeling like an extra beat or it feel like your heart did a quick somersault. For me even on Toprol I still feel it all, but ALOT better with the Toprol. Recently my dose has been increase, it has seems to help. What I get it somewhat simular to you. Sometimes when I bend down to pick something up, I'm fine, but when I stand back up, my heart takes off. For a few seconds it beats fast, and I feel slightly lightheaded. Some days Ill get this when I get up out of bed in the a.m., while bending down, after eating a meal, after walking up a flight of stairs, and it is ALWAYS worst around that time of month. I have been going to a cardiologist since July 1999, I guess he has an idea, but I have never been told anything specific. I hope we both can get some ideas from here.

[sheryl]

Hi all...I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a more replies to my query:  Why, when I bend over, does my heart go into an irregular beat?  Also, is this common?  I hope a doctor will answer me.  EKG's show everything is normal.  Does anyone else have this?  When I bend over, my heart stays in that mode; the second I straighten up it goes back to normal rhythm.  I have no other symptoms; I feel great.  But I'm so scared of this.  Perhaps it's just my hiatal hernia...would a doctor please answer me?  Thank you in advance.

[sheryl]

One more comment...if a doctor answers this, PLEASE be gentle with me as I'm terrified and am very prone to panic attacks.  I sure hope that positional irregular beat is nothing to worry about.

[Henri]

Hi Raven,

I would suggest that you get a copy of "The Schwarzbein Principle".  It addresses many of the concerns you have and tells
you how to eliminate them through a balanced diet - combination
of carbs, protein and fat.  Most people do not have that balance
and it causes in many cases, rapid heart beats, acne...The book
is a collaboration of doctors who have treated patients with a
variety of ailments over the years with great success.  You can
order it over internet or at any bookstore.  I've just started
eating better and feel an improvement already.  Hope this helps.
Henriette.