Ectopic Beats

[macca2010130]

Hi. I am going to get some blood tests done tomoro because my doctor thinks i could have a overactive thyroid. Basically i have been having strange flushes and also i have been having this strange feeling below the breast bone which makes me dizzy. Does This Sound Like a Over active thyroid i am also having a investigaton for ectopic heart beats i have a ecg and a echo cardiogram and they where fine soshould i worry about these beats and could they also be the cause of the dizzieness thank you. Any ideas what it could be. My doc said is is nothing sinister as it has been happening since november.

[macca2010130]

Yeah thats what its like just a serge for 3 or 4 seconds. thank you for the help my heart was fine on the ecg and the echo so this indicates that they would be benign. guess its something i shall have to live with.. i can cope with one a week just when i get a couple a day when i worry haha

[ireneo]

I've had them all my life along with some other arrhythmias and I'm still alive and doing well at age 57. I've had 3 children and I work with wildlife. You can see all this heart hiccup stuff hasn't slowed me down. I'm very fortunate to have had it all my life because I'm comfortable with the dancing heart.

Certainly each person is different and it's best to talk to your doctor. But if s/he says you're in good shape and you're not passing out (that's a problem) then go ahead and live large. Enjoy life and let the ectopics do what they want. For the most part when one hits, there's just a surge for a second or two and then it's back to normal. Take care.

[macca2010130]

Thank You Ireneo. Yes I have a sudden surge of dizzieness with mine and like a flutter feeling of warmth in my chest or below the sternum. i have had a echo and my heart was normal and also my ecg was normal. i was just worried that this is dangerous because of the dizzieness. but do you think it is not ? thanks

[ireneo]

A thyroid test is easy enough and an overactive thyroid can cause your heart to act up a bit. So can dehydration. Anyway, for the most part ectopic beats are a nuisance. The echo will show the structure of your heart: size, valves, ejection fraction. If your heart is normal then the occasional electrical blip is not considered dangerous.

Yes, ectopic beats can feel odd. People describe them so many different ways. Some feel like a big bubble in the chest and throat. Some feel a sudden light-headed surge like when you stand up too quickly. If you're having tens of thousands of them every day then the cardiologist can prescribe some medication to help. They tend to avoid medication since most ectopics are harmless where taking medication involves side effects.