Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Pause in heartbeat - please help!

I recently came off a 48 hr holter monitor for what I would describe as a pause in my heartbeat.  I usually get a run of these when I lie down or upon waking in the morning.  Sometimes they are accompanied by the sensation that my heart is pounding very hard.  My average heart rate is about 77 bpm and does not race during these episodes.  During the holter I had several of these pauses. I was certain they would show-up and I could finally get some resolution but I just got the results and the holter showed NOTHING - no pvc/pacs, no irregularity at all.  How could that be??  What could this be??  I can physically feel these and just to prove I'm not crazy I've had my husband feel them too.  I have had a very comprehensive cardiac work up for a 36 yr old in good physical health (numerous ekgs, echo, stress echo, chest x-rays, CT scan, blood work).  My heart is healthy and structurally normal and I realize I have a low cardiac risk but it's a bit unnerving when I feel these pauses and the cardiologist sees nothing.  How can it be that I feel these and the holter picks up nothing?  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.  I just want to know what it is.
29 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi. I have the same thing happening to me and nothing showed up on my event monitor. Did you get an answer as to why this was happening to you and what it was?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
U have to continue to seek professional medical attention the ER will only due Standord test and won't investigate fully into the matter unless they see and actual emergency. Even if your systems are serious and discomforting I've been having heart problems since I was 17 and jus now at 35 finally got the answer I needed and was diagnosed with atrial vibulation still looking into treatment and how to deal with this , because it has defiantly affected the quality of my life and has completely took over
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did you ever find out what was causing your problem with your heart skipping like that? I've had stuff like that happen since I was a teenager, but usually no other symptoms. Now I'm having it happen and I get splinter hemorrhages after I notice a prolonged 'skip'. It also happens when I'm walking around now, and I have been noticing that when I do heavy lifting I got some serious chest pain but it went away after a few minutes. Have you had anything like that happen? I also sometimes get a pain in my back (left side, in rib cage area) but that happens a lot too.

Did you ever find out what it was, or did you get any new symptoms?
I'm definitely not the anxiety prone type, if anything I don't worry enough (at least that's what my mom said). :)
Helpful - 0
11548417 tn?1506080564
The holter monitor will detect all rhythm abnormalities, the ones hat you are aware of and the ones you are unaware of.
What you describe as a pause in heartbeat is probably a PVC event which occurs in many people and is seldom dangerous.
My guess is that your cardiologist noticed them (they must be in the holters logs) and concluded that there is nothing unusual or alarming with your heart.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 27 just came off a 24 hour with two pauses of nearly 6 seconds I meet with the person who does pacemakers end of the month to determine if I need one.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It might have to do with your stomach??? look up Hiatus hernia.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
im 19 yrs old and having paused heartbeats and fast pounding. i went to the dr today and he said that i was fine and it was PVC or PAC or something like that and that im fine and im just very stressed out right now (which i really am my bf got into some trouble i just got a promotion at work which has a lot of responsibilities and im moving out and also trying to pay all my bills on time it may not seem like alot but im not used to all that)and all i need to do is calm down and live my life normally. But i cant, i keep thinking that he is wrong and that my heart is gonna stop beating and i give myself anxiety attacks and i cant help it. please help me calm down. i dont want to die from this! im only 19!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It sounds to me like it's Sinus Arrhythmia which is completely normal and has to do with your breathing. When breathing and just before exhale, you can feel a sensation or a thump feeling followed by a pause as you exhale. All your heart is doing is slowing down as you are exhales and then speeing up when inhaling. That pause feeling is nothing more then your heart slowing down. Very normal response. More then likely you're now starting to notice it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just got off the 24 hr holter monitor.the results were PAC'C and paused heart beats,sometimes of 2 seconds or just a little longer.i am seeing an Electrocardiophysiologist,on the 12 th of this month.to see if i am a canidate for a pace maker .or medication change.but leaning towards a pace maker.i am 62 and scared .it happens to me quite frequently mostly when resting,makes me shore of breath and very aware it is happening.i have been on heart medication for many years for PAC'S .also 7 years ago i had a bad case of atrial fibrilation was hospitalized for 4 dayd and put on Digoxin Diavan and Sotolol.can some one please explain ?paused heart beats to me i am scared & confused..thank you all.and lots of luck to everyone..thanks ..Snookie.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Don't be afraid, that just makes it worse ;)  I'm 23, I am healthy, active, and eat well, and I have had a PVC arrhythmia for almost 3 years now.  My heart skips, or pauses for a second, or sometimes feels like it pounds.  I was totally unaware of this until a doctor noticed and told me to have it checked out.  Which FREAKED me out of course! I was sure something was seriously wrong, and the stress only made it worse. But after numerous tests and bills nothing was found and the doctors only shrugged and said i'd live. Since then it's been a battle of trying to just get used to it and not stress about it.  It does still bother me when it skips or pauses like crazy, but other than that it doesn't effect me, it just feels weird. I usually only notice it when i'm not doing anything, especially when i'm going to sleep.  It sometimes keeps me from falling alseep right away because I can feel it.  Alot of people have arrhythmias and they're usually benign and can eventually just clear up.  But yes they are weird and scary.  Just learn to relax, don't take stimulants like caffeine, and exercise, all that helps.  DO get it checked out, just to be safe, but most likely it's nothing to be scared about.  You'll be ok.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
the name is electrophysiologist. Ask your cardiologist if he can refer you to one of those.

Good Luck
I hope I helped you
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
I can't spell the word  Ill get the word it's long but they spealize in the elecrtcity of her heart they know alot about arrythmias. Is denvers in massachusetts?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
When I feel the skip I am actually taking my pulse.  I can feel the skip by physically taking my pulse and can also sense it in my body - a pause like everything stops.  I read the posts of what other people describe as PVCs and PACs and the description is so close to what I feel.  The PA said they found no PVCs or PACs at all.  She requested the full transcript so she could look to see if there was anything on the monitor that wasn't reported.  I'm so frustrated because I thought the monitor would provide an answer.  Thank you for your responses - it helps to just talk about it and hear from others.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm in Denver, Colorado.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I live in Denver.  What is an EP?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ireneo is right. Some doctors will tell you when the ectopics show up on a holter and some just say that everything is normal if nothing but a few of those things show up. They are so common.

The chest pressure and burning kind of sounds like acid reflux. Have you tried any meds for that?

Another thing it could be is gallbladder. The only way to truly know if it is gallbladder is with a HIDA test. An ultrasound just won't show the whole picture. I know this from experience. I went through 5 years of trying to find out what my burning/stabbing/stinging left-sided chest pain was from. At one point my cardiologist told me it was some minor coronary artery spasms out of desperation for an explanation. (And yes, I went through the whole anxiety-**** explanation from the doctors.) However the calcium channel blockers did no good! He finally ordered a HIDA test after numerous ultrasounds said I was fine and like magic the answer was discovered. It took 5 YEARS!

Good Luck. Try not to fret too much over it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just saw what you wrote to Ireneo about no PACs or PVCs. When I was having my gallbladder issues, I sometimes thought I was having those beats when I was not. It was a gastro issue from GERDS and my bad gallbladder. However at other times I was having the palps. They have been documented. Check into gastro problems. ??? You might find an answer there.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
sounds like dmil241 is in the right track call a gastro I agree.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you - I'll give that a try.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
I know where you are coming from cardologist always think anxiety. Im getting a test done in june I have abnormalties on my ekg and they are saying they don't know if it is brugada syndrome it's a rare disaese  It's  life threating arrthymias and it's scary I already have a anxiety disorder but this doesn't help. You always want to know what is wrong. I seen a few cardologist and now Im dealing with a EP doctor in brighams woman hostipal in boston they are the best so ordered the test to see if I have this. I can't wait Do you live near boston?
Helpful - 0
187666 tn?1331173345
The PA may have said your results were "normal" even if a few PVC's were recorded. I don't know the percentage but so many people have occasional PVC's that the doctors consider it nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps the heartbeat was still there but you just didn't feel it. My husband doesn't feel his heart beat at all. I can't imagine that. I feel mine almost all the time (not while driving or active); sometimes I even hear it thumping in  my ear, like now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The first cardiologist dismissed my concerns and said I probably had some underlying anxiety issue.  I agree there is some anxiety but I believe it is caused by whatever is going on.  I'm the kind of person that needs a reason.  I find it hard to believe there's no explanation for what I'm feeling.

The second cardiologist who set-up the 48 hr monitor was called to an emergency the day the results came back and I saw the PA.  She told me that everything came back normal and not to worry - no real explanation.

I have had chest pain/pressure and a burning sensation on my left side.  It was quite severe for a while but has subsided.  I get an occasional pang here and there but does not seem to be heart related (had a stress echo for it).

I'm a 36 yr old female, fit and in good health.  This all started a year and a half ago with what I would call palpitations (strong heartbeat).  It progressed to the pauses or maybe the palpitations just made them more noticeable.  In the first year they came and went every few months - now I have them on a daily basis.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
do you get pain in the cheat or shortness of breath? how old are you?
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
I  understand why you are nervous I would call him and tell him you are feeling them alot. What did your cardologist say what he thinks these are?
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community

Top Heart Disease Answerers
159619 tn?1707018272
Salt Lake City, UT
11548417 tn?1506080564
Netherlands
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.