Skipped Heartbeats

[roland]

Doctor, A few months ago while checking my pulse, I first noticed my heart skipping beats. This now happens regularly throughout the day. I never had this problem before. Are these also referred to as PVC's? What caused this to happen? Will these skipped beats go away? I started taking Zestril for high blood pressure right before these skipped beats started to occur. Did the Zestril do this to me? Could a blockage cause these skipped beats? Thank You....for your time.

[Trudi2]

Like most here, I'm very grateful to have found this forum. I've been plagued with intense and prolongued episodes of these extra beats, often lasting 48 to 36 hours. Have gone through all the usual testing, and like a previous poster, the beats normalized only while they were being monitored by doctors or halter monitors.

It's interesting about the gastric association, and I'll see if there is any relief after attending to any problems there.

However, over my lifetime, I have noticed the main trigger has been a sudden drop in temperature. I go through hell in winter, as the temperature goes below 15 degrees celcius at night (I live in a semi-tropical climate where it's pretty warm). During the summer months I hardly have any problems. I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced these temperature-related episodes.

Also, has anyone found a natural remedy which has been of any help? I've been reading hawthorn is supposed to help, but wondered if anyone has any experience. I'm taking high dosage magnesium each day, and found I had my worst attack ever when I missed taking the magnesium two days in a row.

[shelbert6]

I am 23 weeks pregnant and have abnormal heart beats, but only while laying down.  They can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.  If I roll over to my left side, it seems to relieve it.  I have chronic hypertension and have had for a number of years.  I usually take atenolol, which is a beta-blocker.  However, when I am pregnant, (this is my 4th pregnancy) I switch to a more acceptable med for pregnancy.  Atenolol has never been considered safe.  During my last pregnancy 4 years ago, the drug of choice was propanolol, aka Inderal.  This pregnancy, the drug of choice is labetalol, which is a combination alpha-beta blocker.  Talk to your Dr. about which med to use during your pregnancy, but never, ever abruptly stop beta blockers without consulting your physician.  Never, ever stop taking any prescribed meds without consulting your physician.  I think of it in this way, if I am taking a med which may not be safe during pregnancy, I ask my doc before stopping or switching.  If I don't, and I have a med problem because I am no longer taking my meds without doc approval, this outcome is no more safe for my pregnancy than taking the prescription med that I felt was unsafe.  Hope these opinions help.

[SamJB]

Last night I had the worst attack of skipped beats and flutters ever. I'm 12 weeks pregnant and have suffered with skipped beats since I was about 16 years old. I'm 30 now. Last night though, I really thought I was going to keel over. I started crying as I have a 7month old daughter and a wonderful husband. He talked me through them and we went to the doctor for an ECG. But what do ya know - nothing showed as I was relaxed and they stopped. As soon as they took the machine off me, they started again. They put it on again, but then again - nothing!! The doctor said that I should probably not have come off the beta blockers so suddenly (because I fell pregnant) and that it may have made them worse. I'd just eaten a chinese meal and though perhaps I was allergic to something, or had eaten too much. It was skipping a beat practically every other beat and didn't stop for well over an hour. I got home and took a beta blocker (50mg) and sat on the sofa with my legs out flat. I relaxed and started to feel much better. This morning I found this website and feel even more at ease, realising that it is not life-threatening, could have been worsened due to over eating and the fact that I am pregnant. But i do hate them... I really wish I didn't get them. My father died of a heart attack last year and you always think the worst. Over the last 15 years, i have had test after test, checking everything and it all comes back as normal. I am going to start Yoga next week, three times a week and get some stress relief counselling as I feel this could also help. I would love to talk to other women who are pregnant and suffer from this as I feel this would be a great help to the stress relief and in turn help us all get through it.
Thanks again for this wonderful website!! Look forward to hearing from someone soon...
take care, Samantha (UK)

[shelbert6]

I believe that irregular heart beats can be caused by a variety of things.  I get them regularly.  However, I am not bothered by them because I have no other symptoms with them.  I think that is just as important to note when having bursts of irregular heart beats if you are symptomatic in other ways while this occurs.

[Silverneo]

This is weird.  Nobody has the same thing as me, similiar but not the same.  
When my PVC kickes in im on the floor.  But only for up to 45 seconds.  I had one that put me on the floor for 5 mins, that was the worst i had.  At rest my heart beat is 95-120, which is normal for me.  Then when the episodes hit my heart jumps to 300+.  I noticed that it happen alot when sitting, just standing up, middle of sitting down, hunched over, and Adrenline situations.  Im in the military, i find that when in Intence situations i get them too.  Stress seems to be my biggest "trigger".  Anybody else get this?

[Central Illinois 1001]

I was just reading stuff on this thread about Maalox helping with skipped beats.  I didn't have any on hand, but I popped about 6 Tums, for what it was worth.   The skipped beats went away within 20 minutes.  Unbelievable.  

Placebo effect?   I can't say, but this gastro-intestinal angle is quite interesting regarding missed beats.  

I'm glad I found this website.