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.

[icu812]

I have had occasional (once in a blue moon)VPC's for 10 yrs. I have just now noticed that when I lay on my right side I can start them up... any suggestions?

[icu812]

I have had occasional (once in a blue moon)VPC's for 10 yrs. I have just now noticed that when I lay on my right side I can start them up... any suggestions?

[sheryl1945]

Arthur, thanks so much...and I agree with you 100%...I need to treat the anxiety condition.  Have had panic problems for years and  when I get upset the skipping increases.  I'm going to make a huge effort NOT to take my pulse at all; I must break that habit.  I get so tired thinking about my heart, and it's served me well so far (I'm 57 years old).  I've had every heart test in the book and nothing major has shown up.  Lowered my cholesterol to normal, so the blockages I have shouldn't get worse, at least for a long time.    I thank you so much for your input.  Wishing you the best!

[arthur]

I would treat the panic disorder first.  In my opinion, it's the state of the nervous system, in particular, your autonomic nervous system, that needs to be calmed down.  This nervous system acts like a gate and lets the focal noise through.  Assuming you have a structurally normal heart (and your doctor keeps telling you this), then the attack plan would be to calm your nerves down.  Anxiety of this type feeds upon itself.  No one can calm you down, only you can to this, and it's going to be very difficult...and in my experience, can take years.  You need to divert your attention from the skips, which means a disciplined approach which includes not taking your pulse...you need to break out of the heightened self-awareness which allows you to notice your pusle pounding at night, and the occurrence of skips.  That self-awareness is a critical part of the cycle which heightens your nervous system activity...break it, and the nerves will begin to calm down, and you'll notice those skips a lot less, and they will actually occur a lot less.  You're the master of your fate... - Arthur

[sheryl1945]

Anybody with postural skipped beats/irregular beats, please email me at ***@****.  I am going CRAZY over these arrythmias and I cannot relax.  Just took a half mg of xanax to try to calm myself down.  When I bend over, I get the irregular beat, but as soon as I straighten up it resumes a normal beat.  I don't get many skipped beats in any other position, although a few mornings I have awakened with my heart skipping; I then take my tenormin and it stops the "attack".  I have panic disorder (can you tell?) and I worry about this constantly.  Arthur, I hope you in particular will email me with some comfort...I'm praying this is a benign condition.  I've had heart tests and they all came back normal.  But I'm living in fear.  Please help me, somebody!

[sheryl1945]

Sitting here depressed again, obsessing about my skipped heartbeats.  Happened this morning; took tenormin and it stopped the skipped beats but I find myself just sitting around waiting for the next series of skipped beats!  Is anybody out there as obsessive about their heart as I am?  I hate myself right now because I'm so scared. I constantly take my pulse.  Since the "attack" early this morning I've only had about 4 or 5 skipped beats but I'm terrified.  No other symptoms; physically I feel great -- emtionally I'm a mess.  Can anxiety caused skipped beats?  Oh, by the way, I called my doctor and she said to ignore it (I've had every heart test in the book and everything comes out fine).  Ignore it -- easier said than done.  I trust my doctor, I just have NO confidence in myself.  Afraid I'm going to die any moment.  Help!