Strange Heart Beats, Arrhythmia??

[Jean27]

I am hoping to get some help on this problem I have had for about 3 years. I get a strange feeling in my chest like I could feel each heart beat in my chest and it is very bothersome. My heart is not skiping although I do get that palpatations at times also,but this is more like energy jumping around in my chest. This is an all day thing I get for days at a time. Sometimes it gets alot worse after eating a meal. My heart will feel like it is racing but most times if I take my pulse it is 72BPM but it FEELS much faster.  I have been for every heart test(Holter, 30 day monitor, stress test, echo)  and the only thing they found was an elongated mitral valve and trace regurgitation which they tell me both are nothing, is this true?? or could that be causing these feelings?
  Also If I am sitting still watching TV my eyes seem to flicker along with each heart beat. I now this sounds wierd and I am hoping you may have heard of this before but it's like every time my heart beats my eyes pulse. My blood pressure is not high at all so I dont know why that happens. I am 31 female, not overweight, non-smoker. I also have days where I feel out of breath and a rapid pulse just from walking up a flight of stairs and the very next day I feel fine walking up the same stairs. I really need to know whats going on any ideas....thanks so much and have a Happy Thanksgiving   Jean :)

[LynnSB]

ABSOLUTELY many meds for asthma can contribute or cause palpitations but don't stop taking them -- DO TALK TO YOUR DOC!

[Barton]

Hi...my name is Mary Ann and I'm 64 years old. My heart has been skipping for several months now...and it drives me crazy. I just wonder if my asthma meds could be causing it,i take advair and singular.

[Momto3]

Hi,

You mentioned that you had two types of ECG's....Did you have an echocardiogram also? If you have had the "standard" tests and the doctor is not concerned, you are probably experiencing pac's or pvc's and fortunately, they are benign.  But, that is not to say that they can't feel awful and make you extremely anxious.  There are many of us here on the board who can relate to your anxiety. You will almost always notice them more when you are quiet (ready to go to sleep, watching T.V., etc).

Echocardiograms and monitors (holter, event, loop) are great tools to assess what is going on. Has your doctor been able to "see" or "hear" the activitiy that you are concerned about? If so, and you are still getting a "benign" report, then you may ask about a beta blocker. Sometimes they help to stop or slow down the frequency of the extra beats.. Good luck
connie

[Mityana]

I hope the following is of some comfort with similar problem.

At the age of 65 I have started suffering missed/skipped heart beats.  All tests, including ECGs (both types) and blood tests have shown no abnormality.   The condition appears to be present mostly all the time - more noticeable when doing nothing or trying to get to sleep.  Some discomfort in the chest.  Doctors have told me not to worry!  I am a verious anxious sort of person! Should I ask for further tests or wait till it gets worse?  Any comments from others with similar problem.

[kate38]

Hello, this is my first time at this forum,looks like its very difficult to get a queston to the Doctor, so hoping maybe some one out there might be able to help. I have hypertension,Asthma,High cholesterol,and hypothyroidism. my total cholesterol is 308,HDL64,LDL 197,chol/HDL ratio is 5.8 before blood pressure meds my blood pressure was running anywhere from 160's/90's 204/135 very hard to control,some of the medications seemed to raise the blood pressure,others caused problems with my asthma,and some did nothing. I'm currrently taking, Metoprolol 250mg,Diovan 320mg ,minoxidil 5mg,HCTZ 12.5mg, mevocor 20mg for elevated cholesterol, Advair,Singular,albuterol,synthroid,naseral effexor,zyrtec,and prednisone,when needed for asthma I was seen in the ER 3 to 4 times for chest pains and palpatations I was refered by my physician to a cardiologist. I was then sent out for a cardiolite stress test which  was found to be an abnormal adenosine cardiolite study with reduced uptake of cardiolite within the anterior wall on the stress cardiolite images,it involved the anterolateral segment.The rest cardiolite showed presistence of the mid anterior defect but some reversibility within the anterolateral segment, most likely to be in the territory of the diagonal Branch of the LAD. LV ejection fraction was 63%, the echocardiogram was normal and the MRA of the renal arteries was ok. I have a grade II/VI systolic murmur. My questions are,I have tried Labetalol,atenolol which caused severe problems with my asthma. I'm now taking metoprolol which makes me very tired and sluggish and having to take an increase the amount of medication I'm haveing to take to keep my asthma under control. what other options for beta blockers are there? ones that don't affect breathing.I'm really concerned about having an severe asthma attack and the meds I'm taking for my asthma not working.why exactly are beta blockers given? What kind of problems do they cause for people with asthma? what do the above test results mean? could this be the cause of my chest pains and palpations or could it be caused from one of the medications I'm taking?  What other test will the cardiologist likely want to preform? what do each of the blood pressure meds I'm taking do? any help would be greatly appreciated.      kate38

[psteng19]

Well, it's been a few months now and I'd thought I'd like to update my situation.

It's getting better but I still don't feel 100%, possibly 85-95%.  My pulse is back down to around 70-80, and I can breathe easier.  My twitch in my right eye is also gone.  But somehow I still don't feel as well as I should.  It's been a few months since I've felt like a normal human being should.  There's always this pressure inside my chest at certain times, and I always feel gassy inside - when I burp it out, it provides temporary relief until the gas builds up again.

I'm also afraid to do cardio exercise, or any exercise, in fear that I might drive my heart crazy and drop dead.

I also read on another forum about someone seemingly in good health (non smoker, not overweight) who didn't naturally create enough amino acid to clear cholesterol and ended up dying suddenly from a heart attack, and that scares me.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.