please help asap

[jackie00oconnor]

Boyfriend is a 24 year old male otherwise good health no problems, had infrequent episodes of what doctors said after first time it happened (14 years old went to ER ) called them benign palpitations also said he had an irregular heartbeat and not to worry . Happens 1 or 2 times per year max, heart beating out of chest for no more than few mins at time... but a small handful of those events were accompanied by heart beating out of chest very very fast , lightheadedness, and shortness of breath (for few minutes MAX) usually 1 to 1 1/2 mins. Few weeks ago it was bad for first time in long time he was exhausted and exerted himself sports game lots of high speed running episode lasted 1 and 1/2 mins but included feeling light headed and short of breath high heart rate and pounding out of chest. Rate went down after minute and half but took half hour to get back to regular rhythm. Could this really be benign no reason for concern even with the lightheadedness and shortness of breath?? Very worried.

[jackie00oconnor]

could it sill be just palpitations like he said? sorry for all the questions! when do i need to consider calling an ambulance, does the fast breathing count as shortness of breath? so as i understand, psvt's are horrible and awful  to experience symptom wise  but they are not dangerous whatsoever?

[SassyLassie]

I agree, see the cardiologist, ask for an echo, if it is "normal' then there really is nothing to worry about. I have PSVT's at times, also PAC's and PVC's, they are benign, but  mercy, they sure do not feel that way.

[Jenn1302]

An implantable event monitor should be able to catch and help diagnose short events that happen1-3 times a year. It can monitor the heart for a few years. For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implantable_loop_recorder. There is a small risk of complications, such as infection.

[jackie00oconnor]

oops just saw another answer popped up while i was typing. that means a lot,  so is it never life threatening as long as heart structurally sound? i tried to read up on it best i could but with the internet  you never know... when i got diagnosed it was all too easy to get misinformed even though i also got a lot of valid good info too. when do i need to be concerned about  calling ambulance? going to doc with him tomorrow to start referral process but it takes so long want to be informed in meantime.

[jackie00oconnor]

when he was 16 and happened for first time he went to er and had full work up said he has heart of an athlete and the palpitations were benign not to concern and they were  aware he had had all of the symptoms above but  worse.  structurally nothing wrong, not sure he even got referred to cardiologist he doesn't remember went once or twice and it was decided didn't need follow up i guess?  it'll be hard to catch an event happens a 1 or 3 times a year at most and all have been under 5 mins. usually min or 2 max. Usually when it happens the only symptoms are the palpitations and not short breath but breathing fast, uncomfortable he describes it as. Can simple palpitations cause these symptoms without meaning there's an arrhythmia? thank you SO much i'm so worried, we've been through a lot this year together unrelated reasons (i got diagnosed with lupus that's originally what i came to this site for) and these prompt responses mean so so so much....

[Elli126]

He should be evaluated by a cardiologist. If his heart is structurally sound then even PSVT is no big deal. Well, let me rephrase that, it is a big deal to anyone who has it like myself but it isn't life-threatening. I've had PVCs and PACs for more than 30 years and PSVT for about six. If it does turn out he has PSVT there are many options for treatment including medication and ablation.

[Jenn1302]

Has he seen a cardiologist or an EP? A cardiologist can do an echo to make sure there's nothing structurally wrong with his heart. They can also use an event monitor and run additional tests to determine the cause.

[jackie00oconnor]

the breathlessness was short and was more like a catching breath than visible shortness of breath he was able to talk etc whole time... but i'm just worried that this could be more than just palpitations and an actual arrhythmia like psvt? It's only been that bad a handful of times in his life. But if the palpitations have symptoms, can they still really be just palpitations? thanks so so much for replying i'm obsessing and worried. If it is psvt and so infrequently symptomatic besides feeling the palpitation, is it dangerous?

[Jerry_NJ]

Benign? Possibly, but I think he should avoid any more "extreme" athletics.. exercise, yes, but keep the HR below 150 might be a good target that allows exercise, but not long sprints.