ECG/EKG link and Heart palpatations for over 1/4 of the day

[jo_lang]

Hi There,
(im 31 yrs, 5'8 and 62kg and do regular exercise)
Ive had heat palpitations for at least 10 years. However in the last year or so they have got much much worse, they used to be an occasional blip, but now i have them daily and they go on for hours at least a quarter of the day with sporadic ones in between. I get both skipped beats and flutters. which interrupt my breathing (ie if im on an in breath i cant continue and have to breath out - like coughing i guess).

i have also noticed they are much worse when i sit back and i can reduce or stop them if i hunch over. i often feel like i will pass out during exercise (this is a recent phenomenom - my hearing used to go after i finished exercising but now i start fading out after only 15 mins or so)

i also have a dull pain in my chest often and recently a few times exceptionally sharp twinges which only last for a few seconds. the one i had yesterday was from left chest to upper arm and makes me stop in my tracks. i had one which woke me up in middle of night - like cramp in my chest - it only lasted a few seconds and i went back to sleep.

i had an ecg a few days ago - but not when anything untoward felt like it was happening, no palps or pain - i have attached link to it here.
couple other things - my blood pressure is normally on the low side - around 112/63 but over the last 6 months is now gone to 136/88. my doc says it goes up when you get older... but really - in 6 months??

on the ecg it says short pr interval and i noticed that the avL lead doesnt have an up stroke (qrs??) is that normal.
sorry for the essay. but im wondering whether to push this with my gp... id like to have a 24 hr trace and treadmill.. but not getting anywhere with her.


many thanks

[Jabanwara]

As i see from your description and ECG analysis, you are well educated on health issues. It is normal as much information is available on internet and you can get it without leaving the premises of your house. But don't let your knowledge frighten you. I am a medical student, when I started my clinical rotation, I almost could find symptoms of all the diseases i will set my eyes on in my body. Theoretical information, as it appears on internet is for professionals only. All Instruments are set at a cut off value and in real life all physiological value have a range and no definite value. For example in your case PR value of 120 miliseconds is a cut off value, but normal value range from 100-200 miliseconds. This PR value will increase and decrease with your physiological state. If you are agitated, anxious, exerting yourself PR value on your ECG will decrease because it depends on your heart rate. You appear to be in good health and are too young to have serious cardiac problem, unless (of course) you have family history of serious cardiac disorders. If stern exercise gives you hard time, change your exercise routine or apparatus. Personally I will play a sport rather than working out on a treadmill. Playing tennis, badminton, cycling, or any other support which increases your interaction with other people is more beneficial than a workout in a closed room.
As Dr Jyoti said you have to relax and stop worrying about your heart. It is doing fine....unless someone breakes it into thousand pieces...just kidding.

[Jyoti Kalra, MBBS]

Dear friend,

I apologise for this late reply.
Reading your history,I should ask you relax a bit nothing serious in this issue.
Palpitations can manifest in different ways.
Short Pr interval on ECG strip is not of any worry or concern as it can be a part of normal ECG.
BP varies in such cases of palpitations.If it gives you discomfort (BP) you can start with medication with your cardiologist advice.

Thanks
Jyoti

[jo_lang]

here is the link to ecg with no personal info!

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/3517/ecgedited.jpg

thanks