Extra heart beats

[rickym]

Hello,

This is my story:

About 3 months ago I went to the emergency room due to palpitations. I was 230 lbs and not eating well. My height is 5' 9". That night I felt my heart skipping beats. I could not sleep that night thinking I was having a heart attack. The ER doctor said my heart was fine and all I had was too much adrenaline, and gave me Norvasc (which I didn't take). My family doctor then referred me to a cardiologist. I had a stress test with a nuclear imaging. My results came back negative with a perfect heart. Only problem was my high blood pressure witch was reading 164/95. The cardiologist then put me on 48-hour holter, which I got a result today.

The cardiologist said I had too many extra beats. He just put me on Atenolol 50mg, and I have been taking Diovan 80mg for my BP too. The doctor said my electrical system is just sensitive, and that the Atenolol will take care of my issue. He said its good that I am found this now instead of later in my life, which could result in a heart issue in the future.

Right now I weight in at 208lbs, and I have done a complete 360 on my lifestyle. Never smoked or drank in my life.


Can anyone tell me what exactly I have and can I die from this? I hope I don't end up with anxiety because of this; sometimes I get so scared at night when I hear my heart pounding and skipping beats.


Thanks,

[rickym]

Another thing is my pulse is normal, resting I have always had it around 60 -70 and when I exercise its normal.

[rickym]

Wow no meds! If I take my pulse I can see them occuring every 20 beats but sometimes I don't get them at all? Strange, I asked the doctor about Anxiety, but he said I was born with this? I was on asthma medication before but I stopped since I never got any symptoms.

[crystalhanzelka]

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this.  The extra beats are usually called PVCs or PACs.  I wonder how many you had because I have read posts on here from people who have worn a 24 hr monitor and they had like 35000 (yes thousand) PVCs ina 24hr period and were not put on any meds.  Research PVCs and PACs.  Dont get anxious about this because it will make it worse.  Call your doctor and just straight up ask them if you are in any life danger.