Irregular heart

[sportbilly]

I am 30 year old female who has always been fit and well, playing Olympic sport 8 years ago and top level national sport now. About 3 months ago when vsiting the bathroom I felt a little dizzy having jumped up from my desk quikly and for some reason took my pulse which I noticed was irregular with 2 quick beats followed by a pause and the 3rd beat. The following day I visited my GP who took my blood pressure and took my pulse while I inhaled and exhaled and no issues were noted. I also had a blood test done for thyroid function (all clear). She sw no reason for an ECG.

SInce then things have been OK but I am compelled to keep checking my pulse -in particular I notice these extra beats when I stand up from travelling on the train and sometimes feel a little dizzy - another trigger for me to check m pulse. I am also very tense across my shoulders.

Over the last 3 weeks things have got worse as I have been under considerable relationship stress. Twice I have felt extremely dizzy when standing u but have never fainted and no one I have been with has noticed. I have a City job and am required to attend lunches/dinners frequently but am now very anxious about these and making a fool of myself.

Any advice would be appreciated - I have alwys been pretty laid back but wonder if the stress is making these heartbeats worse which in turn adds to my stress etc and s I a on a viscous circle.

[reading1976]

Thanks for your comments - what tests would you recommend that I have done then? What condidion caused your heart beat to fall to 8 whilst at the hospital?

[99monkey]

I too have a simmilar life style as u and i have been experiencing the same kinds of symptoms for a year now.  Just recently i found out that i have a chronic gastritis caused by H. Pylori. Every since i started taking medication for the gastritis i have not experienced any of the heart symptoms that debelitated me for months. Hope this helps.

[sifu944]

Hi i understand you but i think that you should get other tests done  because with me one day in the hospital i was good and then my heart stopped my heart beat when down to 08 on the cardic monitor but im alive by the help of GOD so be careful ok.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

The problem is that you don't know what you are dealing with yet.  It is reasonable to check an EKG.  If these events happen everyday, I would check a Holter monitor or they are less frequent I would put on a 30 day event monitor.  People in good shape with a high vagal tone will often notice significant pauses with respiration or after standing. This does not sound like anything life threatening but it is clearly starting to affect your quality of life.  Knowing why you have the symptoms may help you to deal with the fear of them.  It sounds like they are  causing significant anxiety that is changing the what you do and where you do it.  Honestly there might not be a way to cure these sensatins but you would at least benefit from knowing what they are.

I hope this helps.