Heart pauses

[kimmie0877]

I am a 37 year old woman who works out consistently and is in good shape.  Recently, I have had these episodes in which it feels like my heart pauses and starts up again.  My heart beats really quickly then it alomost hiccups back into a normal rhythm. I am very busy and I am so afraid I am going to die from a stroke or a heart attack.  When this happens, it really scares me.  Plus my heart flutters when I am under stress or working out.

[achillea]

The heart pauses you describe sound like garden-variety premature ventricular contractions or PVCs.  Everyone gets them (though not everyone *feels* them), and in otherwise healthy hearts, they are annoying but harmless.  Here's info on them:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-ventricular-contractions/basics/definition/con-20030205

However, a fluttering sensation, though also most likely minor, should probably get checked out.  In any case, it's good to have a cardiologist establish a baseline eval for anyone with mysterious heart symptoms.

[kimmie0877]

Thank you.  I am going to go see a cardiologist to get peace of mind about my ticker!  :)

[threestars]

Hi, I suggest you go see a doctor and do not try to diagnose yourself from the internet (you'll only get scared).

The doctor will most probably order blood test, an EKG which is used to see electrical signals from your heart, and Echo Cardiogram which uses ultrasounds to see how your heart looks and a holter to monitor your heart over a longer period of time.

There is no reason to be scared, I'm currently going through this process and I know that calm and staying away from all this conflicting information on the internet is the best way to go. I have/had the same sensations of fluttering that you have.

A doctor is the only person that can tell you exactly what is going on and once you go see one you will feel much calmer from the get go.

Even if you are not suffering from anything you will benefit from knowing the state of your cardiac health so there's basically no downside of going through the tests.

Best of luck!