Heart Double Beats Etc

[NeMH]

Ive had some problems with being dizzy and breathless as well as palpitations for about 2 years now. Every doctor has put it down to panic attacks. Im still getting them at the moment even when im not stressed at all. I had an EKG about a year ago and the doctor said my heart double beats when I inhale. He said it could be serious but probably isnt (helpful ay?) I was wondering if anyone knows what this is called...I know what a double beat is called but specifically when you breath in? Like I said I also get breathless and dizzy all the time. Im starting to think this isnt panic....Im scared its my heart. Sometimes when Im walking I get so breathless I cant speak.

Please give any advice...I havent posted on here for ages because all my paranoia went away but today I can feel my heart beat and feel faint and week and breathless and im scared.

[Wisconsin2007]

The double beats - were they given a name, like PVC or PAC?  

I've had PVC's for just over a decade - enough that when I'm more prone to having them, I can get them at predictable times.  For example, if I've been having more of them lately and I eat a really big meal, I now know that can squish the heart a little more and cause them.  Sometimes when I'm laying in bed and take a big inhale like for a yawn, I'll get one.  I'll repeat the yawn over and over, and I'll get the PVC over and over.  Drinking lots of caffeine?  I can get them.  Chocolate?  Same thing.

The problem with these irregular rhythms is that sometimes they can scare the bejeesus out of you and within a minute or so, you feel awful.  

I had a period in '06 when I had 5-10,000 PVC's a day - somehow, because I was having so many, one more wasn't a big deal.  But if I haven't had them in awhile, one can still put real fear into me which in turn can give me more physical symptoms, sweating, weakness, etc.  But it usually only lasts a few minutes.

If PVC's is what you have, having one of them is not enough to do anything to you.  Holding your breath for 10 seconds will probably deprive your brain and body of more oxygen than a PVC will.  You wouldn't be able to get breathless or dizzy if you had a single (or even several) PVC's.

I was just reading some stat that showed that 10-15% of young children have PVCs (most don't know it), more than half of people over 40 have them, and 90% of people over 60 have them.  

Now I say all that presuming you have simple PVC's.  If there are other problems compounding this, problems with heart structure (I had an echocardiogram to rule that out), problems with rhythm you aren't feeling, then having it all checked would of course be worthwhile.  

Having it checked anyway, possibly by a different doctor, may offer a solution, or at least, peace of mind.

Good luck!

[jkfrench]

Hi
Lots of times when I take a deep breath, my heart skips.  Maybe that is what he meant by the double beat.  The early beat comes sooner than it is supposed to and it can feel like a double beat.  Your anxiety could be making you breathless and dizzy.  You probably aren't breathing correctly now.  I tend to hold my breath and sometimes I feel that way too.  I'm not doctor but I know what anxiety can do to you and it doesn't take much to start that cycle.
Frenchie

[Mike85281]

Is it possible you are hyperventilating? Sometimes knowing taking a deep breath makes our heart do funny things makes us continually check by breathing too often and too deep. Just concentrate on breathing normal. I used to get short of breath too until I realized I was taking too many breaths too deeply. It can make you feel slightly dizzy too. It sounds like your heart is okay otherwise.

[NeMH]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. And yeah I had words with doctor. Apparently they took it as not serious due to my panic attacks...(*cough*). My BP is generally ok, although I do suffer from a little bit of postural hypotension and my HR is ok other than being very high sometimes for no reason. Thanks again

[Jerry_NJ]

Wow, "....could be serious but probably isn't.." isn't something one expects to hear from a doctor unless there is something following:  more tests, try this, ... try that....

I don't have the name for the double beat or its relationship to breathing, hope others will help.

What is your blood pressure and heart rate?  If either are "unusually" low, that could be the cause of the dizziness/breathlessness.  This would be especially true if your BP/HR had been higher/normal and suddenly went lower.  Some medications, e.g., beta blockers can cause this, you didn't mention any medications.