skipping beats

[aaron7235]

Just out of the blue my heart will start skipping beats, probably a good 10-15 times a minute. I have been to a cardiologist and had an EKG and 3 day holter monitor twice. Everything always comes back normal. Last fall when it was happening I would get an elevated pulse at the same time, like 150-165 bpm while just sitting and doing nothing. That could last for an hour. I went to the ER once while it was doing that and as soon as I walked thru the doors of the hospital everything regulated and never happened again during the 3 hours I was there. I'm thinking the elevated pulse a lot of times is just panic because I can feel my heart skipping beats. It always seems to happen the most on the inhale which seems to make it a little hard to inhale while my heart is skipping. A lot of times while this is happening or after it starts I end up having heartburn but not all the time. Today it has probably been the worst that I have ever had it though. It just started for no reason. About an hour after waking up this morning it started. I hadn't ate or drank anything yet for the day and it was skipping for a good hour and a half or so. It seems to have finally regulated but it feels like it wouldn't take much for it to start happening again. Before today I haven't had any problems for at least 2 months. It just seems to come and go like that. I have had this problem on and off for probably the last 2 years. Most of the time it's after I eat but sometimes it can be after hours of not eating or drinking anything. Thank you so much for reading and for any insight into what might be going on.

[pvctom]

Hello,

I also suffer from skips, various forms of them. PVCs mostly. Like Artaud stated, PVCs can come and go, and like now, with me - they are very persistent .  Try not to worry about them too much, easier said than done, and follow up with your doctor ... I also believe there is a definite link between GI distress and PVCs. Anyway, it is nice to have a forum to come to for sharing and support.

Best to you

[aaron7235]

Thank you very much for the reply and the links you provided me. I will definitely check them out. For the most part I have been caffeine free for over a year. I don't smoke but I do drink about once a week. I did have a stress test scheduled the last time I went to the cardio doc but it took them 3 months to get me in for the test and during that time I was feeling so good and wasn't having any problems so I cancelled. Wish I would of just did it now. Thank you again for your reply and your help. I appreciate it greatly!!

[Artaud]

Hi Aaron,

I'm more accustomed to PVCs, some others here are familiar with rapid rhythms, and there are a few possibilities for that.

There has been active discussions on this forum about the possibility of GastroIntestinal Tract causing some types of heart rhythm disturbances. More commonly, according to my GI Doctor is Bradycardia (slow heart beat), but Tachyarrhytmias (Fast heart beats) can also occur.

Cardiac manifestations and sequelae of gastrointestinal disorders.

http://bjcardio.co.uk/2009/07/cardiac-manifestations-and-sequelae-of-gastrointestinal-disorders/

When we breath in, our heart rate increases, breathing out, it decreases (most pronounced in the young). That's one reason you may notice ectopic beats in association with breathing. Also, the heart is squeezed in between your lungs, diaphragm, your esophagus is near enough to touch your heart. Basically, it's not hanging in the middle of an empty room. This limited space may be another reason you have symptoms when you breath.

The up side is that you had EKGs and Holters, and I trust when wearing the Holters you were able to do your normal work and exertions? But it may be prudent to have a Stress Echo or a Nuclear Stress Test, to see how well your heart works under stress, but these techniques reveal if the muscular movements of the heart are normal and if the heart is receiving adequate blood supply. Your doctor may have a good reason for not suggesting these tests, but you can ask.

I would avoid caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, cold medications (ask your pharmacist which are less likely to affect your heart rhythm), some vitamins, energy drinks, smoking, illicit drugs, etc. until you get this thing ironed out.

I've had PVCs for over 40 years, they come and go, lately they've just come are hanging around. My latest bout started after Easter, I suspect the Chocolate I had for Easter either irritating some cells in my heart of irritating my GI tract that in turn causes rhythm issues. My Holter after Easter showed 6000 PVCs, much more than I've experienced in 24 hours before. As I was writing this, my stomach flipped and I could feel my heart beat skip at the same time.

Keep following with your doctor, if you get short of breath, dizzy, pass out, or get pain, go to the Emergency Room (I don't think you have anything to worry about, but just in case things would change).

Also see the following, it's helped me to understand more:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0215/p743.html