I am having skipped heart beats after I get hot or exercise. I am 38 years old and have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I recently did a 24 hour holter monitor test and it came back normal. This really causes a lot of anxiety as some of the beats are little more intense than others.
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Male Person's Age: 38 Already Tried: breathing techniques to calm me down
Hello and Welcome to JustanswerThank you very much for your questionHow frequently do they occur besides exercise?For how long have you been having them?Have you ever had any blackouts or dizzy spells?
Never had blackouts or dizzy spells. Been having these stronger episodes for a couple of months now. Have light ones off and on throughout the day some days.
Thank you very much for all the detailsMissed beats or palpitations are quite common and occur in everyone in some time of one’s life.Commonest reason for them is Premature Ventricular Beats (PVCs) which are quite benign in natureMain worry is when they occur in someone with known heart diseaseOtherwise they do not carry any long term significance.Your feeling of getting strong impulse is perfectly explainableAfter a missed beat there is usually a compensatory pause to reset the heart beat againDuring this interval heart has more time to fill so the next beat is more stronger than usualYour absence of risk factors and age put you in low risk category anyway for any significant heart problemRelaxation techniques are sometimes helpful to abolish themIf occurring frequently or causing botheration then drugs like Beta Blockers (Atenolol, Metoprolol) or Calcium Channel Blockers (Verapamil, Diltiazem) can control their frequency and give enormous symptomatic relief and you can talk to your physician about their short term use if no contra indicationsKnown potential triggers for this problem like sleep deprivation. Excessive alcohol and coffee or even soft drinks should be avoided if you have any sensitivity to any of theseCigarette smoking is also a known cause as it stimulates the heart both in terms of rate and pumping and can cause palpitations. So cutting it down would definitely help (if you smoke)If you ever get dizzy spells or blackouts with them then it will require further work up with event recorder (which keeps record for 2 weeks)Any further queries/clarifications are welcomeBest Regards
Experience: Staff Cardiologist
I cannot tell you the anxiety it creates. I can be in the middle of a normal workout and I just shut down from worry. I can be doing nothing (watching TV, etc.) I often wonder if I need to go to the emergency room. I have been under a lot of stress lately but some of that is being greatly reduced. I have never smoked. My dad had his widowmaker artery 99% blocked about 2 years ago and that certainly gets my attention. He is doing well after a stint. I just really need them to stop but I DO NOT want to go on beta blockers.
No doubt these are distressing but PVCs re usually benign/harmless in nature unless they occur in patients with known heart diseaseI mentioned alternate options like calcium channel blockers alsoNot for long term use but a short term course would be of great help in controlling themThese palpitations do increase in frequency with any situation which causes adrenal rush like anxiety, stress for exampleSo palpitation causing anxiety and this in turn causing more adrenal rush and causing more skipped beats......a vicious cycle and you will need to break it by relaxing yourself and also with the help of medicine if your physician thinks appropriateAt times an over active/hyperthyroid causes these palpitations so getting one check for it would be advisable to make sure that it is not contributory. Do discuss this thins with your physicianAny further queries are welcomeBest Regards