Heart Palpitations
 

It is time for me to go to the well of knowledge on PPOT.

Early this year during the summer months I noticed that my heart was skipping a beat. While I was resting, I could feel an interesting (disconcerting) feeling in my upper chest and left side of my neck.

I monitored my pulse and it seemed that my heart was skipping a beat. The next morning I went to the emergency care centre in the small town where we spend our summers and was immediately hooked up to a 12 wire EKG and was monitored for a good 2 hours. They noticed no irregularities and I was told that my EKG should be in a text book as a perfect example. I had some blood work done at the time and there was no follow up done and I was not called back in for any irregularities. My resting heart rate was 53 and my blood pressure ranged from 113/72 to 125/83. I was doing at least two hours on the mountain bike every second day on some rather extreme climbing conditions. The doc didn’t think there was any reason to stop my activities so I didn’t and didn’t die...

After this instance, I hadn’t noticed that I was skipping a beat until about a month ago. Since then I think it has been missing more regularly than during the summer. I had another EKG done and more blood work. While the EKG seems normal (snapshot in time) the blood work came back with higher than normal cholesterol levels. I do have a follow up appointment booked with my GP.

I am a pretty active guy (almost 53 years old) and I walk on average 8 to 10 kilometers a day. I haven’t been feeling winded or dizzy because of this. I am still doing occasional bike rides and playing hockey in addition to the walks. I am 5’10 and 184 lbs. If I was in very good condition I would be about 175 lbs.

Based on some of the information found on line on heart palpitations, I have cut down on drinking, stopped doing an Echinacea cold product, reduced my caffeine intake to 1 cup a day and even reduced chocolate intake too. I do carry a bit too much stress and I would say that I am a “tightly wound” individual. My job involves presenting information in a classroom setting and that is not a natural thing for me to be doing although I do enjoy it.

With the knowledge and experience in this diverse group on the forum I know that some valuable information to consider will most likely come my way.

Thanks for reading my little essay. If this wasn’t bothering me I wouldn’t be writing it.

Had the same thing a few years ago...comes and goes with no real trigger that I can tell other than stress seems to cause it more than others.

Saw a top notch cardiologist. Wore a monitor for two weeks (twice). Had a heart cath test. Perfect results (excellent for my age)

Long story short...there are "normal" skipped beats and non-normal ones. The normal ones are more prevalent as you age and won't hurt you. The others can be bad.

See cardiologist to make sure.

Premature Ventricular Contractions.

I get them on and off a lot.

Amazing how you become deaf to your heart until it does something out of the norm. Gets your attention real quick.

My understanding is they are generally benign and you are correct, diet and stress level have a lot to do with episodes.

Last time I had an extended episode I got up in the middle of the night and drove myself to the ER.

PRO TIP: when checking in at the ER tell them you are having a cardio episode, they'll take you right in, no waiting.

After a few hours and a bunch of tests the Doc came in and told me I'm too stressed, quit smoking, drink less coffee, drink more wine and have more sex.

I asked him if he could put that on a prescription, at least the more sex part.

When I get strong ones I lightly thump myself on the upper left pectoral and they stop.

You are still young Billy. I would suggest getting a second opinion. I am not in the medical field but seeing another heart specialist I am sure would relieve apprehension.

You are pretty much doing everything right with getting lots of exercise. I am also 5'10" but weigh 173 lbs and at age 69 have high blood pressure but take pills for it. My cholesterol is borderline but I turned down cholesterol pills at my last medical. Would losing a few pounds help you and eliminate the heart skip? I would get advice asap.

In terms of cholesterol I am well aware as I am married to a dietician. Eats lots of fruit and vegetables. Cut down on the read meat. Mediterranean diet is good.



Cheers, Guy

Not a cardiologist so in that context my opinion and experience would be that healthy people can have considerable variability in their pulse--which can be seen as a sign of good health.

Pulse variability AND symptoms like light-headedness, fatigue/shortness of breath, pain or others can be a genuine cause for concern and investigation in short order.

I'd stay in tune with it but not obsess--which is tough for some. Finding a way to address the level of stress in your life would time well spent.

Keep us posted and good luck!

You might be on the cusp of developing atrial fibrillation. Fairly common, might have to wear a monitor for 24 hours to catch an episode.

JR

Statins?

My cholesterol is also borderline, hereditary, diet and exercise help but don't do the full monty for me.

My son is 12 and has had high cholesterol for 4-5 years now. Kid is a rail, 0% body fat and eats healthy. We don't allow soda or any other junk in the house. He'll snack on carrots before chips because he wants to not because we make him.

I was on statins for a bit and declined continuing because they were physically wrecking me. For the 2 years I was on them I never felt worse.

Thanks for the responses so far. I appreciate your input and advice.

I do need to clean up my diet a bit and eat more fruit and veggies. I am looking now at natural ways of reducing bad cholesterol levels. Not sure how to manage stress better. May need some outside help on that.

Does anyone have any experience with home / portable ECG/EKG devices? Are they worth the price one would pay for them and do they provide any useful information to a physician?

I golfed with a man in his 50's about ten years ago. I walked on and asked if I could join him and he said he did not recommend me to join him. I said that I had lots of patience.

As we golfed he told me he had had 2 heart attacks already. He was also skinny as a rail and was on a low fat diet as his cholesterol was high.

I don't mean to scare you but what caught my attention was his intensity in the game of golf. Definitely an A type personality as he was constantly striding out distances to putt etc. Very intense he was. I did enjoy golfing with him. He was not angry at all. That I don't like on the golf course. Good luck with your son. I am sure he is getting lots of medical attention?

Cheers, Guy

Been down that path. Mine almost feels like it stops. I'm immediately aware of it. After about 2 seconds it comes back with a couple of rapid beats, as if to make up for those it missed.

Did the Holter monitor a couple of times. Of course, not much went on during that time. Thought I'd caught an episode, hit the button to mark it, but when they reviewed the records they said everything looked good.

Despite being in decent shape for 51, my heart does weird things.... high beat count for level of exertion, skips a beat sometimes, and my least favorite, high beat rate due to stress. If I'm at an auction and there's something I'm just thinking about bidding on, my heart rate can go up to 120-140 beats per minute while I'm just standing there. My normal resting heart rate is about 55.

I mentioned all this to my primary care doc a couple of years ago, which got me a stress test. They saw "something" on those results that got me a nuclear stress test, which came back as normal.

At this point, I figure my heart has been tested every which way and will probably keep on ticking. Even so, at 51, I have to consider that my brother died in his sleep of a heart attack at age 50 and my dad had the first of a couple of heart attacks at age 55.

If you are concerned, get a full stress test with all the trimmings as well as an Echo Cardiac Ultrasound.

I have had an inverted T Wave all my life and decided, after an a-fib event, to have everything looked at in detail. I was proactive in all the ways you have been and am doing great, without issues.

Stop doing this.

Unless your Dr recommends it you don't need to be thinking about it.

That behavior, dwelling on and over reacting, is how I routinely increase my stress level beyond what is appropriate for current conditions.

It may not even be true stress but rather anxiety.

They can turn into runaway chain reactions if you let them. At some point stress and anxiety start feeding themselves not unlike an uncontrolled nuclear reactor.

Skips a beat? No problem, I have a whole bunch of extra beats I can spare.
Without meds my heart goes into fib/tachycardia.

There is a fine line between accepting your stress level and being over anxious to the point where the latter compromises health. I do not know where the line is drawn. Most of us have had to go through stress in life to get ahead and we are still here.
I am always amazed what the body can sustain in life . Even with moderate amounts of fast food, the occasional hangover and excess exercise the body warns me not to.
Still as I approach 70 yo being above ground is great as long as I restrain myself!

I'm 24. Had them my entire life. Started to increase in frequency. Went to the doc had multiple holter monitors and stress tests. All is normal! I still drink coffee, and accept them as benign. Still can get freaky when I get them on the bench after an intense hockey shift.

The technical term for mine is...

AV Block: 2nd degree, Mobitz I (Wenckebach Phenomenon)

Try not to worry about them SmileWavy

I used to get them from Anxiety. Now, only when I get real worked up.

This was my experience at age 43. I noticed it more when I drank alcohol and then laid down in bed, same with caffeine. I consume very little of each. It is disconcerting for sure. At the time I found on ebay a SPO2 meter that data-logged and showed heart rhythm. I wore it a few times over night and looked at the data charts on my PC the next day. There was nothing to worry about. It just feels weird.

I don't have any experience with your heart symptoms, but joining a Toastmasters club maybe to reduce some of your stress.

Hey Bill

Some sound advice here & the fact you're aware & doing something about it is definitely to your advantage & will help to ensure your continuing good health.

Stay well & as always
Cheers
JB

Also: I do think the Flames are missing T.J. Brodie who for my money, is the 'straw that stirs the drink' in terms of Calgary's defence.

My heart does odd stuff when big stress is present.

20 years ago, right after Tavist-D became an over the counter antihistamine I bought me some.

Drank scotch that night. Why read directions? About two months of irregular heartbeat. The combination messes with the signal from brain to heart. EKG monitors for days, special pills to calm the heart. Any fast movements (like a single jump shot in the driveway) kicked it out of rhythm.

This is not what you are experiencing. However, just eyeball the precautions on any meds.

I don't see Tavist D on shelves anymore.(?)