Randyman Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 I was recently diagnosed with Heart Arrythmia. After extensive testing, it was determined that i have nothing to worry about and actually, at 44, i am in good physical condition with little blockage and a healthy heart. I still find the "skipped beats" i experience as much as 30-40 times a day disconcerting, and i was wondering if anyone else has this condition. It doesn't keep me from my regular exercise routine or affect my life in any way, but i can't shake the feeling that it is a bigger problem than the Cardiologist seems to think it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Re: Heart Arrythmia My heart will "flutter" occasionally due to low calcium levels. Feels weird, and it's a little scary, but I just take more calcium and it goes away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exturkinator Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Re: Heart Arrythmia Rman- There are a number of different types of cardiac arrhythmias, and the importance and need for treatment is entirely dependent upon which type a person has. Many people have "skipped beats" which are considered normal for them [my grandma's heart is in sinus rhythm (ie normal rhythm) but drops every 4th to 5th heartbeat and has done so for 95 years!]. These sorts of things need no treatment. For someone your age with a new onset arrhythmia, one would want to be sure there is no underlying structural heart disease (valve abnormality, hole in heart, enlarged heart chamber, etc). This is done reliably by physical examination and an echocardiogram. One also wants to know what the underlying heart rhythm is by electrocardiogram (ECG) - sometimes if there are unanswered questions a 24-48 hour ECG called a Holter monitor is used. If there are other signs or symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, reduced exercise tolerance, etc), a stress test can be done to see how the heart reacts to increased work and be sure there is good blood flow to the heart muscle. Another consideration is exogenous causes including medications that cause abnormal heart rhythms. I'll use myself as an example of one other thing to consider - when I was in medical school, I started getting palpitations (sensation, or fluttering, that comes with abnormal heart rhythms) and had an echo and ECG, only to realize that I had started drinking a lot of Diet Mountain Dew while studying - I cut the Dew and the palpitations went away. Bottom line to me is this: If a cardiologist has evaluated you and found no underlying structural problems, a normal underlying rhythm (ie sinus rhythm with occassional skipped beats but without 2nd degree heart block), and no exogenous causes for arrhythmia, I'd agree with the Cardiologist and say your good to go... Of course if anything changes or worsens [ie arrhythmia starts lasting longer or becomes sustained, or other signs and symptoms (syncope/fainting, chest pain, etc) develop your doc needs to know... Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyman Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Re: Heart Arrythmia Thanks for the reply Exturkinator. I did have an echogram, EKG, stress test, complete blood work and wore a Holter monitor for 24 hours. I take no medications. I have no other symptoms other than the "skipped beats". In fact, the Cardiologist said it is somewhat unusual for someone to realize there is anything amiss without testing revealing it. I suppose i probably am worrying too much. The one issue is, the Cardiologist could find no underlying cause. He said sometimes there simply is no identifiable cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Re: Heart Arrythmia So I'm not the only one! I'm almost 16 and I was born w/ a heart defect called Trunkus Arteriosus and have had two surgeries to replace the part I wasn't born with. I'm gonna have another one soon, 'cause my heart is REALLY starting to wear down fast. It's not the replacement part that's acting up, but my natural Aorta (which a normal sized one is 3.6 centimeters and mine's a 4.4 and if it reaches a 4.5 it's in the danger zone and could rupture). It's hard to go around knowing that with one hard hit in the chest that you're heart could literally explode. Kinda puts the danger in hunting for me, huh? Well, just had to get that off my chest. Hang in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Re: Heart Arrythmia I'm now 37, but I had an irregular heartbeat for as long as I could remember........than one night about 5 years ago, my heart went into flutters so bad that it woke me up from a sound sleep........I just remember it felt just like a muscle twitch...you know, like in your eye lid or shoulder, etc.....but this was my heart.... Ever since that night, my heart has beat perfectly, not one skip or murmur........kinda makes me wonder though, and I guess I've been too chicken to have it checked......my blood pressure and collesterol (spelling) are great............but I'll still never forget that night, and will probably have an appointment made after reading this thread..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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