Ectopic Beats And Bradycardia? Posted: 01-27-06 11:35am
Hi,
i'm a 33 yr-old female, non-smoker,
non-drinker, 5'8", 145lbs. My normal
resting heart rate is 55 - 60 bmp. For
the past 3 months I have been experiencing
(what I perceive as) bradycardia, where my
detectable heart rate is about 30 bpm.
Episodes would last anywhere from 15
seconds to 3 minutes with a steady slow,
strong beat. The would end abruptly, and
my heart beat would return to a normal
rate with no palpitations. Episodes occur
up to 20 times a day, sometimes at rest,
but most often are induced with a very
small amount of exertion (like getting up
from a chair and walking across the room).
I notice them because they occur with
strong palpitations, and are often
accompanied by shortness of breath,
lightheadedness and/or chest tightness.
My exercise tolerance has been greatly
reduced. Going up the stairs seems like
considerable effort. I visited my gp,
where an episode occured in the office
while she was listening to my heart and
taking my pulse. She also confirmed a
pulse of 30 bpm, but heard possible
multiple beats in the stethoscope that
weren't detectable in the pulse (nor could
I feel them in my chest). Her first
worry was av block, and I was referred to
a cardiologist. After a normal 24-hour
holter (no episodes) and echocardiogram, I
had a 2 week loop test, after which the
cardiologist told me I was simply having
benign ectopic beats, and not to worry, as
my symptoms weren't related to a serious
heart condition. I was advised to reduce
stress and get some exercise. I asked him
why it appeared to be bradycardia with
these "extra beats", but he didn't really
explain very well.
I have since started taking effexor to
reduce anxiety/stress, which seems to have
helped with my mental and emotional
balance. Before these episodes started,
I was mildly active, but only in the
summers, playing soccer for 2-3 hours a
week. Now i'm leary of exercise, as I
become symptomatic with exertion, and the
episodes often occur as soon as I start to
recover from exercise.
Here are my questions:
1) can ectopic beats/pvcs/pacs present as
bradycardia? I've been trying to
research this, but I can't seem to find
anything.
2) why would "extra" beats present as
fewer beats (bradycardia)? Why would I
only feel a few of them? As I said, my
cardiologist's was vague at best.
3) should I get a second opinion or am I
still worried without cause?
Thanks for your time,
alison
|
Dizzy Head
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Nr London, UK
Posted: 02-08-06 14:14pm
Hi alisonh
my wife had an arrithmia attack a few days
ago. When I walked in and saw her, her
face was white, she was having trouble
catching her breath, her heart was beating
extremely fast and strong which you could
feel through her chest and was irregular.
She had a pain in her throat and was very
light headed and her arms were weak. We
have a blood pressure monitor at home and
it couldn't take a reading for at first,
when it could it recorded 180/160!
I got her into the doctors within 40 mins
as she refused an ambulance. He took her
blood pressure and checked her pulse etc
and calmly stated that she has a ectopic
beat. She went on a heart monitor to
take a reading and the ectopic beat was on
there as well.
He just said take it easy and took to me
to the side and said if it happens again
call an ambulance.
Since this episode her heart beat is
between 30/50 bpm, she has trouble
catching her breath going up and down the
stairs. She can feel the abnormal beat a
lot now. I'm taking her back to the
doctors tomorrow and am asking to be
referred to cardiologist.
I came across this site that seems quite
good on information:
