Heart flutters... what are they?

Question

My g/f very very occasionally says she will suddenly have a couple of seconds where her heart flutters and she has difficulty breathing. But then it goes away for weeks/months.

What could it be?

I presume it's normal as I'm pretty sure I get it too.

Answer 1

Matt,

This would be either normal or benign ("normal" means everybody has it, "benign" means that it's abnormal but harmless) I would guess. When you say "difficulty breathing," you don't say just how difficult. I would think that it's not very difficult--she doesn't become frightened by it, for example--and therefore her breathing is just a little more difficult than normally, right? That's not too bad. You didn't say how old your gf is nor how long this has been going on, but from your brief description it sounds like PSVT, or Paroxysmal Superventricular Tachycardia. Generally, it's nothing to worry about.

There are several forms and causes of it. Stress, alcohol, and caffeine are some external causes, but usually it is caused by what is called a "reentrant circuit" that causes one of the two nodes in the right atrium to trigger a rapid heartbeat.

You have two nodes, the top one is the sinoatrial node, and the lower one is the atrioventricular node. The top one acts as the major pacemaker of the heart, initiating the beat, and the lower one acts primarily as the gatekeeper, letting through the beats the heart really needs. A system of checks and balances in your own heart.

Well, the firing of the SA node starts the beat, with the signal traveling down to the AV node and then through the Bundle of His into the ventricles, down some fibers to the bottom (the 'apex') of the heart, and then back up the outside. All the previous stuff occurs inside.

Well, if there's an extra "circuit" in there somewhere, the signal can suddenly start circling around and around, causing the top of the heart's rate to accelerate to up to 200 beats per minute (or a little slower). The atria begin beating like crazy. The ventricles often beat at about half or 2/3 of the atrial rate, but the result is a very fast heart rate for a short time, then it suddenly stops and beats normally as if nothing odd happened.

Now, normally this does not cause a problem, especially with an interval between episodes as you describe, and no other symptoms like nausea, lightheadedness, or even fainting.

If it starts to happen more often, I would begin to become a little concerned and take it to your doctor to see if he would refer you to a cardiologist for an ekg. There are many things an ekg cannot uncover, but there are many things it can, such as a condition called Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome (which would cause just what you describe), in which that extra circuit--if there is one--will actually leave a little dip just before the big spike in her ekg, called the "QRS Complex." It's very easy to spot if you know what to look for. If so, there still would be nothing to worry about. People live with WPW without incident.

Here's one pretty good way to tell if your gf's flutter is PSVT and basically harmless:

The Valsalva Manuver.

When the rapid heartbeat starts, take a deep breath and strain against it as if you're trying really hard to go to the bathroom, as if you are severely constipated and you're going to show this constipation once and for all just who's boss. Strain like that for 5 to 15 seconds, then breathe normally. If that ends it, all is well. It's PSVT without complications, and she'll be fine.

If it doesn't, then watchful waiting may be in order. If the frequency of the episodes increases, go to the doctor. If she develops any other symptoms, go to the doctor.

All this assumes that there is no other complicating heart condition. Does she work out? If so, have there been any episodes of shortness of breath, any excessive fatigue, and fainting or dizziness during or immediately following her workout?

I would believe at this point that there are none, or you would likely have said so. If that is the case, I think that you have nothing to worry about. As with all cases of the heart (in both senses of the term), be careful, but at this time I think you can rest easy.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

It sounds like palpitations. This could be due to a number of reasons such as thyroid or heart problems, but in the majority of people it is normal if there are no other symptoms like tremors, chest pain, breathlessness, decreased exercise tolerance or weight loss, and it only comes on occasionally,lasts for less than a minute and goes away by itself.

But as always, if symptoms persist, consult a doctor.

Answer 3

There are many causes of heart flutters. These flutters are known as palpitations. In females sometimes these palpitations are caused by are thyroid problem. Palpitations can be a cause of certain heart conditions, Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Flutter are 2 of many arrhythmias that can cause these palpitations. Caffeine is one that can cause such palpitations also.
Best thing is to have her looked at by a doctor as they can run some tests to find out the cause of these palpitations.

Answer 4

It sounds like a possible heart murmur or an arrhythmia. Suggest she see a doctor and make sure its nothing serious.
Even though it goes away for a short time doesnt mean its
not serious.

Answer 5

More than likely a heart murmur. I had it for 2 months last year here and there-due to stress and too much weight lifting. But walking, drinking water, and talking to my doctor helped it-now I hardly have them.

Answer 6

I have a heart murmer which causes my heart to flutter, but too much caffeine can have the same effect.

Answer 7

I had to have a heart monitor fitted for the very same reason, and was told it was prob anxiety, but its worth getting checked out.
Nothing to worry about im sure.

Answer 8

I think her airway might be tight, she can consult a doc for a med to release the tension from her airway.

She might be developing asthma, if not careful. Don't smoke in front of her or allow her to dwell in a dusty area/

Answer 9

Hi im not expert but lived with heart and lung disease for 33 years.Your girlfriend ask her something for me! As i think she may be taking palpatations, palpatations is where sometimes you feel your hearts going to fast, and then slows down, or beats beats-misses beats like its jumping around crazzy. Many things can cause this iregular heartbeats or more heartbeats, stress worry or if to be the worse sinaro heart problems. Sometimes i can lay anyones head onto my heart and what they here frightens them, but many people which is a lot, dont even know this is happning to them,only a secected few can feel it and its not for anyone to laugh about as she will genuinly be frightened this is a frightning thing to feel and you often wonder is this the last beat i going to feel.I know i did, but i was born with a hole in the heart and lung disease which now i need heart and lung transplant to survive, bless you im not saying this is whats wrong, not at all, but it most certainly does sound like she is having irregular heartbeat-otherwise known as palpataions, and youve got one heart, be wise go see doctor and just say speaking to friend who suffers from this every single 15/30 minutes a day and if your girlfriend agrees it sounds the same as this is how i explained it then get to the doctor.
Like i said this can be just small thing like doing too much-or being worried or concerned for saomething, but with your heart you do have to be carefull, as the doctors didnt listen to me and i fell down at age 21 with massive heart attack-1 heart-she got- 1 love you got- 1 chance to see someone- as id suggest to you not to ignore anything to do with your heart, no matter how helathy you feel or not unhealthy you feel-get it checked.Ask her if its exrtra beats shes getting or faster beats-or if she feel like there is a feeling off water going through her heart then feel free to contact me on [e-mail] i will send you details of websites and names of cardioligists whom you can email or talk too-but id say not worry as this will make her feel worse-but certainly never ignore a symtom like this as i said youve only 1 heart-and boyfriend you love her? I thought so-then persuade her to go to dr, bless you and i pray for you but it may be nothing to be cincerned about,if she takes panic attacks this will also cause this, dont do any heavy sports untill you get her to gp-just to be safe.Love and blessings to someone who did nothing about this feeling for so long its taken all i have away from me-and i promise you theres nothing to be frightned off as they can do anything for the heart in this times.xxx let me know how you get on but i believe its PALPATATIONS look it up see if same symptoms.xxx I never noticed there sorry-but you say she cant breath right-ask her is this when its happning the palpatations that she cant breath or even when not have them?????? Please take your girlfriend to the dr. or go online, go to anywhere and punch in palpatations see if she feeling what i think she is-now i see she not breath i have concern-but gods good,have faith and plz let me know how you get on-goodluck girl-youll be ok.xxx

Answer 10

Could be a heart murmur.