Sometimes out of nowhere I experience sudden rapid heartbeat which can happen anywhere at any time. I went to a cardiologist and he had me wear a 24 hour heart monitor. But during the 24 hours I did not happen to experience any rapid heartbeat or anything. My rapid heartbeat just did not happen to occur while I was wearing the monitor, although it does still occur at other times. The cardiologist reviewed the results and a few days later he called me and said nothing was wrong with my heart. But is there REALLY "nothing wrong," or could it be that in fact there may be something wrong and the cardiologist simply did not detect the problem just because I did not happen to experience any symptoms during the 24 hours while I wore the monitor?
2007-02-12 10:45:24 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Sounds like atrial fibrillation or flutter to me. No fun at all, I know. Generally not dangerous unless it goes on for hours. I get them once in awhile and ended up having a cardioversion done when it went at 120+ beats per minute for 2 weeks straight, even sleeping. A cardioversion is when they actually stop your heart and re-start it using a de-fibrillator. Do you have any health problems that may have caused it? Had your caffeine intake changed? Lots of possible causes. But if it doesn't happen very often I wouldn't worry too much about it.
addendum, note to crazymom, PVC is short for premature ventricular contractions, I get them too, far more bothersome than a-fib as far as I am concerned! but neithe condition is fatal, fortunatly!
2007-02-12 10:55:13 · answer #1 · answered by Enchanted Gypsy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not believe the doctor based upon just a 24 hour halter monitor. Why? I don't know if you are a man or a woman, but women are mis-diagnosed, not diagnosed at all, for years before being properly diagnosed. WHY? Becuase women's symptoms of heart problems, how they react to the symptoms are not the same as they are for men.
Ask yourself this and pay attention for two weeks to this. Do I feel anxiety over anything at the time I feel this rapid heart beat? Have I just slowed down from exercising? Anxiety is often mistaken for heart problems. Exercise in some can cause a rapid heart rate that is bothersome, but not harmful. If you answer no after a few weeks of keeping track of this, then you need to go to a new Cardiologist.
If you are a woman or a younger person, find someone who specializes in treating women and/or younger people. WHY? Because they are less likely to write you off as it being all in your head and they have more experience with the differences women have in how heart conditions present.
Do you have a family history of heart problems, especially irregular heart rythams? Many heart problems are passed on to children, especially things like Atrial Fibrillation, which is also one of the hardest ones to get properly diagnosed, as the person doesn't have pain with it, yet it can be deadly.
Stop using all caffiene products first; caffiene in young people is at the root cause of irregular heart rythams in youths and young adults. Drinks like Jolt and others like that, can actually cause cardiac arrest if used in large amounts, becausee the amount of caffeine in those drinks is so high, that even normal people's hearts can be messed up. So before you go to another Cardiologist, stop using all caffeine products, including real dark chocolates, etc., teas and coffee, ANY item containing caffeine. Then if after two to three weeks caffeine free you still have the irregular heart beats, then you can rule out caffeine as the cause.
Then do not drink any caffeine again until you see a new Cardiologist.
I had to be called a hypocondriac for years, almost 15 years by doctors, because my problem never showed up while monitoring, yet I knew I had Atrial Fibrillation. It finally occurred after 15 years while wearing an EVENT MONITOR. So just because it doesn't show up while testing, doesn't make it any less real. I knew mine was real and I knew that there were risks of throwing a blood clot associated with Atrial Fibrillation.
When you see a new Cardiologist, stay caffeine free so that the issue of caffeine being the cause is ruled out. Also if you have any irregular heart problems, and even if they find it and use medication, staying away from stimulents of all kinds is a must.
Ask to wear an EVENT MONITOR, you wear it all the time for one month and it's more likely to find the problem. Then go about your normal life. Also, if you are using an drugs, even prescriptions they can be the cause, so have those looked into. When I was on pain medications my heart didn't have as many episodes of Atrial Fibrillation.
If you see another Cardiologist, ask for blood work to be done, including Thyroid Hormones. WHY? Because Thyroid Hormones in abundance, can actually be the cause of irregular heart rythms and is often over looked.
GOOD LUCK!
2007-02-12 11:16:16 · answer #2 · answered by Mountain Bear 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A fast heart beat/pulse is nothing to shy from, yes you should watch your caffeine intake to see if that is it but there can be several reasons for a fast heart beat that you might not no the reasons. I suffered from a fast heart beat a few years ago and ignored it and yes after several other symptoms popped up for no apparent reason the heart palpitations got so bad when I finally went in they thought that I had had a heart attack only to rule that out and dx me with graves disease which can give a person a very fast heart beat which can lead to congestive heart failure for all those years that I ignored the symptoms led to heart disease. This is the same thing for people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Never hurts to find out for sure and it might be something as simple as high cholesterol levels which you can control by what you eat.
2016-05-24 02:36:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a deep breath... I have the same problem and mine are what the Dr calls PVCs, although I can't remember what it stands for, it is harmless. Mine are ofen related to lack of potassium, so, when it happens, I eat a banana and they stop within a few min.
The next time you feel it happening, go to the ER. This way you will get checked out WHILE they are taking place.
I know how scary it is to have your heart race and be told there's nothing wrong. Good luck and good health!
2007-02-12 10:55:48 · answer #4 · answered by Crazymom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be possible you have a simple Heart Murmur. It's no big deal and sometimes doctors catch it and sometimes they dont. If it starts happening more often, I would let the doctor know that you think it may be a Heart murmur and maybe they can find a way to check that out.
2007-02-16 05:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by KPG 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wanna know what I think??? Vitamin B12 deficiency !!! Certainly is 200% sure. Eat more liver, beef, eggs, kidney, port, milk, cheese, fish. Heart palpitations are a common side effect of a deficiency in this vitamin, so also is extreme fatigue and anemia. B12 will also improve concentration levels, memory and your balance. So......... have you been off balance, dizzy, tripping unexplainably?? B12 also relieves irritability and maintains a healthy nervous system and will increase your energy levels.
Try getting a good quality vitamin Bcomplex supplement from the Chemist. Ask the pharamcist for his advise on which one is a good quality one.
PEACE & LOVE & ALL THAT
2007-02-12 11:33:31 · answer #6 · answered by Minx 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you should tell him it didn't happen during the time you had the device on.
2007-02-12 10:53:46 · answer #7 · answered by User 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes.could be. try stress test.
2007-02-12 10:54:55 · answer #8 · answered by bel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋