topic Re: Heart skipping a beat in Wellness

Heart skipping a beat

cherry — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:01:00 GMT

My husband just had a yearly physical. His Dr who has seen him for years, mentioned his heart had skipped a beat

He doesn't have heart problems, and takes no medicine for his heart. She never said more than that. Gave him no medicine or paper work for tests. He has never felt like he had a heart flutter, or anything like it

Have you ever been told this? I read this could be normal, and that it's nothing to be alarmed about

Re: Heart skipping a beat

LilacTree — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:17:01 GMT

@cherry wrote:
My husband just had a yearly physical. His Dr who has seen him for years, mentioned his heart had skipped a beat

He doesn't have heart problems, and takes no medicine for his heart. She never said more than that. Gave him no medicine or paper work for tests. He has never felt like he had a heart flutter, or anything like it

Have you ever been told this? I read this could be normal, and that it's nothing to be alarmed about

@cherry

Cherry, I've had this all of my life. All of my girls do too. We call it "palpitations." Has he had it before? Or is this new? If it's new, it may be significant. He should have a complete workup, tests, etc. Since I've had it so long (almost every day) it doesn't faze me. But something new would.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

software — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:19:27 GMT

This is not uncommon as we age. If his blood pressure it ok and his labs are OK, there is nothing to worry about.

I have the same problem, my mom was also "diagnosed" in her 60s. I take no meds for it but I see my doctor on a regular basis. The only problem I run into is when someone takes my blood pressure manually, rather than with the auto-cuffs. I actually have an extra beat and it throws off the nurse.

Just follow up.

@cherry wrote:
My husband just had a yearly physical. His Dr who has seen him for years, mentioned his heart had skipped a beat

He doesn't have heart problems, and takes no medicine for his heart. She never said more than that. Gave him no medicine or paper work for tests. He has never felt like he had a heart flutter, or anything like it

Have you ever been told this? I read this could be normal, and that it's nothing to be alarmed about

Re: Heart skipping a beat

cherry — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:21:03 GMT

@LilacTree We don't know if it's new or not. No one has ever mentioned it before, and he has never felt any type ofsensation in his chest

It was just said in passing. Our Dr is very careful about medical issues, and never hesitates to have tests done, or to refer you to a specialist

Re: Heart skipping a beat

Stray — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:26:21 GMT

I've had ectopic or skipped beats for many years. If your husband isn't bothered by them, I wouldn't worry too much...he may have had occasional skipped beats for a while but were never caught on a visit. Have him monitor his pulse throughout the day and record it....if they are very frequent, then, I would pursue it ....usually, if it is a problem, DH would feel lightheaded or have chest pain. If he's had neither, good but if he develops such symptoms, call your doctor right away....also, caffeine intake may cause ectopic beats, so if his intake is high in caffeine, tell him to try decaffeinated. I wouldn't worry too much as many people do have ectopic beats with no problems but don't ignore them.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

LilacTree — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:30:11 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@LilacTree We don't know if it's new or not. No one has ever mentioned it before, and he has never felt any type ofsensation in his chest

It was just said in passing. Our Dr is very careful about medical issues, and never hesitates to have tests done, or to refer you to a specialist

@cherry

Men don't often feel it. He may have had this and just never knew it. Is he husky chest-wise? We are all skinny minnies and so we feel everything. I'm sure if your doc was concerned, she would want your husband to have follow-up testing. If you're really worried, perhaps get a second opinion?

Re: Heart skipping a beat

cherry — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:28:42 GMT

@Stray He does drink only decaf and doesn't smoke. He is on blood pressure meds, but he has never had a problem controling it with meds

Re: Heart skipping a beat

cherry — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:31:24 GMT

@LilacTree He really isn't husky, he wears a size large shirt, and it doesn't strain at the buttons..His Chiro always tells him he is in good shape for his age, as far as weight and physical activity

Re: Heart skipping a beat

Stray — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:34:56 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@Stray He does drink only decaf and doesn't smoke. He is on blood pressure meds, but he has never had a problem controling it with meds

@cherry- this happens and usually isn't pathological....I would just have him check his pulse and record it and what he was doing at the time. My husband had frequent ectopic beats and wasn't feeling them....he was admitted to the hospital for something irrelevant but a fever caused long strings of missed beats, so they adjusted his BP med in the hospital and now they are gone. Sometimes the skips are relevant to hypertension and/or the medication itself....so if he does have symptoms at some point or the ectopic beats are very frequent, usually, just an adjustment of medication will resolve it. But, the doctor wasn't concerned and he/she is good, your husband feels well....I wouldn't worry.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:37:22 GMT

If the doctor told him this and didn't order any additional testing, I wouldn't worry about it.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

151949 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:50:24 GMT

Unless he starts getting runs of "skipped Beats" it is nothing. (Palpitations are something completely different - they usually indicate a fib .) It is perfectly normal for a person to occasionally skip a heart beat. Also called a PVC - they are only dangerous if they come in multiples. Nothing at all to even think about. Almost everyone has them.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

SANNA — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:23:48 GMT

This called PVC ( premature ventrical contraction) or extra systola. I have it once in a while, now they are asymptomatic so my cardiologist is not concerned. But years ago, in my late teens and 20's they were more often and associated with nausea and weakness.They are sometimes caused by muscle spasms between your shoulder blades. Stretching and massages helped me.

If your doctor is not concerned, it is fine, but have it checked on his exams and baby aspirin daily doesn't hurt ( if he can tolerate it ). Be well !!!

Re: Heart skipping a beat

Trinity11 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:37:40 GMT

Cherry, did he have his annual physical with an EKG? I had similar skipped beats and was told it was sinus tachycardia at the time. If you have any concerns it's probably best to rule out other issues with a cardiologist. Hope all goes well...

Re: Heart skipping a beat

Montana — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:43:54 GMT

I had this several years ago. I only noticed it while checking my pulse during exercise at the gym. I never felt anything different.

I wore a monitor for a day or so, but nothing was wrong so in my case it wasn't serious. There was no other follow up.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

cherry — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:56:27 GMT

My husband does take a daily baby asprin. He didn't have an EKG at his exam. There is no history of heart disease in his family

Re: Heart skipping a beat

Shelbelle — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:17:40 GMT

When she said this, why didnt you ask what she meant, personally I get palps al lthe time, and it is probably nothing. Did she do an EKG, if that was fine, he is most likely just fine.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

151949 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:18:28 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
Cherry, did he have his annual physical with an EKG? I had similar skipped beats and was told it was sinus tachycardia at the time. If you have any concerns it's probably best to rule out other issues with a cardiologist. Hope all goes well...

sinus tachycardia is NOT skipped beats - it is a fast heart rate. Totally different.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

cherry — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:22:37 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
When she said this, why didnt you ask what she meant, personally I get palps al lthe time, and it is probably nothing. Did she do an EKG, if that was fine, he is most likely just fine.

I wasn't there. My husband mentioned it to me when he came home.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

Trinity11 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:41:51 GMT

@151949 wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
Cherry, did he have his annual physical with an EKG? I had similar skipped beats and was told it was sinus tachycardia at the time. If you have any concerns it's probably best to rule out other issues with a cardiologist. Hope all goes well...
sinus tachycardia is NOT skipped beats - it is a fast heart rate. Totally different.

Yes, I should have clarified that I had skipped beats with sinus tachycardia.

Re: Heart skipping a beat

151949 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 23:10:34 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@151949 wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
Cherry, did he have his annual physical with an EKG? I had similar skipped beats and was told it was sinus tachycardia at the time. If you have any concerns it's probably best to rule out other issues with a cardiologist. Hope all goes well...
sinus tachycardia is NOT skipped beats - it is a fast heart rate. Totally different.
Yes, I should have clarified that I had skipped beats with sinus tachycardia.

It would still be different - With a PVC (skipped beat ) the beat comes in prematurely and then does not complete in a manner that will cause the ventricles of the heart to contract as they must do. With tachycardia it wouldn't be possible for there to be a premature beat, as the heart is already speeding along.You probably had something called SVT which would be sinus tachy with bursts of irregularity then more sinus tachy, which would be more serious than PVCs unless they were coming in long runs. Sorry - it is difficult to explain in laymen's terms.The doctor would treat your condition by figuring out why you were tachy in the first place - fever, dehydration, infection, stress etc etc then by treating what was causing that he may probably also get rid of the other issue as well, because it was likely secondary to the sinus tachy.

Of course these are my opinions and not at all medical advice , just trying to clarify it for you.