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Hello, Been Having Heart Palpitations For About 2 Weeks. Went
Question: Hello, Been having heart palpitations for about 2 weeks. Went to primary care and had an EKG. My blood work came back normal, but she said my EKG was normal heart rate but I had an incomplete bundle branch block. She told me it wasn't life threatening, but wants me to come back in 2 weeks to wear a Holter monitor. I have been under a lot of stress with a loss of job as well as discovering my sig. other had another woman for a few years. Been a rough 6 months as I search for job, etc. However this branch block is making me nervous...is this common? Am I walking heart attack? I am 48, 128 lbs love to exercise and not even sure I should do that. Does this mean I need to have heart surgery in the future? I appreciate any insight until I go to my appt. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I passed carefully though your question and would explain that an incomplete bundle branch block is not a life-threatening heart condition and it does not mean that you are going to have a heart attack or that you will need heart surgery in the future.
This is an ECG finding even in healthy individuals.
Anyway, I agree with your doctor that further tests are needed in order to exclude other medical conditions, that may lead to this ECG finding.
For this reason, I would first recommend performing a cardiac ultrasound in order to exclude a possible cardiac structural abnormality.
I also agree with the recommendation for a Holter monitoring in order to examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged time and exclude possible cardiac arrhythmia, considering the palpitations that you refer to having had in the recent weeks.
It is also important checking thyroid hormone levels, because thyroid gland dysfunction can lead to palpitations.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
I remain at your disposal in case of further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I passed carefully though your question and would explain that an incomplete bundle branch block is not a life-threatening heart condition and it does not mean that you are going to have a heart attack or that you will need heart surgery in the future.
This is an ECG finding even in healthy individuals.
Anyway, I agree with your doctor that further tests are needed in order to exclude other medical conditions, that may lead to this ECG finding.
For this reason, I would first recommend performing a cardiac ultrasound in order to exclude a possible cardiac structural abnormality.
I also agree with the recommendation for a Holter monitoring in order to examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged time and exclude possible cardiac arrhythmia, considering the palpitations that you refer to having had in the recent weeks.
It is also important checking thyroid hormone levels, because thyroid gland dysfunction can lead to palpitations.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
I remain at your disposal in case of further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I thank you for answer.
My Thyroid bloodwork came back within normal range, 3.48 (although that is on higher end of the normal I think, but recent blood work would be the same within 5 years at physicals)
Can stress cause this? As my PC suspects? The skipped beats?
Will these palpitations go away as suddenly as they came on? I am trying to determine if they have always been there and I never noticed or if I am hyper focusing because my current circumstances are shaky personally.
Also can someone still have heart disease with normal trigyclerides and cholesterol?
My family history doesn't present with heart issues, but this anxiety over the last year has been relentless.
Anything else I should know about an incomplete BBB?
I appreciate your help. XXXXXXX
My Thyroid bloodwork came back within normal range, 3.48 (although that is on higher end of the normal I think, but recent blood work would be the same within 5 years at physicals)
Can stress cause this? As my PC suspects? The skipped beats?
Will these palpitations go away as suddenly as they came on? I am trying to determine if they have always been there and I never noticed or if I am hyper focusing because my current circumstances are shaky personally.
Also can someone still have heart disease with normal trigyclerides and cholesterol?
My family history doesn't present with heart issues, but this anxiety over the last year has been relentless.
Anything else I should know about an incomplete BBB?
I appreciate your help. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Stress can lead to palpitations and ectopic heart beats in every healthy person. In such case the palpitations are supposed to disappear when the person relaxes or is not under stress any more.
Anyway the Holter monitor will determine if these are just benign palpitations or other forms of cardiac arrhythmia.
I would also like to directly review your ECG images, if you could upload them for a second opinion as attachment to this question.
Normal triglycerides and cholesterol can not exclude a structural heart problem (which may be a born defect for example). Normal triglycerides and cholesterol, means that you are not at any increased cardiovascular risk related to your blood lipid profile.
Another issue to consider regarding RBBB is a lung disorder, which could lead to this ECG finding. For this reason, it is important performing a chest X ray study and pulmonary function tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Stress can lead to palpitations and ectopic heart beats in every healthy person. In such case the palpitations are supposed to disappear when the person relaxes or is not under stress any more.
Anyway the Holter monitor will determine if these are just benign palpitations or other forms of cardiac arrhythmia.
I would also like to directly review your ECG images, if you could upload them for a second opinion as attachment to this question.
Normal triglycerides and cholesterol can not exclude a structural heart problem (which may be a born defect for example). Normal triglycerides and cholesterol, means that you are not at any increased cardiovascular risk related to your blood lipid profile.
Another issue to consider regarding RBBB is a lung disorder, which could lead to this ECG finding. For this reason, it is important performing a chest X ray study and pulmonary function tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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