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What Causes Irregular Heart Beat With Normal Stress Test?

Posted on Mon, 11 May 2015

Question: I had all cardiac testing done 2 months ago. Everything came back structurally normal with my heart. I have pacs and rare pvcs according to my holter monitor. I passed my stress test. Today while sitting on my couch after a long and stressful day at work, I could feel my heart beating normally around 65 bpm but I would get 7 or 8 fast heart beats every minute or so. What can this be. My cardiologist says my heart is healthy and I suffer from anxiety but can anxiety do this?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
yes stress may trigger arrhythmia...

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!

As long as your cardiac ECHO and stress test were normal and there were only PACs and a few PVCs than your symptoms are caused or may be triggered from anxiety.

As you are saying you had have a stressful day and it's normal that accumulated stress will trigger your arrhythmia (PACs). This is why you shouldn't worry and try to relax and manage your anxiety.

I advice to take the following measures:
- Use anxiolitic therapy (xanax or any other treatment that you are taking for anxiety)
- use Chamomile tea
- try to think positive. Yoga and other recreational activities are of help.
- Contact a psychologist for a more detailed treatment of anxiety.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. SHehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (40 minutes later)

Hi Doctor is this just benign PACS or is this pattern something more worrisome?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is just benign as all the PACs are.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

You shouldn't worry, this is just benign as all the PACs are. You should stay calm and focus on dealing with anxiety.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)

Hi Doctor Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It just my heart beat sometimes gets so erratic I'm scared of my heart stopping? Is that possible?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

You shouldn't worry about that as long as your examinations are normal (echo and holter monitoring) it just can't happen.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (28 hours later)

Hi Doctor. 1 last question before closing the discussion. I understand my Pacs and pvcs are caused by anxiety but why do they happen so often at night before bed or when I wake up in the morning for about an hour when I'm calm? It is very confusing and an uncomfortable feeling especially because I have slight bradycardia which worries me.

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

The PACs and PVCs are triggered by anxiety. However those arrhythmias are felt more often at night before sleeping because of the quietness before sleep.

Also the arrhythmia is more pronounced on the early hours of the morning and should be attributed to peak adrenaline release on the early hours (4-7 a.m).

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (13 minutes later)

Hi Doctor Thank you for your response. So when these arythmia is at its peak in the morning and at night is it still benign?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
PACs and PVCs are always benign and are harmless for your health.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

You should keep in mind that PACs and PVCs are always benign and are harmless for your health. You shouldn't worry about them, because these will increase your level of anxiety and adrenaline release, worsening your symptoms.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (25 minutes later)

Thank you doctor have a great day!

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Have a great day you to...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back!
If you are satisfied with my answer please closed it and rate it.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar