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What Causes Irregular Heart Beats With Normal Cardiac Tests?
Question: I had all my cardiac testing done 2 months ago. Everything came back structurally normal with my heart. Holter showed PAC'S and a few PVCS. All in sinus rythm. I also passed my stress test with no etopic beats and none showing on ekg. Lately I've noticed my heart beat irregular. Fast and slow beats or not evenly spaced out. I don't know if this is normal and it worries me. I spoke to my cardiologist on the phone 4 days ago and he insists it's anxiety. I also have a little acid reflux and some bloating in my stomach. I have been under stress with work and having to move out of my house shortly. Besides the etopic beats I am healthy and do not take any medications
Brief Answer:
Just try to be more optimistic.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would like to explain you that as you have a structurally normal heart, have resulted normal in all functional cardiac tests (including cardiac stress test), and nothing impedes you from continuing your daily living activity; it is hard to find any cardiac abnormalities or dangerous situations at all.
You have to relieve yourself from all those fearful thoughts.
Probably your sharpened common senses lead you to overreacting to a very few ectopic heart beats in such a way; and your anxiety makes them look much more than they are in reality.
My advice for you is: You should listen to what your cardiologist is trying to explain!
You should not restrain yourself from all that vital physical activity your age is offering you.
Just try to be more optimistic.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
Wish you a good health! Dr. Iliri
Just try to be more optimistic.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would like to explain you that as you have a structurally normal heart, have resulted normal in all functional cardiac tests (including cardiac stress test), and nothing impedes you from continuing your daily living activity; it is hard to find any cardiac abnormalities or dangerous situations at all.
You have to relieve yourself from all those fearful thoughts.
Probably your sharpened common senses lead you to overreacting to a very few ectopic heart beats in such a way; and your anxiety makes them look much more than they are in reality.
My advice for you is: You should listen to what your cardiologist is trying to explain!
You should not restrain yourself from all that vital physical activity your age is offering you.
Just try to be more optimistic.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
Wish you a good health! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Doctor Thank you for your response. I have a question about Pacs. My cardiologist says it is ok for me to start exercising as they are benign. However if pacs occur or cause a faster heart rate is it dangerous to exercise? During my stress test I did not have any however when I do get them my heart rate will go up quite a bit. Other times I'll have slight bradycardia of 56 bpm.
Also one other thing is I notice a lot of my etopic beats are connected with eating food as well. I feel some indigestion or bloating and then the etopic will start. Are these caused by the vagus nerve? My cardiologist says my etopic do not originate from my heart but I do not know what this means
Also one other thing is I notice a lot of my etopic beats are connected with eating food as well. I feel some indigestion or bloating and then the etopic will start. Are these caused by the vagus nerve? My cardiologist says my etopic do not originate from my heart but I do not know what this means
Brief Answer:
Involving in physical activity is a promising start against anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
You should not be afraid from exercising, as it will help you to face your ectopic heart beats issue (improving heart rate variability, proportional to physical strain), and also will positively affect your compromised psychological domain (creating a healthy background to restrain those unpleasant thoughts about your very few and unimportant ectopic beats).
No risk of generating more PACs or PVCs exists, involving yourself in more active physical activities. Your exercise stress test is the most reliable scientific response to your dilemma.
Regarding your symptoms of indigestion and bloating, I recommend you to perform a discussion with a gastro-enterologist, as a prompt treatment to any digestive disorders may resolve even your palpitation feelings. It is true that gastro-intestinal dysfunction may sometimes affect heart beating by involving vagus nerve efferent impulses.
But remember that even excessive anxiety and panic attacks may even manifest themselves with indigestion, digestive disorders, and palpitations, or ectopic heart beats.
As I have explained before my opinion regarding these issues, I think that your major health problem is not your heart, but your persisting anxiety. You should seriously deal with it. And doing physical activity is a promising start on that way.
My best regards! Dr. Iliri
Involving in physical activity is a promising start against anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
You should not be afraid from exercising, as it will help you to face your ectopic heart beats issue (improving heart rate variability, proportional to physical strain), and also will positively affect your compromised psychological domain (creating a healthy background to restrain those unpleasant thoughts about your very few and unimportant ectopic beats).
No risk of generating more PACs or PVCs exists, involving yourself in more active physical activities. Your exercise stress test is the most reliable scientific response to your dilemma.
Regarding your symptoms of indigestion and bloating, I recommend you to perform a discussion with a gastro-enterologist, as a prompt treatment to any digestive disorders may resolve even your palpitation feelings. It is true that gastro-intestinal dysfunction may sometimes affect heart beating by involving vagus nerve efferent impulses.
But remember that even excessive anxiety and panic attacks may even manifest themselves with indigestion, digestive disorders, and palpitations, or ectopic heart beats.
As I have explained before my opinion regarding these issues, I think that your major health problem is not your heart, but your persisting anxiety. You should seriously deal with it. And doing physical activity is a promising start on that way.
My best regards! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi Doctor Thank you for your response. I have one last question for you before I close the discussion. I noticed at random times whether I'm sitting or standing sometimes I will get some slow heart beats in a row sometimes 4 or 5 sometimes more. They do not feel like etopic beats just more forceful slow beats. Then it goes faster again. I don't know what this is. It usually happens when I feel like there is a lump in my throat
Brief Answer:
It is nothing else, but a pure anxiety!
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX!
Regarding your last question, I would explain that alternating slow heart beats with faster heart beats is called phasic respiratory arrhythmia, and is a common finding in normal healthy individuals, especially young ones. You don't have to worry about that!
If these alternating heart beats are more pronounced when you feel a lump in your throat, then the triggering factor in that case is anxiety.
A lump in the throat is nothing else, but a pure ANXIETY!
You need to deal seriously with that.
Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
It is nothing else, but a pure anxiety!
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX!
Regarding your last question, I would explain that alternating slow heart beats with faster heart beats is called phasic respiratory arrhythmia, and is a common finding in normal healthy individuals, especially young ones. You don't have to worry about that!
If these alternating heart beats are more pronounced when you feel a lump in your throat, then the triggering factor in that case is anxiety.
A lump in the throat is nothing else, but a pure ANXIETY!
You need to deal seriously with that.
Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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