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What Causes Low Heart Rate And Stomach Discomfort With Normal Stress Test?

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Posted on Wed, 6 May 2015
Question: Hello I have a couple of questions. I have benign PACS and rare pvcs according to my cardiologist. They worry me sometimes and question if these are really a normal phenomenon. Also my heart rate when I'm sitting on my couch goes to around 55 bpm. My cardiologist also says this is normal. This really worries me. I notice sometimes if I eat a big meal late at night in the morning I will have a lower heart rate and some stomach discomfort. I lost 80 Lbs over the last year by changing my diet and eating very healthy. I do not exercise much right now as I was scared of the etopic beats but my stress test was normal. My doctor says the heart rate is fine and I just have a healthy heart. I used to weigh 296 lbs but I now weigh 214 lbs
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Please follow the suggestions below..

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand your concerns.

I think you are too worried about the medical terms. I admit they are confounding but you should not be worried at this extent.
Please understand that our body is programed to work :
- normally
- during high intense physical activity
- at rest
- while sleeping

So, all our body organs are adopted to work with a speed according to the needs required during these activities (normal; high and slow).

Exercise will help you optimize your heart work as per your body needs. So, although you might feel your heart racing, I advise to start with low-intensity exercise first, then, gradually can switch to high-intensity physical activity.

As long as all tests resulted normal, then, you should not be worried at this extent.
All the best!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (52 minutes later)
Hi doctor Thank you for telling me this I guess I'm more afraid of the symptoms as they are scary.

I want to work out and my cardiologist says I can start working out I'm just afraid because of the episode that happened to me last year when I was working out. I was at the gym and did a lot of cardio 1 hour and 15 minutes and also weights. When I was at the end of the workout my heart rate went to 190 and I got a little disoriented. I started panicking after this and they called the ambulance. My BP spiked to 210 over 100. They did ecg on the spot everything normal just high BP. They took me to hospital and did several ecg on the way my BP went down to 150 over 90 by the time we got to the hospital. They did more tests at hospital and everything was normal. I did not eat well the whole day before going to the gym. Doctor thought it could be dehydration or drop in blood sugar from not eating but no definite explanation. I did 2 stress tests after this everything normal. What could have caused this? That is why I got scared to exercise. Could it have been etopic beats? I didn't have any during stress test
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXXXX!

What happened to you last year may had been related with the fact that you didn't eat very well. Exercising while you don't eat and drink very well cause both dehydration and hypoglicemia, that is associated with excessive adrenaline release. Excessive adrenaline release cause tachycardia and hypertension.

My opinion is that in that case your symptoms weren't caused from etopic beats, because you didn't have any during stress test.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (6 hours later)
Doctor Thank you for explaining this all to me I think I'm finally ready to accept the problem I have right now and deal with it which is mainly my anxiety and stress. When I have pvc or pac after eating a meal are those also benign? I notice after eating a meal sometimes I will have an increase. I just wanted to make sure these will not harm me. Thank you for all that you have done for me
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXXX!

Yes you should accept the reality and move forward with dealing with anxiety and acid reflux. As long as your examinations are normal you shouldn't worry about those arrhythmias. They are not harmful to you.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (7 hours later)
Doctor I have one last question and I promise I will close the discussion and all my questions will be answered. Someone on a health board told me that frequent PACS are an indicator of oncoming AFib. He stated that in a study done almost all subjects who suffered from frequent PACS (more than 200 in 24 hours) developed AFIB and more prone to stroke. Is this study correct? He said most doctors say that PACS are benign but frequent PACS are worrisome. This worries me because my first holter showed 925 PACS over 48 hours. My second showed 150 PACs.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Yes there are studies that show that frequent PACs may be a predictor for future atrial fibrillation in elderly patients. This patients are with high risk for atrial fibrillation (hypertensive, previous smokers, with heart abnormalities on echo). However other studies are needed to evaluate if very frequent PACs (more than 250 during 24 hours) have the same predictive value in young healthy adults.

It's not true that almost all the patient developed atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation was seen on 17% of the patients which were all over 65 years old with previous disease.

PACs are benign and not worrisome for short and long term morbidity and mortality, however in order to prevent in time cardiac disease It's recommended to do cardiac examinations (echo, holter monitoring and stress test) once a year. This is more accurate and predictive than only the numbers of PACs.

You should stay kalm, continue with healthy life style, diet, sport and cardiac follow up once a year.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Benard Shehu

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2257 Questions

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What Causes Low Heart Rate And Stomach Discomfort With Normal Stress Test?

Brief Answer: Please follow the suggestions below.. Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand your concerns. I think you are too worried about the medical terms. I admit they are confounding but you should not be worried at this extent. Please understand that our body is programed to work : - normally - during high intense physical activity - at rest - while sleeping So, all our body organs are adopted to work with a speed according to the needs required during these activities (normal; high and slow). Exercise will help you optimize your heart work as per your body needs. So, although you might feel your heart racing, I advise to start with low-intensity exercise first, then, gradually can switch to high-intensity physical activity. As long as all tests resulted normal, then, you should not be worried at this extent. All the best! Dr.Benard