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What Causes Recurring Episodes Of Irregular Heart Rate?
Question: In 1999 I was diagnosed and treated (with radioactive iodine) for Grave's Disease. Along with that condition I had atrial fibrillation which was also medicated w/propranalol. After about a year, the fibrillation went away and I was able to get off that medication. My thyroid levels have been stable for nearly 14 years and I have only had occasional incidents of rapid, and irregular heartbeat that lasts less than 30 seconds. I have attributed this to a little too much thyroid medication (my doctors have agreed) and I try to maintain a little on the lower side of normal -most of the time I feel really good. I'm a very active 58 yr old, exercise regularly and have a really good diet - no high blood pressure or cholesterol issues. Ht/wt 5'7 150 lbs. A doctor I saw for a colonoscopy suggested a baby aspirin for the occasional irregular heart rate and that seems to have helped.
My problem/question is that last night I woke up to use the bathroom. When I returned to bed, just lying there my heart suddenly started to race irregularly and pound as if I'd been running hard. This lasted apx. 5-10 min. I began deep breathing and trying to relax and finally my heart rate returned to normal. I did NOT have any other symptoms (ie. pain anywhere, shortness of breath, etc.) at all. Is this a matter of urgency/emergency situation should it happen again or is it something I should see a heart specialist for in the near future? Please advise. It was pretty frightening as this has never happened before for that long or with that intensity.
My problem/question is that last night I woke up to use the bathroom. When I returned to bed, just lying there my heart suddenly started to race irregularly and pound as if I'd been running hard. This lasted apx. 5-10 min. I began deep breathing and trying to relax and finally my heart rate returned to normal. I did NOT have any other symptoms (ie. pain anywhere, shortness of breath, etc.) at all. Is this a matter of urgency/emergency situation should it happen again or is it something I should see a heart specialist for in the near future? Please advise. It was pretty frightening as this has never happened before for that long or with that intensity.
Brief Answer:
Atrial fibrillation
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear that you are have a recurring episode of irregular heart rate. This sounds like your atrial fibrillation is coming back. If this happens again I would recommend that you be seen as soon as possible. If by the time you get to a medical facility that the heart rate returns to normal you may need to have a 24 hour holter monitor to catch the irregular heart rate. The recurring atrial fibrillation is putting you at risk for stroke so I would not ignore the change.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions.
Atrial fibrillation
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear that you are have a recurring episode of irregular heart rate. This sounds like your atrial fibrillation is coming back. If this happens again I would recommend that you be seen as soon as possible. If by the time you get to a medical facility that the heart rate returns to normal you may need to have a 24 hour holter monitor to catch the irregular heart rate. The recurring atrial fibrillation is putting you at risk for stroke so I would not ignore the change.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1. What might have caused this isolated incident after so many years w/out anything like that? I've only had very occasional short bouts of irregular HR that last 10 - 30 sec.
2. Why do you think that happened while resting/sleeping rather than during or after a workout or other active situations? I swim apx. 3/4 mile regularly, walk, ski, and hike, and have a horse that I ride frequently, a dog and 2 cats, take care of my Mom (for the last 14 years) who is mentally ill and now has some dementia, and a husband that all keep me quite busy.
3. Are you saying that I might experience a stroke while one of these episodes is occurring or just that the A-Fib activity creates conditions for a possible stroke at some point in the future (pooling blood in certain parts of the heart and/or possible blood clots in other parts of the body?
2. Why do you think that happened while resting/sleeping rather than during or after a workout or other active situations? I swim apx. 3/4 mile regularly, walk, ski, and hike, and have a horse that I ride frequently, a dog and 2 cats, take care of my Mom (for the last 14 years) who is mentally ill and now has some dementia, and a husband that all keep me quite busy.
3. Are you saying that I might experience a stroke while one of these episodes is occurring or just that the A-Fib activity creates conditions for a possible stroke at some point in the future (pooling blood in certain parts of the heart and/or possible blood clots in other parts of the body?
Brief Answer:
Atrial fibrillation
Detailed Answer:
I will answer your questions in sequence
1. We don't usually know why people get atrial fibrillation (AF). So I can't give you a cause of the AF and why it occurred originally or why it restarted. The usual causes of AF is coronary artery disease, alcohol abuse or congenital defect. The main thing is here is that the recent bout of irregular heart beats may not have been AF. I recommend discussing possible 24 hour monitor again to see if they can catch the abnormal heart beat again.
2. AF can happen at anytime. It is not stress induced. AF is caused by a short circuit in the electrical system of the heart and will happen without provocation.
3. The biggest danger of having AF is having a stroke from a blood clot that forms in the heart during AF. In AF a portion of the heart wall is not moving and will form a small clot over this area. Then when the heart goes back to normal rhythm it will kick off that clot and cause a stroke. So I do recommend not ignoring these episodes and be sure to be appropriately monitored and treated.
I hope this answers your question.
Atrial fibrillation
Detailed Answer:
I will answer your questions in sequence
1. We don't usually know why people get atrial fibrillation (AF). So I can't give you a cause of the AF and why it occurred originally or why it restarted. The usual causes of AF is coronary artery disease, alcohol abuse or congenital defect. The main thing is here is that the recent bout of irregular heart beats may not have been AF. I recommend discussing possible 24 hour monitor again to see if they can catch the abnormal heart beat again.
2. AF can happen at anytime. It is not stress induced. AF is caused by a short circuit in the electrical system of the heart and will happen without provocation.
3. The biggest danger of having AF is having a stroke from a blood clot that forms in the heart during AF. In AF a portion of the heart wall is not moving and will form a small clot over this area. Then when the heart goes back to normal rhythm it will kick off that clot and cause a stroke. So I do recommend not ignoring these episodes and be sure to be appropriately monitored and treated.
I hope this answers your question.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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