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What Causes Skipped Heart Beats?

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Posted on Mon, 28 Jul 2014
Question: My heart is skipping a beat every 15 or so beats. (I had a stroke on Thanskgving Day)

Should I be worried about my heart?

What about slight pinch sensations around chest or left arm
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (56 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If this skipped beat is a new finding, yes!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about these skip beats that you have reported and the stroke you suffered on thanksgiving day. I hope your recovery has been great.

If these skipped beats is a new development, there are reasons for you to be concerned. This because irregular heart beats can favor the formation of clots in the heart that are spread to other parts of the body. When these clots lodge in the brain, it causes stroke. Given the fact that you have had stroke before, this might have been the origin of the clots that caused the last stroke episode.

It is great that you are on Plavix. This in itself would help as it is prevents clot formations. However, getting this irregular heart beats fully evaluated and managed appropriately would be another dimension in controlling possible future strokes.

For this, consult a cardiologist or your primary care doctor who would carry out a full clinical evaluation and do at least an EKG to correctly diagnose the specific type of arrhythmia. Management and further investigation would depend on these findings.

In all, be concerned. Get consulted by a cardiologist or your primary care doctor for diagnosis and management. You do not need an ER visit right away unless you have other symptoms. A regular appointment as soon as possible would be okay.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (12 hours later)
I ask because of the slight pinching in my left side chest - I sure hope it was the result of muscle soreness from exercising regularly, but, better safe than sorry, when I felt the slight pinching on my left arm.

I only noticed because as I take my pulse the beat slows speeds up, and then seems to miss a beat.

Am I dying or in danger of another stroke? Does the Plavix and Lipitor I take effectively diminish the threat, and what is the chance I could still stroke out in spite of my meds?

I do not feel any flutter n my chest.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (24 hours later)
Brief Answer:
See below!!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up question.

I will not want to conclude that you have an irregular heart rate and skipped beats. I will like to have objective data(EKG) and at least an experts evaluation. The pulse needs to be taken by someone who is experienced at doing so for us to consider your findings valid.

You are not dying. The mere fact that we are alive in itself is a risk factor for stroke. Stroke in itself is the greatest risk factor for another stroke. Drugs would greatly reduce the risk but the risk would never be zero. Take the drugs as prescribed and they would reduce the risk of any future strokes. This in no way means that you can never have stroke again. We are all at risk of having a stroke attack.

Feel relaxed. When chanced get an EKG to clear any doubts.

I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish you well. Thank you so much and feel free to ask for more information and keep the discussion going if you deem it necessary.






Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (8 hours later)
Went to the ER

They took EKG, and the doctor examined it too. They hooked me up to a heart monitor. When I was relaxed watching the TV my heart beat got down to 57. It never stayed the same. Kept going 71. 67. 65. 60. 59. 63. etc"

Said, "90% people have missed heartbeats. The heart is not perfect. You are not dying. The fact that you do not have chest pains...

"No, you are not in danger of having another stroke."

All day long I was cheerful until tonight felt my pulse - I know I shouldn't have, but - every 10 or so beats it misses a bet. Now that I am worrying again I feel that ticklish sensation under my heart in my chest. I was wondering if the pains were heart pains or muscle pains from exercising regularly. I noticed when I breathed in deeply I could bring the pain and it is on the side of my heart so am I right to think its simply muscle exertion or pain from exercise?

Unusually fatigued today. I think its the herniated disks in my lower back and in my neck. If I do not take Cyclobenzaprine I have muscle spasms and tingling chilled sensations down my right arm, and a ticklish feeling under my right armpit. A friend of mine had told me she had a friend who used to hold under his right armpit because of this same feeling, who later had a heart attack, and that is what has lead me up to this. That is another story, about my herniated disks.

Is this skipping heartbeats gonna get worse or become and arrhythmia?

I have so many questions? Do I need to open another window and pay $15 to ask other health concerns?

I really thank you for your time already, and apologize for being a dramaking. I just don't wanna die AND I DON'T want to have a debilitating stroke and not be able anymore to rap!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get relaxed and it would be okay!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this detailed follow up.

The fear of the unknown in itself is a bigger illness. Your numerous concerns about stroke and stories relating to heart attacks can actually cause most of these symptoms. I for real wonder if we would have a constantly changing heart rate if your were sleeping. How concerned you are about these disease conditions may be the explanation to your varying heart beats.

The EKG didn't show a skipped beat. It means you don't have one. Why lay more emphasis on pulse taken by you than n objective and diagnostic information obtained from an EKG? Please, be fair and not too hard on yourself about this.

Pain from the heart cannot be provoked or aggravated by muscle contractions. This is typical of pain in the muscles and soft tissue. If your exercise level has been intense, then it is probably from a sore muscle and pain medications like Tylenol and Ibuprofen should be able to address this.

Feel free to ask the questions on this window. Ask the customer service if that is required of you as am not familiar with the various subscription options.

I hope this helps. Let me hear from you and address any further concerns or provide more clarifications if need be.






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

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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What Causes Skipped Heart Beats?

Brief Answer: If this skipped beat is a new finding, yes! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about these skip beats that you have reported and the stroke you suffered on thanksgiving day. I hope your recovery has been great. If these skipped beats is a new development, there are reasons for you to be concerned. This because irregular heart beats can favor the formation of clots in the heart that are spread to other parts of the body. When these clots lodge in the brain, it causes stroke. Given the fact that you have had stroke before, this might have been the origin of the clots that caused the last stroke episode. It is great that you are on Plavix. This in itself would help as it is prevents clot formations. However, getting this irregular heart beats fully evaluated and managed appropriately would be another dimension in controlling possible future strokes. For this, consult a cardiologist or your primary care doctor who would carry out a full clinical evaluation and do at least an EKG to correctly diagnose the specific type of arrhythmia. Management and further investigation would depend on these findings. In all, be concerned. Get consulted by a cardiologist or your primary care doctor for diagnosis and management. You do not need an ER visit right away unless you have other symptoms. A regular appointment as soon as possible would be okay. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.