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What Causes Squeezing Feeling On The Sternum Area And Skipped Heart Beats?

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Posted on Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Question: For years off and on I get this squeezing feeling behind the middle of my breastbone and sternum. I was taking my pulse and when it happens my pulse stops briefly. I've seen a cardio and been through all tests and it's never happened while being tests or seen by a dr. What is this. Help!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Probably skipped beats...

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic

This sounds like Anxiety and missed beats. Irregular heartbeats need to be DOCUMENTED by ElectroCardioGram (EKG). Standard ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, for a few seconds. It can detect the arrhythmia occurring during that time only. If the episode occurs randomly, one needs Holter or event monitor. Holter records for days; Event Monitor for weeks… Holter records continuously; Event Monitor only at certain times

ECHOcardiogram is necessary to see the heart valves (Mitral Valve Prolapse) / heart muscle (Cardiomyopathy) and heart function (Ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality) / clots etc.

TMT – Treadmill exercise ECG; may be with thallium isotope – can exclude / evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease). At this age, it is not likely…

Specific treatment may not always be necessary. Many cases of palpitation are benign, especially when associated with normal ECHO and may not require treatment, If you also have symptoms like blurred vision, dizziness, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, chest pain along with this, you need urgent work up

Good luck
God bless you
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Anantharamakrishnan

Cardiologist

Practicing since :1966

Answered : 4505 Questions

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What Causes Squeezing Feeling On The Sternum Area And Skipped Heart Beats?

Brief Answer: Probably skipped beats... Detailed Answer: Hi friend Welcome to Health Care Magic This sounds like Anxiety and missed beats. Irregular heartbeats need to be DOCUMENTED by ElectroCardioGram (EKG). Standard ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, for a few seconds. It can detect the arrhythmia occurring during that time only. If the episode occurs randomly, one needs Holter or event monitor. Holter records for days; Event Monitor for weeks… Holter records continuously; Event Monitor only at certain times ECHOcardiogram is necessary to see the heart valves (Mitral Valve Prolapse) / heart muscle (Cardiomyopathy) and heart function (Ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality) / clots etc. TMT – Treadmill exercise ECG; may be with thallium isotope – can exclude / evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease). At this age, it is not likely… Specific treatment may not always be necessary. Many cases of palpitation are benign, especially when associated with normal ECHO and may not require treatment, If you also have symptoms like blurred vision, dizziness, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, chest pain along with this, you need urgent work up Good luck God bless you