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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Strange Skip Of Heart Beats

a few times a day, it seems like my heart skips a beat. i can tell whenever this happens because after it skips the beat, it is always followed by a heavy pound right after. my heart then resumes its normal pulse. what could this be? heart murmur? anything dangerous? i m a 17 yr old male in an overall healthy condition.
Fri, 18 Dec 2009
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Dr. Pat is right--it's a premature ventricular contraction (PVC). They are also known as extrasystoles and ectopic beats. Every cell is the heart is capable of producing pacemaker activity, and when you have a PVC, a couple of rogue cells in the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) decide to produce an "extra heartbeat," thereby interrupting your heart's normal rhythm. As a result, there is a pause as your heart's main pacemaker (the SA node) as it "resets." You might have to stay away from potential triggers, some of which are mentioned below. Fear not, for they are harmless, but are a pain in the ***. I had to give up caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and weed...however, I still sneak them into my diet occasionally, except the weed. I hate them.
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Strange Skip Of Heart Beats

Dr. Pat is right--it s a premature ventricular contraction (PVC). They are also known as extrasystoles and ectopic beats. Every cell is the heart is capable of producing pacemaker activity, and when you have a PVC, a couple of rogue cells in the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) decide to produce an extra heartbeat, thereby interrupting your heart s normal rhythm. As a result, there is a pause as your heart s main pacemaker (the SA node) as it resets. You might have to stay away from potential triggers, some of which are mentioned below. Fear not, for they are harmless, but are a pain in the ***. I had to give up caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and weed...however, I still sneak them into my diet occasionally, except the weed. I hate them.