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Can A Single Ectopic Heart Beat Cause Tachycardia?

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Posted on Fri, 17 Apr 2015
Question: I have rare pacs and pvcs. My heart rate goes slow and fast sometimes. Can a single etopic beat cause tachycardia and is it dangerous? My cardiologist says mine are benign and my heart is structurally normal. Is it true these beats are common in healthy hearts? Can my anxiety and acid reflux be the cause? He says they are not coming from my heart.

I used to get lots of pacs at night when resting and as soon as I woke up in the morning. For the last few months they calmed down and I was getting far less. However, lastlast night they returned and I was getting several for 4 or 5 hours. This really scared me. I don't know what to do


doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Just try some tricks to manage the situation.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX! Regarding your recently concern I would like to explain to you as follows:

(1) A single ectopic beat very rarely may trigger a tachycardia, and this may happen when there exists a myocardial abnormal substrate. But this is not your case (as you resulted normal by all the prior performed exams). So relax again.

(2) Yes, few and non complex ectopic beats are encountered not rarely in normal individuals when they are opposed to some kind of stress. Excessive anxiety and even acid reflux may exacerbate ectopic heart beats occurrence. Even in very healthy people this scenario may be present, and it has nothing to do with any heart problems. So don't worry at all.

(3) My last and persistent recommendation for you is to get involved more seriously and continuously in extensive physical and intellectual activities, as well as yoga and aerobics in order to maintain your unpleasant thoughts away, and to burn excessive energies.

Hope to have been helpful to you.
My best wishes! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (28 minutes later)
Hi doctor thank you for your response. I understand what you are saying. It makes a lot of sense. I just wanted to know is it dangerous when you are having 8 or 9 in a minute? My tests 2 months ago showed only 150 PACS and 15 PVCS however, last year when I did a 48 hour holter it showed 925 PACS with 2 bigemal cycles and 3 couplets. NO Runs and 1 PVC. Last night my episode felt like I was getting several every minute for several hours. Is that dangerous? How Many PACS or PVCS are considered dangerous. Also is there risk for death because of the etopic beats? There are so many articles on the internet that contradict one another
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You are not absolutely in a dangerous situation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Regarding PACs and PVCs, I would like to emphasise again they are not considered a distinct pathology, just an expression of a clinical disorder inside or outside the heart (this latter seems to be your case).
Non complex premature beats are considered generally benign and non dangerous in a structurally normal heart.
Your ectopic beats patterns regarding their respective classifications, as well as their quantity are considered non complex patterns. As such, on a structurally normal heart they don't threaten your life.
PVCs are considered dangerous when they express a severe cardiomyopathy, any congenital syndromes, or an important metabolic or systemic derangement.All the above mentioned are not your case. So relax, there are so beautiful things to think about.
As I am a specialist and my daily clinical practice has to do with critically ill cardiac patients, I am trying to minimise the confusion when dealing with immense internet data on the field.
Greetings!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (27 minutes later)
Doctor Thank you for your great response. I understand what you are explaining and appreciate it. I guess it's just hard because of the feeling that accompanies these beats. When should I do the testing again? How long are my tests good for? Also can more serious problems occur over months or do they take years for heart issues to occur?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You need a yearly cardiac follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Facing your condition, repeating frequently the same cardiac tests would be useless and non productive, as there are no medical indications to have another cardiac ultrasound, Holter monitoring, stress test, and so on. No any health professionals would support such a strategy.
What is recommended for an optimal surveillance of your clinical status is a yearly routine follow up (careful physical exam, resting ECG, full clinical and biochemical lab profile), coupled with an ambulatory ECG monitoring and cardiac ultrasound when judged appropriate by your cardiologist.
One of the mainstay therapy for your well being is a continuing psychological support by a specialist in the field.
Remember internet medical informations need to be selected by a specialist, otherwise they would be confusing and helpless.
My best regards! Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9539 Questions

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Can A Single Ectopic Heart Beat Cause Tachycardia?

Brief Answer: Just try some tricks to manage the situation. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXX! Regarding your recently concern I would like to explain to you as follows: (1) A single ectopic beat very rarely may trigger a tachycardia, and this may happen when there exists a myocardial abnormal substrate. But this is not your case (as you resulted normal by all the prior performed exams). So relax again. (2) Yes, few and non complex ectopic beats are encountered not rarely in normal individuals when they are opposed to some kind of stress. Excessive anxiety and even acid reflux may exacerbate ectopic heart beats occurrence. Even in very healthy people this scenario may be present, and it has nothing to do with any heart problems. So don't worry at all. (3) My last and persistent recommendation for you is to get involved more seriously and continuously in extensive physical and intellectual activities, as well as yoga and aerobics in order to maintain your unpleasant thoughts away, and to burn excessive energies. Hope to have been helpful to you. My best wishes! Dr. Iliri