What Cause Skipped Heartbeats Followed By Thumping?

Posted on Sat, 18 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 18 Jan 2014 Answered on

Sat, 8 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Dear dr, I recently had experience skipped heartbeats and went to see a cardio, had a holter ECG and echo to check my heart. All was normal except for mild regurgitation which the cardio isn't concern. I had since seen few doctors on this issue. The skipped heart beats is tormenting and interrupted with my life that I'm going into depression. I'm a anxiety disorder for 8 years. It all started one year ago when I felt bloated after meals all the time. Slowly I began to feel a "huge thump" in my heart after meals. Slowly it gets more n more frequent and became daily torture. It is especially when I felt bloated and gassy. A small meal or sipping water slowly will come with a lot of bleching. I took anatacid , nexium , omeprazole etc but little relived. Bowel movement etc normal.. There is no pain anywhere. I tried small meals , I XXXXXXX have heartburn or reflux... The gas seem to irritate my nerves somewhere n therefore the skipped beats. I felt relived only when I lay down. Once I'm upright, standing or walking or sitting, my upper gut or chest area with be tight and full of gas stucked. Upper gut is always bloated.. It makes me always wanna lay on bed and not wanting to get out of bed. There must be some relation on gastro and the skipped heartbeats . I had googled and found many related articles on this. Wat do u suggest?

Answered by Dr. Poorna Chandra K.S (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: Addressed Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for the query Skipped heartbeat and the foolowing thumping is usually caused by an ectopic beat ( electric impulse for heart contraction originating at a different place). This is picked up on the holter irrespective of the cause of ectopic - either a primary cardiac issue or secondary to another issue. The other cause of thumping feeling is due to an increased awareness of a normal heartbeat - usually seen in anxious people and in panic attacks Excess belching can also be seen in anxious states "Gas" or reflux associated symptoms are usually worse on lying down and least in the upright posture. Bloating is a very nonspecific symptom and can occur with a variety of GI and non GI causes. You may also need to rule out respiratory cause for the symptoms explained like COPD Based on the above argument I donot see a definite connection between the thumping and GI ssues Hence I would suggest you to discuss with your GP and plan further investigations and consultations Hope this helps Regards Dr XXXXXXX

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

Follow up: Dr. Poorna Chandra K.S (12 hours later)

The skipped beats are more obvious after eating... The heart will beat faster n the skipped beats are more obvious.. There is really no way to ignore them they r so uncomfortable ... Some drs agree relationship in GI and heart , some drs don't. Are the related to vagus nerve and how are they related. Many ppl hadn had a cure for these annoying skipped beats ... Anxiety, heart, digestion all connected somehow?

Answered by Dr. Poorna Chandra K.S (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Directed Detailed Answer: Hi again Anxiety can occur because of any medical issue and has to be tackled with appropriate counselling and medications Vagus nerve stimullation can also occur in case of a bad reflux or forecful vomiting. But you donoyt have the classical history of reflux or vomiting, (you feel better on lying down !) Sometimes a holter may not pickup the abnormality if you didnot have an event while it was put. Hence you can go for a repeat holter, thyroid function test and endoscopy ( just to rule out reflux) in consultation with your physician. Regards Dr XXXXXXX

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

Follow up: Dr. Poorna Chandra K.S (29 minutes later)

I had done 2 holter, showed 461 and 385 skipped beats respectively. Had a blood test normal. Done a echo which showed mild regurgitation. Heart structure was normal. I always woke up feeling good n as they day goes by, like after drink or eating my first meal, the heart will begin to beat faster n the skipped beats become more noticeable . When I lay down n rest, it will get better, making me not wanna move .. I had a bad habit of self induced gag in the morning when I brush to clear my throat . Will repeating this action in the long run cos damage to the vagus nerve n cause skipped beats? If the vagus nerve is "hurt" wat are the ways to treat it? Jux to add on, I always felt gassy tight from my upper abdomen to the throat area . Breathing seemed short.It is often relived when I lay down. Then I feel comfortable ..Once I had my first meal n start walking and doing things the gassy feel will once again come with blech. The. I sit back n relived again.. It makes me not wanting to do anything! I had all sorts of anti acid medi n had seen several GI drs.. Little relived .. Wat can explain this ? I am suffering from anxiety disorder n recently i felt some relapse n my body seemed haywired after I started feeling the skipped heartbeats following meals..now is frequent n tormenting.. Both the upper abdomen n chest bloating that seemed to trigger more skipped beats. I can't break the viscous cycle at all!!!!

Answered by Dr. Poorna Chandra K.S (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: Directed Detailed Answer: Hi As I had written earlier you would probably need an endoscopy, harmonal screen to rule out thyroid issues / carcinoid. The fact that antacids haven't helped at all nearly rules out significant reflux disease. For other things including the anxiety part you need in person evaluation and examination. Hence go and meet a god MD phyician and discuss your issues. Regards Dr XXXXXXX

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