What Causes Esophageal Spasms Followed By Skipped Heart Beats?

Posted on Mon, 22 Jun 2015

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

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 Answered on

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi doctor i just had an episode where it felt like spasms in my esophagus but it took my breath away for a few seconds. I checked my pulse while this was happening and i could feel it very erratic skipping beats and couldnt get a steady rhythm. I got a little light headed and tried to cough and then it started getting back to normal. I just saw my cardiologist on friday and had a normal ecg. All my tests 4 months ago came back structurally normal but i did have 400 pacs and 15 pvcs. I am really worried right now and im not sure what this could have been

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.

You should stay relaxed what has happened to you is just related to GERD ( acid reflux disease ). GERD is associated with esophageal distension, spasms and palpitations.

As long as your cardiac examinations were normal you shouldn't worry you just have experienced bigeminy and run of PACS.

These types of arrhythmia are benign in patients with normal heart and couldn't cause any harm to you.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)

Hi doctor thank you for getting back to me. Just 5o clarify esophageal spasms can trigger palpitations? Also it is not dangerous to have a run of PACS? IT WAS very scary as I did not know what was happening. It felt very strange and almost painful

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Yes esophageal pain that you felt like esophageal spam can trigger palpitations.

Please keep in mind that in patients with a normal functioning heart PACs and PVCs are harmless (even if they are in bigeminy, couplet, triplet or in runs). The only thing that they produce is discomfort and the feeling that you describe as scary.

Please follow my advice.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (14 hours later)

Hi doctor thank you for explaining. I will be back in town tomorrow. I spoke to my cardiologist yesterday and he says I can go in tomorrow to have a loop monitor put on for a week. The last time I did that the loop monitor filled up all 15 events over night the first night on its own.when he reviewed it he said nothing was abnormal and sometimes it can fill up when heart rate goes down during sleep. I didn't understand how 15 episodes could be recorded in 1 night. I'm worried they may find something wrong this time

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Wait for the test to be done and don't overthink about the results....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

It's a good thing that you will do the loop monitoring for a week.

For the moment you should stay calm and don't overthink about the test results. Wait first the test results and than we may discuss about them.

Till than wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
p.s: After the test results please contact me again to the following link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=66762

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (3 minutes later)

Hi doctor thank you I appreciate it. Any idea how the loop monitor could fill up in one night. My doctors loop monitors record up to 15 events and then you return them when its full. Mine was done the first night. Is this possible. Have you seen this.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

A loop monitoring will detect and record all abnormal heart beats while you are wearing it. It should be wearied for 7 days and you should only press the event button when you will feel the symptoms. Loop monitor will automatically record abnormalities arrhythmias.

On the last monitoring you have had 15 abnormal arrhythmias the first night. This is very common and you shouldn't worry. My advice is to wear the loop monitor for seven days and don't remove it before.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (22 hours later)

Hello doctor yesterday I had the loop monitor put on. The doctor once again told me it will record up to 15 episodes. While I was asleep last night all 15 episodes recorded. He told me once it's full I have to return it. I don't understand this is the 3rd time this has happened. The recorder is supposed to be for a week but I always have to return it the next day. It doesn't give me a chance to record my symptoms during the day. Also why is it filling up while I'm sleeping? Everytime he reviews it he calls me and says it's normal so why is it picking something up?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

The loop monitoring record automatically the events even when you are sleeping. You should discuss with your doctor to extend the period to one week.

If it's a matter of loop monitoring software capacity, than discus with your doctor to put another loop monitoring with a larger recording capacity. This way you will be able to extend the monitoring period to one week.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (2 minutes later)

Hi doctor thank you but what is it recording while I'm sleeping. It must be picking up something. My cardiologist keeps saying everything looks good

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Normally the loop monitoring should be activated by pressing the button when you feel the symptoms. Maybe your loop monitoring is activated automatically or you may activate it unintentionally while you are sleeping.

Please contact your doctor again and ask for continuous loop monitoring/recorder that is activated manually (when you feel the symptoms). More over can you ask for the printed version of the records.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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