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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Heart Skip Or Flutter And Loss Of Breath?

The past two days I have had moments where I feel my heart skip or flutter and I lose my breath for a moment, yesterday it happened 4 time throughout the day and today it happened 7 or 8 times, its very scary and frightening, i have never experienced anything like this. I am a smoker and drink a lot of soda.
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Tue, 22 Sep 2015 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 23 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to cardiac arrhythmia.

Anxiety and physical activity can also be the cause of some palpitations and ectopic heart beats.

I would recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray study and some blood lab tests (complete blood count, fasting glucose, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid hormone levels, blood electrolytes).

An ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring and a cardiac ultrasound are necessary to rule in/out a possible cardiac arrhythmia and examine better your cardiac function.

If all the above tests result normal, the main cause of your symptomatology would be anxiety.

Meanwhile I recommend avoiding caffeine intake and have a good hydration.

Hope to have been of help!

Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!

Best regards,

Dr. Iliri
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What Causes Heart Skip Or Flutter And Loss Of Breath?

Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to cardiac arrhythmia. Anxiety and physical activity can also be the cause of some palpitations and ectopic heart beats. I would recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray study and some blood lab tests (complete blood count, fasting glucose, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid hormone levels, blood electrolytes). An ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring and a cardiac ultrasound are necessary to rule in/out a possible cardiac arrhythmia and examine better your cardiac function. If all the above tests result normal, the main cause of your symptomatology would be anxiety. Meanwhile I recommend avoiding caffeine intake and have a good hydration. Hope to have been of help! Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need! Best regards, Dr. Iliri