Tachycardia and Palpations

[S.H.]

I am 41 years old. Back in February, I was hospitalized with chest pains. Because the pain was severe and I had a bad family history of heart disease, they did the heart cath. It showed three blockages of 20-30%, and the cardiologist said that wasn't the problem. While doing the gastro workup, my heart rate shot up. They did a Holter moniter after that happened. It showed some PVC's and frequent sinus tachycardia. I was put on 50 mg. Toprol which has helped control the heart rate most of the time. It helps with the palpations too, but I do still have them at times.

I had a few questions:
1. I know that PVC's are generally benign. Does my slight blockages make my PVC's more dangerous to me?
2. They also suspect that I have sleep apnea, and I will be having a sleep study in a few weeks. If I have apnea, could that be part of the reason of me having tachycardia? I have noticed that when I am really tired, I have more trouble with the PVC's and my heart rate tends to go up even with the Toprol.
3. Should bending over make your heart rate increse? I have noticed that when I bend over to play with my dog for a bit, my heart rate increases.

[emmie52]

A related discussion, rls was started.

[Linell]

I saw a question about potassium citrate for kidney stones seeming to help a heart problem.  What I have been reading indicates to me that the modern diet can either be low in potassium and/or that many of us consume too much sodium in comparison to the amount of potassium we have historically had available.  When I originally had irregular and skipped beats (I am just learning the terms), my potassium was 3.1.  I had been exercising  a lot on a warm day.  Recently, I have been keeping track of the amount of potassium I take in.  I am also trying to lose weight.  It is easy for me to drop below the RDA, which I understand is 2000mg (not mEq).

[Lewpster]

First of all, I just happened along this website while looking for something else and was I excited to find that I am not alone as I had thought.  This condition has got to be the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced!  Good news, benign.  Bad news, it will never go away.  I too went throught a battery of tests, holter, loop monitor, stress test, electrophysiology study, ER visit.  My episodes began about 15 years ago, I am 42 now, and have only increased to where having a sympton free day is the exception to the rule.  I was given Lopressor and took that for about two weeks after my ER visit but was told to discontinue just before the electrophysiology study.  I don't know if it was by coincidence or a reaction of discontinuing the drug, but the day after I stopped the meds I thought I would die!  I felt horrible!  I have MVP and wasn't necessarily told that the palps were related to that but was told that they probably would worsen with age, I can't imagine them being worse.  I too find that mine seem to be cyclical.  The doctors say they have nothing to do with hormones, I have my doubts.  In any case I hope that you all do well and find it comforting that I do not have some yet unknown disease that they can't figure out.

Wendy

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

You have been experiencing palpitations, which is the sensation of being aware of your own heart beat. Your holter monitor showed evidence of PVC(premature ventricular contractions) and sinus tachycardia. A PVC occurs when the bottom chamber of the heart (ventricle) contracts earlier than it should.
PVCs occur in everyone however you appear to be experiencing them a little more than usual. Sinus tachycardia is when your heart beat is greater than 100 beats per minute without any rhythm disturbance. Typically there is a reason for someone to have a heart rate > 100. Discuss this with your doctor.
Some measures you can take to help decrease these episodes in addition to medication includes, stopping your intake of caffeine and other stimulants(pseudoephredrine). Also, try to avoid cigarette smoke.

The mild blockages you have should not make your PVCs more ominous. Discuss with your doctor ways of managing your cardiac risk factors.

I think that sleep apnea could be contributing to your palpitations. It would be important to have that evaluated.

Bending over may have an affect on the heart rate simply because it is a postural change, however there is nothing particularly worrisome about bending over.

Thanks for your question.

CCF-MD-KE

[seaside]

I understand the Rda may be 2000mg: however, I am required to take 30,000 mg a day or 30 meg.  I feel this may be excessive but it is working so far.  Thanks for your info on the connection

[seaside]

I had these symptons for about 15 years before I finally found a doctor who took the time to find the problem.  I am taking 50 mg to toprol a day and it controls my problem most of the time.  My question is about some other medication.  My urologist put me on 30meg of potassiym citrate a day because of kidney stones.  This actually seems to help the tachycardia some.  In fact when I didn't take the potassium citrate for a couple of days I had an episode of tachycardia.  Does anyone know if there is a connection .