How do I know when skipped heart beats are dangerous?

[iAmEllen]

Over a week ago for absolutely no identifiable reason my heart started skipping way more beats than usual.  I can go hours with none and then have several hours where I'll have 2 or 3 a minute.  It's setting me over the edge.  I don't know if it's dangerous or not.  I went to the ER the other day and they basically didn't care at all and just had me take Ativan and sent me home.  Today I panicked and called the paramedics who came and did a 12 lead and they said normal sinus with one ectopic and so I didn't go back to the ER.  I had a normal echo 3 years ago.  I already don't eat caffeine or sugar.

Please reassure or sympathize with me.  I'm going insane and have no idea what's causing this out of the blue.  Why would they suddenly increase for no reason whatsoever?

[CollegeGirl143]

i dont know where the myth of 6 or more palps in a row or in a minute are life threatening, but its been addressed in this forum more than once and its simply untrue. Unless you have a structural heart problem, pvcs are of no concern, and they are not indicative of a larger problem unless you are having tens of thousands of pvc's per day, and even then, it doesnt nessecarily indicate a problem... Also, frequently people confuse pvc's with the natural way your heart speeds up and slows down while taking a breath.. Its pretty much impossible to know if you're having pvc's, and how many, unless you're hooked up to a monitor.

[iAmEllen]

These are driving me insane.  I cannot identify any reason for their sudden increase in the last two weeks.

[sb786]

when i have an increase in pvcs it is usually because i have indigestion. do you have indigestion perhaps? sometimes even slight acid reflux or bloating can trigger them too.

[iAmEllen]

I don't know.  I'm not even sure exactly what indigestion is.  I don't feel like I'm having any heartburn or gastrointestinal problems.  What do you take to help when indigestion is causing you trouble?

I just don't understand why I would go from having one every few days to 50-100 a day for absolutely no identifiable reason.  I feel like I'm going to have to check myself into a nuthouse if I don't feel better soon.

[sb786]

i never knew i had acid reflux because i didn't really have heart burn etc. i knew there was something because after a meal i would get palpitations but not everytime, i also had occasional chest discomfort which indicates acid reflex but not all the time. it's just a case of trial and error. try some indigestion meds, give them about a week, change your diet: cut out foods that you feel don't agree with you. i cut out carbohydrates, carbonated drinks, fruits such as oranges that are acidic and also vegetables that can cause gas such as broccoli etc. it won't harm you just give it a try. i definitely saw an improvement and i've only been trying it for a week now! Try not to worry i'm assuming you've had all heart tests done and they have come back normal, you need to convince yourself that they are nothing but annoying. The past 2 days have been full of PVCs for me because i have had a stomach bug which has left me dehydrated and with severe indigestion. yesterday i couldnt take a step without feeling rows of them.i called my cardiologist (who is one of the best in the uk) and he told me not to worry, he didn't sound concerned at all.

[Barbarella]

6 or more skipped heartbeats per minute life threatening?? The doctor who told you that in the ER needs to go back to school.  I'd have died a long time ago. I have more than 6 skipped beats per minute at times for the last 45 yrs, and I am healthy as a horse including my heart.  When I start having PVC's especially in public or driving my car I get so high anxiety over these damn things that my heart is constantly skipping like every other beat.  I've seen doctors and a Cardiologist about this and all told me "don't worry, anxiety can play tricks on your mind" your mind can bring on frequent PVC's when you worry about the first one coming on". If you get checked out and the Cardiologist gives you a clean bill of health PVC's no matter how many per minute will not kill you.  Of course if somebody already has heart problems maybe they are more dangerous I don't know.  Keep in mind a persistent headache can be a sign of a brain tumor or just plain stress.  A persistent stomach ache can be a sign of cancer or other serious things or just plain stress.  Same goes for the heart.  That is why it needs to get checked out.  Once the doctor/cardiologist assures you that there is nothing wrong with your heart you have to trust him or it will drive you crazy.  I trust him but I still panic when these PVC's start coming especially when out.  I just don't like anything coming from my heart being out of whack even if the Cardiologist says "don't worry, let them take their course".