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?

[Wasabijim]

I had a bout of aftrial Fribulation 2 months ago. Now I'm having the heart skip a beat every couple of minutes. I can physically feel it stop for a beat then keep going like normal. So scary. I went to the ER the other night and by the time they had me all hooked up they had stopped. They kept me for a couple hours and said that it is a common thing. I will be fine then they come on and it makes me start to panic. It's really hard not to start freaking out. I just wish they would go away. =(

[medstudent2012]

Hi everyone,
I have a unique perspective of all of this palpitation business.  I'm actually studying to be a D.O at the moment. I started to get these palps about a year ago after I suffered an intense headache one day that happened accutely. Scared me to death, thought I was having a stroke. Since then and attending med school, I have thought at one point or another as having every disease in the PDR. I did a little bit of homework for my case of palps, and found out that it has to do with my diet. I kept a food log and found that meals with high sugar, high carbs, triggered my palps. They always go away after a couple of hours.  The more I thought about them, the more intense or frequent they became. Fear is a great motivator. Not just in others but in your own mind as well. You should always present any and all symptoms to your doctor and he may recomend test to rule out anything serious. After that, have comfort knowing that you are fine, your heart is fine. Do some investigative work on your own to find out what triggers your palps. Keep a journal daily of everything you eat and everything you do.  It may just surprise you that a patern may be seen in time as to what triggers you palpitations. I'm not a physician yet, i'm still in school learning but I did find out what causes my palps and have been able to manage them for almost a year now. 1 out of 7 cases of palps remain a mystery to you and the doctors. Don't give up and live in fear or misery. Don't like what your doctor is telling you, well, go find another one; Doctors are not omnipotent, some may have more experience and knowlege in a particular area of medicine. I'm sorry for rambling, hope this helps and good health to you all!!

[alessya87]

Hey everyone. I am a 25 yo woman who suffers from pvc's and heart palpitations, due to my anxiety and panic attacks (or...?) Now, I am not sure if I have the pvc's and palps because of my anxiety or the other way around. I have to say that I was sort of able to cope with my palps, but the pvc's scare the crap out of me... I have been to numerous doctors and they all tell me that I'm fine, but still give me meds. Why? Thyroid is fine, heart is fine (they say), all my blood tests came ok (just a bit of cholesterol - even though I am skinny). What else can I do? I have back pains and sometimes feel some sort of vibration in my back, just where my heart should be, and it comes in pinches in my chest as well. Can they be back problems? But that can't cause my extra heart beats, it's crazy. I try to relax and not let stress get to me, but it's easier said than done. Plus, I have recently been physically abused, so it's even harder. I did make a treatment for depression and anxiety, but now I feel even worse. I took Metoprolol for my palpitations and pvc's, but now I feel worse from them too. Are doctors just making fun of us? :( I am honestly thinking about going to a psychologist. It's freaking expensive, I know, but we can't keep taking meds for something we "don't have" (as the doctors say) and see no results... I don't know anymore, it's been three long crazy years! Much health to everyone and God bless...

[taqui_hyder_khan]

Go to this site and it will help u to pin point ur cause http://www.livestrong.com/article/483283-foods-that-cause-gas-bloating-and-skipped-heartbeats/    

[hearthorse]

I have had heart skips for the last 35 years at least since I was a teen.  I am 54 now.  I notice they skip more when I have a few drinks (alcohol).  Been skipping all day for the last 3 days for another reason, whatever, but it really doesn't bother me.  Bottom line is I can swim for 2 miles, go all day with no problems, and see that there are no real consequences from all the posts I read here other than high medical bills to say no problem found if gone to doc.  Now thats not to say that all people that have heart skips don't have a serious problem.  The way I look at it is my heart is taking a break sometimes,

[Jesiqs]

Long story but may have some pointers for you guys.
My PVCs started when i was 19, i had been on Zoloft for 3 years, and then starting getting PVCs, went to ER and they diagnosed me with the PVCs and said my body had most likely gotten "use to" the Zoloft and I needed to sswitch antidepressants.
I switched to Prozac.
Since then I have gotten PVCs whenever I am sick ( flu,cold) or very randomly like with acid reflux. When I get the random ones, I take a tablespoon full of Blackstrap molasses, which is fulll of potassiam. It helps 90% of the time.
I also get PVCs when I forget to take my Prozac for 3+ days. Once I get back on schedule, they will be gone within 24 hours or so.
Now, last year, just before I turned 30 I had severe chest pain with abnormal EKG. I was hospitalized for three days in which they ran every heart test (except a cath) and came back with " F* if I know" .  They chalked it up to anxiety ( My antidepressant script is to treat anxiety).
Ive been more or less fine until 9 days ago. My PVCs started with a VENEGANCE one night and have not stopped since. I went to the ER once for an EKG which they said was fine. Iron and vitamin D came back low. Otherwise docs said I was fine but could start a beta blocker if I wanted.
Nothing has gotten better and my quality of life is down the drain. A side note, I have decreased my Prozac by half, and I was thinking this may be a part of it. However, taking Ativan ( which is my fall back) has only minimally helped my PVCs and I cant sleep, function or anything.
I am convinced this time that I AM going to die at any second.
I need help just like all of you.
I can't stand this for much longer
By the way I am a 31 year old female, about 15 lbs overweight and have anxiety disorder and GERD. If that helps anything