Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

PAC's during or after exercise

I am a 35 year old male with no Medical history... I recently start noticing irregular heart Beats after exercise most notably in recovery... I have seen two cardiologists and couple ER visits... I had two echo cardiograms, they both came out to be normal... However, irregular heart beats were recorded, My doctor identified them as Premature Atrial Contractions... The feeling is so unsettling that I quit what I am doing and lower my heart rate... When it slows down, the PAC's go away... Today I was running really slow, and during recovery, I start noticing irregular beats... They felt little different, they were out of rhythm... They usually happen like 1 PAC than 10 secs later another one, today they were strong and happening twice, three times, right after another... But Is it possible that I am getting worse? Maybe getting some PVC with PAC too? I keep hearing PAC or PVC are not life threatening as long as there are no heart problems, is that really true? I have no history of irregular heart beat, don't smoke, don't drink, where they come from? Is there a chance that the heart lose its rhythm and stop? Also as a note, I have no other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness and so on...  

Thank you in advance for your time and help...
9 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi,
I'm 52 and have had those for over 30 years. Sometimes they are there after a workout, and other times not. I'm still here. Don't worry about them, worry only makes them worse. Mark
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Great contribution Mark. Very true worrying will make them worst. Do you still run?
Avatar universal
Hi was wondering how people are doing with this. I had 5 PAC's on stress test and no one seems worried apart from me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a 58 year old man with symptoms very much like yours.  The PACs seem to occur during recovery from almost any activity that causes my heart rate to get up above 80 or 90 bps.  Even "recovery" after walking 100 steps can cause the PACs to occur.  (My resting heart rate is in the low 50s, apparently a holdover from a couple of marathons I ran 5 years ago.)
My primary doctor AND cardiologists from a nearby medical school told me not to worry about it as long as there are no other symptoms (faintness, dizziness, fatigue)  Because I was concerned they did an electrocardiogram ($1400 - ouch!) and had me wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours ($600 - ouch again!) and still say its OK.  I'm beginning to believe them.
They did suggest I cut out caffeine and a couple of herbal supplements I had been taking (red rice yeast and chlorophyll) which I have done.  This MAY have eased the symptoms a little, but did not eliminate them.
So, you're not alone.  My doctors encouraged me to continue a healthy lifestyle, including jogging.  I will do so.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I recently read your posts regarding PACs during exercise, i have experienced PACs before but never while working out. Two weeks ago i started having episodes of PACs every single time im at the gym, i went to the Cardiologist had a stress test, echo, and holter , everything came back normal only the holter showed PACs while i was at the GYm, funny i felt like 30 of them but the holter recorded only 3. Anyways i just wanted to know how are you doing, have those continued, did they ever go away? Anything that can put my mind at ease.
Helpful - 0
1124887 tn?1313754891
Yes, PACs are just like you describe. Annoying, but benign, and greatly increases with adrenaline.

My "cure" was a combination of cognitive therapy, a little nonselective beta blockers and exercise. If I can say I'm cured, I'm still writing here ;) but they arent't there during exercise at least..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
correction:

Yesterday, when it happened, I sit in front of my neighbor's driveway...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for all your feedback and help...

Is_something_wrong,

You said, you experienced it until 1 year ago, it sounds like you found a way to cope? Taking drugs?

You are correct, whenever I go for walk, its all I think when are they going happen... I can't really push myself to run fast anyways, I ran very slow tempo almost like walking maybe few minutes at times... So I am aware, couple PAC's goes 10-20 with anxiety... Yesterday, when it happened, I sit in front of my driveway... PAC's were going really wild, my neighbor was outside and asked me if I was ok...I told him to call 911, but lucky he dial the number wrong(ER does really nothing, they just tell you that you are ok by looking EKG)... Than I told him, I am going to be ok and not to worry about it... He asked to take me home by car, even though I refused, he gave me a ride... When we came to my place, he told me that he had 2 heart attacks, one heart by pass surgery and pancreas cancer... He looked at me and said, I am still going... Maybe thats a wake up call, but I can't seem to break away from this vicious cycle...
Helpful - 0
1124887 tn?1313754891
Hi!

At some point I was severely bothered by this. It could be so bad that I felt a PAC for every third heart beat during exercise. It doesn't help to read that premature beats at rest is benign, but premature beats during exercise is bad.

But first, this mostly apply to PVCs. PACs will occur with increased adrenaline levels and in general, supraventricular arrhythmias are common during exercise and not necessarily a sign of any heart disease. Your two echos rule out any structural heart disease as cause. I assume that you don't have chest pain when you exercise.

Lots of PACs after exercise is common. Your nerve system will slow down the heart rate (sinus node) when your body is filled with adrenaline, which has a half life of 3 minutes. What happens then, is that your atrias are exposed to adrenaline and will fire PACs, that aren't overruled by the sinus node, as they would be if your heart rate was 180.

If you keep exercising with a constant fear of PACs, they WILL increase by 100% certainty. Poor condition will make them more frequent. They aren't dangerous, but yes, I completely understand your feeling. This was a nightmare for me until 1 year ago.

If you can't handle this, beta blockers before exercise usually helps a lot, but they have some side effects. Something to discuss with your doctor, possibly.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I have had these several times while working out. DO not wrry most of the time it's from the adrenalin released during excersise. My cardio dr told mennot to wrry they are normal. I still wrry though
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Community

Top Arrhythmias Answerers
1807132 tn?1318743597
Chicago, IL
1423357 tn?1511085442
Central, MA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.