Heart Flutter

[mjaclyn]

Every once in awhile my heart feels like it's 'fluttering' or that it 'skips a beat'. Has anyone ever had that happen? Should I get it checked out? It just happened tonight while I was lying in bed - it was very strange and it made me nervous. Any ideas as to what it could be?

[Melanie]

I have this happen as well, and it's particularly noticeable when I'm in bed or still. It's a stress thing for me. It first occured for me right before we moved to Japan (and still happens occassionally), and it really scared me. I didn't even think to relate it to stress. I went and got it checked though, and I suggest you do the same, as it could be something totally different for you.

Good luck!

[mttafire]

It sounds like a premature ventricular contraction . VERY NORMAL as long as it doesnt happen several times a minute. Caffeine is a substance that will certainly cause them. Stress can also cause ALOT of body issuses. Would i get it checked out? No, Not unless it happens frequently...Like everyday. Also, If there is ANY chest pain or shortness of breath associated with this "feeling" then YES, Id get it checked out. Often times this "flutter" feeling will cause you to want to cough..This usually stops the occurance.

[Mollywobbles]

I work as a nurse on a telemetry floor (aka a unit where the patients wear heart monitors). I take care of patients with this sort of problem all the time. I recommend that you go and see your doctor and explain to him your symptoms and when they occur. I'm sure that he'll do an EKG (electrocardiogram) which is when they hook the electrodes to your chest to get get a reading of your heart rhythm. The flutter may not show up on this so you may have to wear what's called a halter monitor. That's when you were a monitor at home and you can press a button when you feel any symptoms. This way the doctors can see what type of rhythm your heart is in at the moment of symptoms. That would help diagnose your problem. After that there are couple of tests that can be done to find the cause of an irregular heart rhythm, if that's indeed what the problem is.

[Mousefever]

I've told my doctor about the same thing and he's never been concerned about it. He said it was perfectly normal as long as it only happens once in a while. Of course, he could be misinformed, but since I'm perfectly healthy otherwise, I've never seen a specialist. I'm not saying that you shouldn't see someone if you're concerned about it though.


:dory:

[mjaclyn]

If it happens again I'll get it checked out by my doctor - No one in my family has a history of any heart problems and I'm perfectly healthy otherwise. I think it's definitely stress related. I'm seeing a psychologist to help me deal with stress and anxiety - he said that (when it comes to stress) my 'normal' is most other people's 'high'. I've been stressed lately so I think that probably has something to do with it. It happened while I was in bed lying down and I did feel the need to cough so it only lasted about 30 seconds. Thanks for all of the advice. If it happens again I definitely will get it checked out though...

[SBETigg]

It happens to my husband a lot for days at a time. He has been to his doctor. He has had all the tests, including wearing a monitor. For him, they didn't find any cause for concern. But it really annoys him, and then me because I worry about him.

Everyone is different. What isn't cause for concern in one person may be in another. I would probably see a doctor if it keeps up.

[merlinmagic4]

This happens to me, too. It happened a LOT after my daughter was born and I had a lot of anxiety about it (which makes it worse!). I don't get them often anymore but it is a very strange feeling. It never hurts to check it out, though. I had a few EKGs done and all were normal.

Oh, I was told by my doctor to make sure to limit the caffeine so that was good advice!

I hope you're feeling less stress soon. Just try not to let the heart flutters add to it (I'm sure that's what happened to me).

[MNNHFLTX]

Over the last few years I developed a tendency for PAC's (premature atrial contractions) and the occasional PVC. It tends to be cyclical and yes, it happens much more often when I'm stressed. There were times when I would take my pulse (especially at night) and it felt like my heart was skipping every third or fourth beat. I had it checked out by a cardiologist, though, and I would highly recommend that you do the same. In my case it is a benign thing, but it's better to be safe than sorry with any kind of arrhythmia. And there's medication that can help control the symptoms if they become distressing.

[conorsmom2000]

Yes, I used to get this a lot - always at night, while just starting to drift off to sleep. Sometimes the flutter would be so strong that one minute I'd be half asleep, the next I'd be sitting straight up in bed, totally scared. One night it kept happening so Mike took me to the ER. They did an EKG, which was normal, and they said it was basically panic attacks due to stress.

The biggest help for me was cutting caffeine - I no longer drink any type of caffeine after 2:00 pm - once I cut that out, I rarely ever have it happen anymore, unless my stress level is really through the roof. Even just a little caffeine (even soda, chocolate, etc.) can cause it to happen so I avoid it completely.

Definitely get it checked out, just to be sure, but it could be as simple as just making some life style changes. Good luck!

[Here we go again...]

I used to have the same problem. It started off with flutters every now and then, then increased to pretty much daily.
I saw a cardiologist that put me on the halter monitor. They were able to see on the monitor that I had a problem but could find nothing wrong with my heart. At first he blamed it on stress, but then decided to do a few more tests.

It turned out to be my thyroid. Other doctors had checked my thyroid but only the TSH levels. You have to do a little more testing to find Graves Disease.
I was put on heart medication and took radioactive iodine to kill my thyroid. I am now on thyroid medicine, but off my heart medicine and have had no heart problems since.

One more thing....
If you look up information on Graves Disease you might think it could not possibly be you. It says things like "bulging eyes" and "rapid weight loss". I had none of the symptoms of Graves other than the heart problem... my eyes were fine and I was actually gaining weight! The doctor said a small percentage of people gain weight... I was in that group.

Good luck!

[drummerboy]

I've had a sinus arrhythmia for years. Every once in a while, I get that 'flutter' as well. The simple explanation my Dr. gave was that sometimes the signal that regulates the pulse rate gets messed up for a beat, then tries to catch up (kind of like a drummer trying to catch up when the band gets off beat). Sometimes a cough does help to stop it.

I'd get it checked out, if only for peace of mind.

[MarkC]

I've had a similar problem for years (I'm 47). It can be caused by stress, caffeine, lack of sleep, or another number of disorders. Almost all are normal but if it happens to frequently or concerns you, have it checked out. I've been told it gets more common as we age, just like gray hair. I have plenty of that too.