Ectopic heart beats?
Hi all sufferers
I am 51 years young
I play competitive tennis to a good standard three times a week, I also work out in a gym and am an active father of three.
I originally had my bout of irregular heart beats some 15 yrs now. I have had ECG echo grammes and blood tests all ok, apart from slow thyroid and occasional high blood pressure which is being controlled.
I can go weeks clear of missed beats but then, mainly whilst resting and for no reason off they go, My heart rate is normally between 50 and 60 then I would miss and gain, sometimes the heart slows 1 in 4. I use to panick but it has become part of life, but the uncertainty is always there. My physical well being is my guideline, Providing I can keep playing without any obstructions then I feel i`m ok well I hope I am
You haven’t really asked a question, but I guess you are looking for reassurance. Firstly your problem is a common one, most people actually get some ectopics, but some are more aware of them than others, once you learn that awareness it is difficult not to notice them. You probably know already that they are increased by smoking, ( I suspect you are a non-smoker), and also by caffeine. They are also usually abolished during exercise. Once you have been fully checked to exclude significant pathology, and the only test(s) you don’t mention that should have been done are a 24 hour ECG and a cardiomemo if the dysrythmia does not show up on the 24 hour trace.
Generally ectopics are left untreated if they appear benign, but there are drugs that can be used to suppress them like beta-blockers and verapamil, but these both have down-sides.
The only bit of your narrative I was unsure of was your reference to a slow thyroid ( do you mean you are under-active and on levothyroxine?) Your reference to occasional high blood pressure is also a bit odd, as either you have hypertension or you don’t. If you are on anti-hypertensive medication already, drugs which lower BP and suppress ectopics could or can be chosen.
