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What Causes Skipped Heart Beats While Resting?
Question: I have been having skipped heart beats late at night when I am trying to relax and sleep. I have had an echo and holter done a year ago and everything was normal. Every time I go to the ER or a cardiologist everything seems to be fine. It is only when I lie down at night and early in the morning. My resting heart rate used to be around 85bpm now it is about 65bpm. I would follow up with my cardiologist again but I am in the process of moving and unemployed so I do not have my medical benefits any longer.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any serious heart disorder.
Anxiety could be the cause of your symptoms. You should know that during these periods of the day, you are more aware of your heart beats (totally relaxing and feeling your respiration and heart beat) and this may explain why you are more susceptible to feel some skipped heart beats during those moments.
From the other hand, some skipped heart beats are quite normal in healthy persons. They are related to physical or emotional stress. But some sensitive persons (like you) are more aware of them compared to other persons, who do not even notice them during the day.
Your actual heart rate values are perfectly normal. Besides your last performed cardiac tests have shown nothing abnormal.
Besides, as your symptoms occur only during lying down, they could also be related to gastro-esophageal reflux.
I would just recommend trying an antiacid or omeprazole before sleeping. If it helps reduce the skipped heart beats, it would indicate possible gastro-esophageal reflux underlying your symptoms.
If your troubles persist, I would recommend consulting with your doctor for a physical exam and some new tests:
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance.
A new 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter) would help reassure you that nothing abnormal is going on with your heart.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any serious heart disorder.
Anxiety could be the cause of your symptoms. You should know that during these periods of the day, you are more aware of your heart beats (totally relaxing and feeling your respiration and heart beat) and this may explain why you are more susceptible to feel some skipped heart beats during those moments.
From the other hand, some skipped heart beats are quite normal in healthy persons. They are related to physical or emotional stress. But some sensitive persons (like you) are more aware of them compared to other persons, who do not even notice them during the day.
Your actual heart rate values are perfectly normal. Besides your last performed cardiac tests have shown nothing abnormal.
Besides, as your symptoms occur only during lying down, they could also be related to gastro-esophageal reflux.
I would just recommend trying an antiacid or omeprazole before sleeping. If it helps reduce the skipped heart beats, it would indicate possible gastro-esophageal reflux underlying your symptoms.
If your troubles persist, I would recommend consulting with your doctor for a physical exam and some new tests:
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance.
A new 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter) would help reassure you that nothing abnormal is going on with your heart.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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