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My Heart Raced For 5-10 Seconds Then Normalized. I Only
Question: my heart raced for 5-10 seconds then normalized. I only have a limited amount of characters for this question. what causes a short burst of very fast heartbeat
my heart raced for 5-10 seconds then normalized. I only have a limited amount of characters for this question. what causes a short burst of very fast heartbeat
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms could be related to cardiac arrhythmia ( maybe sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, supraventrivular tachycardia etc.).
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and performing some tests:
- a resting ECG
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalances.
An ambulatory 24-48 hour ECG monitoring ( Holter) would help examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged period of time and possibly determine the type of cardiac arrhythmia which occurs during these episodes.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding caffeine or alcohol intake, which are known to trigger cardiac arrhythmia.
Hope you will find this answer helpful !
I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms could be related to cardiac arrhythmia ( maybe sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, supraventrivular tachycardia etc.).
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and performing some tests:
- a resting ECG
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalances.
An ambulatory 24-48 hour ECG monitoring ( Holter) would help examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged period of time and possibly determine the type of cardiac arrhythmia which occurs during these episodes.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding caffeine or alcohol intake, which are known to trigger cardiac arrhythmia.
Hope you will find this answer helpful !
I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms could be related to cardiac arrhythmia ( maybe sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, supraventrivular tachycardia etc.).
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and performing some tests:
- a resting ECG
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalances.
An ambulatory 24-48 hour ECG monitoring ( Holter) would help examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged period of time and possibly determine the type of cardiac arrhythmia which occurs during these episodes.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding caffeine or alcohol intake, which are known to trigger cardiac arrhythmia.
Hope you will find this answer helpful !
I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms could be related to cardiac arrhythmia ( maybe sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, supraventrivular tachycardia etc.).
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and performing some tests:
- a resting ECG
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalances.
An ambulatory 24-48 hour ECG monitoring ( Holter) would help examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged period of time and possibly determine the type of cardiac arrhythmia which occurs during these episodes.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding caffeine or alcohol intake, which are known to trigger cardiac arrhythmia.
Hope you will find this answer helpful !
I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank. My initial question was constrained by the 160 character limit of the service. So let me now tell you the full story. I have had paroxysmal afib since 2013 with only 3 instances of irregularly irregular cardiac events in 8 years. Recently, 4 months, I begin exercising strenuously. Everything was fine until about a month ago when I noticed occasional palpitations during exercise. No other symptoms. No pain, pressure, shortness of breath, light headed XXXXXXX nothing. I mentioned it to my cardiologist and he put me on an event monitor. I am on day 18 of 30 days. I am anxious by nature always aware of the patch on my chest. Tonight out of the blue and for the first time in 18 days I noticed my heart racing for 5-10 seconds then it normalized and has remained that way now for 3 hours as I write to you. Again, no additional symptoms; just a short burst of very rapid beats then normal. I had a thyroid blood test last week and that was fine. I take 80 mgs sotalol twice a day, Eliquis recently prescribed while on this event monitor and Xanax 1 mg 2-3 times a day as needed. I exercise 5 times a week rigorously and I love it and I feel great doing it. I’m just curious to get an expert opinion how I can live a normal active life but rarely from time to time, almost always at night, I get these very rapid beats or occasionally skip or xtra beats. Please tell me your professional opinion of my symptoms and prognosis. FYI, I hold a PHD in Clinical Psychology so you can speak to me as technically as you want.
Thank. My initial question was constrained by the 160 character limit of the service. So let me now tell you the full story. I have had paroxysmal afib since 2013 with only 3 instances of irregularly irregular cardiac events in 8 years. Recently, 4 months, I begin exercising strenuously. Everything was fine until about a month ago when I noticed occasional palpitations during exercise. No other symptoms. No pain, pressure, shortness of breath, light headed XXXXXXX nothing. I mentioned it to my cardiologist and he put me on an event monitor. I am on day 18 of 30 days. I am anxious by nature always aware of the patch on my chest. Tonight out of the blue and for the first time in 18 days I noticed my heart racing for 5-10 seconds then it normalized and has remained that way now for 3 hours as I write to you. Again, no additional symptoms; just a short burst of very rapid beats then normal. I had a thyroid blood test last week and that was fine. I take 80 mgs sotalol twice a day, Eliquis recently prescribed while on this event monitor and Xanax 1 mg 2-3 times a day as needed. I exercise 5 times a week rigorously and I love it and I feel great doing it. I’m just curious to get an expert opinion how I can live a normal active life but rarely from time to time, almost always at night, I get these very rapid beats or occasionally skip or xtra beats. Please tell me your professional opinion of my symptoms and prognosis. FYI, I hold a PHD in Clinical Psychology so you can speak to me as technically as you want.
Sir, I hope you recieved my follow up question above. Thank you in advance
Sir, I hope you recieved my follow up question above. Thank you in advance
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the detailed information!
I think that these episodes are episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , which seems to be rare but present.
As you are wearing a Holter monitor, I think that it has registered that episode and your doctor will be able to give a more detailed information on your heart rate after reviewing the registrations.
Anyway, considering the fact that you are on Sotalol, I would recommend increase the dose gradually up to 120mg twice daily, in order to help prevent such episodes of atrial fibrillation.
If this does not help, I would recommend switching from sotalol to flecaininde 100mg twice daily (which is another type of anti-arrhythmic drug, belonging to I-c class of anti-arrhythmics). This drug may be more effective compared to sotalol.
We can not know what makes these episodes occur, maybe anxiety, as they happet at night.
Anyway, making the above changes to your medication may help prevent these episodes from occurring.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the detailed information!
I think that these episodes are episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , which seems to be rare but present.
As you are wearing a Holter monitor, I think that it has registered that episode and your doctor will be able to give a more detailed information on your heart rate after reviewing the registrations.
Anyway, considering the fact that you are on Sotalol, I would recommend increase the dose gradually up to 120mg twice daily, in order to help prevent such episodes of atrial fibrillation.
If this does not help, I would recommend switching from sotalol to flecaininde 100mg twice daily (which is another type of anti-arrhythmic drug, belonging to I-c class of anti-arrhythmics). This drug may be more effective compared to sotalol.
We can not know what makes these episodes occur, maybe anxiety, as they happet at night.
Anyway, making the above changes to your medication may help prevent these episodes from occurring.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the detailed information!
I think that these episodes are episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , which seems to be rare but present.
As you are wearing a Holter monitor, I think that it has registered that episode and your doctor will be able to give a more detailed information on your heart rate after reviewing the registrations.
Anyway, considering the fact that you are on Sotalol, I would recommend increase the dose gradually up to 120mg twice daily, in order to help prevent such episodes of atrial fibrillation.
If this does not help, I would recommend switching from sotalol to flecaininde 100mg twice daily (which is another type of anti-arrhythmic drug, belonging to I-c class of anti-arrhythmics). This drug may be more effective compared to sotalol.
We can not know what makes these episodes occur, maybe anxiety, as they happet at night.
Anyway, making the above changes to your medication may help prevent these episodes from occurring.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the detailed information!
I think that these episodes are episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , which seems to be rare but present.
As you are wearing a Holter monitor, I think that it has registered that episode and your doctor will be able to give a more detailed information on your heart rate after reviewing the registrations.
Anyway, considering the fact that you are on Sotalol, I would recommend increase the dose gradually up to 120mg twice daily, in order to help prevent such episodes of atrial fibrillation.
If this does not help, I would recommend switching from sotalol to flecaininde 100mg twice daily (which is another type of anti-arrhythmic drug, belonging to I-c class of anti-arrhythmics). This drug may be more effective compared to sotalol.
We can not know what makes these episodes occur, maybe anxiety, as they happet at night.
Anyway, making the above changes to your medication may help prevent these episodes from occurring.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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