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Are High Number Of PACs When Diagnosed With Sinus Arrhythmia A Serious Cause For Concern?
Question: Hello, Im a 24 year old female, no smokikng, no drinking, exercise 5 days
a week, and no anxiety/stress. I used to have (in 2014 follwoing a
miscarriage) sinus tachycardia and then POTS. Just recently, I noticed
that I do not believe that I have POTS anymore. When I stand it raises a
lot but its drops VERY fast to what my resting rate is when i lay/sit (60-75 bpm)
with some fast walking it increases, but as soon as i stop i feel it slowing down but very forcibly with hard beats as it slows down almost like pauses ??? eventually goes back into normal sinus rhythm.
Most importantly, just recently, I was experiencing some fatigue and
lighheadedness, and when im at rest, before sleep, or after working out i
feel some forceful beats. not fast, but just forceful. They dont cause any
symptoms just bothersome when they happen, i notice i dont feel them
when im active or running. Basically I had a 24 hour holter monitor which
showed 70 PVCS and 730 PACS! the number of PACS really concerns
me a lot, because ive been searching and i have not found one case
where someone my age has these many PACS. what is the number of
concern, especially at my age. I also have sinus arythnmia and cant tell
if im feeling pauses of my pulse slowing down with breathing in my neck
or pacs. Im constantly stressing myself out now about things like sudden
death and ive heard that there is studies that PACS may soon lead to
Afib. Im 24 and its ruining my life. my doctors are not very concerned, i
just really need a second opinion.
a week, and no anxiety/stress. I used to have (in 2014 follwoing a
miscarriage) sinus tachycardia and then POTS. Just recently, I noticed
that I do not believe that I have POTS anymore. When I stand it raises a
lot but its drops VERY fast to what my resting rate is when i lay/sit (60-75 bpm)
with some fast walking it increases, but as soon as i stop i feel it slowing down but very forcibly with hard beats as it slows down almost like pauses ??? eventually goes back into normal sinus rhythm.
Most importantly, just recently, I was experiencing some fatigue and
lighheadedness, and when im at rest, before sleep, or after working out i
feel some forceful beats. not fast, but just forceful. They dont cause any
symptoms just bothersome when they happen, i notice i dont feel them
when im active or running. Basically I had a 24 hour holter monitor which
showed 70 PVCS and 730 PACS! the number of PACS really concerns
me a lot, because ive been searching and i have not found one case
where someone my age has these many PACS. what is the number of
concern, especially at my age. I also have sinus arythnmia and cant tell
if im feeling pauses of my pulse slowing down with breathing in my neck
or pacs. Im constantly stressing myself out now about things like sudden
death and ive heard that there is studies that PACS may soon lead to
Afib. Im 24 and its ruining my life. my doctors are not very concerned, i
just really need a second opinion.
Brief Answer:
Nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
After going through the medical details provided by you I understand your concern for your health and I would like to first of all assure you that there is nothing significant happening that can cause a life threat.
Secondly I would like to highlight the fact that stress, Anxiety and emotions are very important causes of such ectopic heart beats. The more you think about them or get stressed the more they bother you. It's a vicious cycle which you need to break.
Now the good thing is that your Holter report doesn't revealed any Arrythmias. It's a normal physiology to have a strong heart beat after an ectopic beat. Having around 700 pac in a full Holter report is nothing significant.
Now my opinion for you is to first of all stop thinking and researching on it as it's not gonna harm you. If you feel stress or anxiety the best thing is to start doing some yoga or meditation daily.
Also I would like to suggest you sone tests
1. Echocardiography
2. Complete Blood Count
3. Serum electrolytes levels
4. Thyroid function test
Tests are to make sure there is no other cause for this.
I hope this information will relieve your worries and guide you properly.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
After going through the medical details provided by you I understand your concern for your health and I would like to first of all assure you that there is nothing significant happening that can cause a life threat.
Secondly I would like to highlight the fact that stress, Anxiety and emotions are very important causes of such ectopic heart beats. The more you think about them or get stressed the more they bother you. It's a vicious cycle which you need to break.
Now the good thing is that your Holter report doesn't revealed any Arrythmias. It's a normal physiology to have a strong heart beat after an ectopic beat. Having around 700 pac in a full Holter report is nothing significant.
Now my opinion for you is to first of all stop thinking and researching on it as it's not gonna harm you. If you feel stress or anxiety the best thing is to start doing some yoga or meditation daily.
Also I would like to suggest you sone tests
1. Echocardiography
2. Complete Blood Count
3. Serum electrolytes levels
4. Thyroid function test
Tests are to make sure there is no other cause for this.
I hope this information will relieve your worries and guide you properly.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Ive heard that over 200 pacs can lead to afib...
Is this true? And majority of those who have over 100 pacs are 55+ age...is this true?
Have you seen patients my age (24) with this many pacs but little pvcs?
Also right after exercise i feel a lot of them, sometimes many in a row is this dangerous?
Is this true? And majority of those who have over 100 pacs are 55+ age...is this true?
Have you seen patients my age (24) with this many pacs but little pvcs?
Also right after exercise i feel a lot of them, sometimes many in a row is this dangerous?
Brief Answer:
Hello again
Detailed Answer:
Yes PACs is a commonly encountered complain in cardiology practice and many young patients present with them with a complain of pounding heart and unpleasant palpitations. But in long term follow ups they are all fine because these pacs won’t cause any damage to heart.
PACs do become an important symptom if it start happening in a diseased heart like patients with valvular heart disease or coronary artery diseases. But in structurally normal heart and young individuals they remain harmless.
So in a nutshell in your particular case kindly get an echocardiogram done and if it comes normal then there is nothing to worry for. Just relax.
Hope to have been helpful.
Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Hello again
Detailed Answer:
Yes PACs is a commonly encountered complain in cardiology practice and many young patients present with them with a complain of pounding heart and unpleasant palpitations. But in long term follow ups they are all fine because these pacs won’t cause any damage to heart.
PACs do become an important symptom if it start happening in a diseased heart like patients with valvular heart disease or coronary artery diseases. But in structurally normal heart and young individuals they remain harmless.
So in a nutshell in your particular case kindly get an echocardiogram done and if it comes normal then there is nothing to worry for. Just relax.
Hope to have been helpful.
Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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