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What Causes Skipped Heartbeats When Suffering From Hernia?

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Posted on Sat, 31 May 2014
Question: MY WIFE'S HEARTBEAT SKIPS SOMETIMES,SHE WAS TOLD SHE HAS A HIATAL HERNIA BUT WHEN HER HEART SKIPS IT FRIGHTENS HER
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
needs ecg

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

The hiatal hernia would not impact on the heart rate or rhythm.

In the normal heart beat, a signal starts from a specific point in the heart called the sinoatrial node. This signal then spreads along a specific pathway to allow the rest of the heart to be stimulated resulting in the heart beat.

Abnormal rates or rhythms occur for different reasons such as: (1) there is increased or decreased stimulation at the sinoatrial node causing abnormal heart rates
(2)a different part of the heart is sending a signal
(3)the stimulus travels along a different pathway that it is suppose to
(4) there is blockage along the normal pathway
(5)there is some enlargement or other structural change to the heart
(6)sometimes the cause is not known

Your wife may want to consider an ECG. This tests looks at the rate and rhythm of the heart and can also point (based on any changes seen on the ecg tracing) to any structural changes.

If the ECG is done at a point where she is not experiencing the abnormal beat and therefore normal, then a Holter would be done. This is basically a 24 hour ECG.

In addition, your doctor may consider blood tests to check for anemia and thyroid disease because both of these can cause abnormal heart rates

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (32 minutes later)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE ! SHE HAS BEEN TO A CARDIOLOGIST,REGULAR DOCTOR,EAR/NOSE THROAT DOCTOR...WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO WE HAVE TO GET TO THE CAUSE ? CAN IT BE AN ALLERGY ? HER HEART & BLOOD TESTS ARE ALL NORMAL...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (59 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
allergies normally have additional symptoms

Detailed Answer:
HI,

Allergies would only present with abnormal heart beats if it is a severe reaction in which case there would be other allergy symptoms along with it such as itching, rash, swelling, in some cases food intolerance. The severe reaction would cause the heart to beat fast in response.
In the absence of these symptoms then allergy is not likely.


The ECG and holter would show abnormalites if she experienced the skipped beat during the course of the test, if during of the conduct of the test there were no symptoms then the test would be normal.
If she did experienced the skipping beats during the course of the test and they did not show up on ECG or holter this would be abnormal but would indicate the there are not significant changes in heart rhythm.

All tests would focus on changes to heart.The only other would be a tread mill but this is normally done in patients with a history of ischemic heart disease eg angina

If nothing is found on investigations then normally consideration may be given to whether it is related to caffeinated drinks, over exertion , anxiety.

Please feel free to ask any thing else
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Causes Skipped Heartbeats When Suffering From Hernia?

Brief Answer: needs ecg Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic The hiatal hernia would not impact on the heart rate or rhythm. In the normal heart beat, a signal starts from a specific point in the heart called the sinoatrial node. This signal then spreads along a specific pathway to allow the rest of the heart to be stimulated resulting in the heart beat. Abnormal rates or rhythms occur for different reasons such as: (1) there is increased or decreased stimulation at the sinoatrial node causing abnormal heart rates (2)a different part of the heart is sending a signal (3)the stimulus travels along a different pathway that it is suppose to (4) there is blockage along the normal pathway (5)there is some enlargement or other structural change to the heart (6)sometimes the cause is not known Your wife may want to consider an ECG. This tests looks at the rate and rhythm of the heart and can also point (based on any changes seen on the ecg tracing) to any structural changes. If the ECG is done at a point where she is not experiencing the abnormal beat and therefore normal, then a Holter would be done. This is basically a 24 hour ECG. In addition, your doctor may consider blood tests to check for anemia and thyroid disease because both of these can cause abnormal heart rates I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions