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What Causes Ectopic Beats?
I have had palpitations for 6 years .they are painless but very strong at times. There's no daily pattern. My doctor said to cut out caffeine. My ECG was normal, but a palpitation monitor showed ectopic beats that were "nothing to worry about" just cut out the coffees. I have been on the pill for 10 years, I take antihistamines intermittently for allergic rhinitis . That's all the medication I'm on. I drink alcohol socially . What do you think is the cause?
Fri, 18 Sep 2015
Greetings. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Sometimes human heart produces ectopic beats or extrasystoles or, more popularly known as "skips a beat". It can happen literally to anyone that engages in physical activity, undergoes a lot of psychological stress and consumes caffeine-containing beverages, such as coffee or energy drinks. Alcohol, also, has its effect on the heart conduction and electrical systems, producing tachycardia and, sometimes, extrasystoles. Extrasystole is an ectopic beat and is call so because it is generated from elsewhere in the heart muscle, not in the natural pacemaker of it, the sinus node. Almost inherently, sinus node takes the control after an ectopic beat and produces a more forceful beat and this is sensed by the person - palpitation. Generally, they are totally benign and related to the above origins I described. There is a cut-off number that they can be called pathological, i.e. over 10.000 a day, registered in the 24-hour monitor, and this is a number that mandates treatment. Otherwise, they are benign and nothing to worry about. I, also, would recommend you to withhold or, at least, reduce caffeine intake, so you can reduce or stop these phenomena from happening.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. Best regards.
Dr. Meriton
Sometimes human heart produces ectopic beats or extrasystoles or, more popularly known as "skips a beat". It can happen literally to anyone that engages in physical activity, undergoes a lot of psychological stress and consumes caffeine-containing beverages, such as coffee or energy drinks. Alcohol, also, has its effect on the heart conduction and electrical systems, producing tachycardia and, sometimes, extrasystoles. Extrasystole is an ectopic beat and is call so because it is generated from elsewhere in the heart muscle, not in the natural pacemaker of it, the sinus node. Almost inherently, sinus node takes the control after an ectopic beat and produces a more forceful beat and this is sensed by the person - palpitation. Generally, they are totally benign and related to the above origins I described. There is a cut-off number that they can be called pathological, i.e. over 10.000 a day, registered in the 24-hour monitor, and this is a number that mandates treatment. Otherwise, they are benign and nothing to worry about. I, also, would recommend you to withhold or, at least, reduce caffeine intake, so you can reduce or stop these phenomena from happening.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. Best regards.
Dr. Meriton
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