Skipping heart beat? What can cause this if stress test and blood work come back ok after chest pains?

Question

About a month ago I had an episode of severe chest pain. This came in two sets , the first lasted about ten minutes ,then a ten minute break , then 15-20 minutes of severe center of chest pain.( no pains in arm or neck , jaw, ect.) After going through the ER ,ekg and blood work show no signs of heart problems.A stress test later also came back good, However since this happened I have multiple episodes daily of skipped heart beats, I get a fluttering sensation in my chest and can feel this going on . Checking my pulse during this reveals several missed beats (i have counted up to ten in 1 minute)this happens several times everyday and i cant id a trigger for it . My md heard this and doesn't seem to be very concerned about it. I never had this before the severe chest pains so if the chest pain was not cardiac in nature why do i now have skipping heart beats ?(47 yr old male)

Answer 1

Sounds like PVCs or premature ventricular contractions.  These are usually harmless, but can sometimes hint at irritated ventricles.  People may have them from time to time without any clinical significance.  I work in an ER and we generally monitor people who are having them pretty closely, especially when they are having CP(chest pain) along with them.  It is good that your blood, ekg, and stress test came back normally.  But for this to continue going on is a bit disturbing.  I would go back to my family doctor, or back to the ER even, and ask for a repeat ekg and maybe repeat a repeat blood draw.

Answer 2

Something cheap to try - lots of water when you get this - and lots of water the rest of the time.  Make sure you're getting at least 64 oz of water per day.

Also get some Magnesium - NOW foods makes a good one with calcium, zinc and vitamin D.  And get some taurine which is an amino acid.  Take magnesium and taurine together - morning and night for few days.  One of the NOW Foods Magnesium pills with about 1500 mgs of taurine morning and night.

I think you might find that this will straighten out irregular hearts and oddly doctors don't seem to know anything about this - probably too cheap.

But a lot of "funny heart" is a mineral imbalance - and the extra water really helps too.

Answer 3

Most likely, the skipped heart beats are premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), and are benign.  Many people have them, and they are of no clinical significance.  Some people will have episodes of PVCs every other or every third beat.

It's time to be concerned if you feel lightheaded, short of breath or have chest pain.  Not all chest pain is cardiac in nature.  Passing a stress test is a good indication that everything is fine with your heart.  You could have more invasive testing, but it's unlikely to show anything if the stress test was normal.

Why do you have this?  Good question with no good answer.

BTW, doctors DO know about magnesium.  You might find that magnesium supplements (available over the counter) can help.  Mg also can help with esophageal problems, which may have been the source of your pain.  Take as directed, because too much Mg isn't good for you.