I have been having an extra heart beat since Saturday. It happens frequently and I ve logged 22 in the last 2 hrs. I had palpitations (not to this extent or as frequent) three years ago and had an Echo and Holter monitor. I was told I have PVCs and my heart is healthy. I m considering going to urgent care after work. Should I be concerned?
Hello and thank you for using Chat Doctor. I carefully read your question and I understand your concern. You should not worry. I will explain you something. Extra systolic beats has to do with some electrical issues in the heart. This electrical impulses generate in a part of the heart different from normal sinus rhythm and cause this premature heart contraction. There are different reasons that might cause this extra beats. Simple emotional stress, excessive coffee or alcohol consumption etc. As you have been told, this premature beats might happen in a healthy normal heart and this is normal and nothing to worry about. You should know that there are other pathology like anemia or thyroid gland problem that might be the cause of extra systolic beats. So, my opinion is that if these are interfering in your normal daily live it is time to redo some examinations. The most important is a holder rhythm monitoring to evaluate the frequency of this extra-sistolic beats and a blood test analyze and your thyroid hormones. Knowing the frequency during day and night helps us to decide if we should treat them medically or not. In summary I should tell that it is nothing to worry about, you have just to do this simple examinations. Hope I was helpful. Best regards.