Hello. Does anyone know how serious ectopic beats are that come from heart's bottom chamber, rather than those which come from upper chamber? I'm being sent for some tests to determine this, including a holter monitor, but will have to wait about 6 weeks before having them.
I meant to say, tests that determine where the beats are coming from, top or bottom.
As far as I know it is immaterial . Neither are dangerous.
If they pick them up on the holter monitor they will be able to tell instantly as they create quite distinct forms on the ecg. The seriousness of the beats depends on how many you have and whether they appear in groups (e.g. 30 seconds of ectopic beats). All that will be covered by your cardiologist once they have the results. As BobD says, most are completely benign and just irritating. I find the more you focus on the them the more you get!
Please excuse me not knowing, what are ectopics?
I have rvot ectopics and although unpleasant, been told they are benign. Like someone else said, they can tell where r they come from, from the shape on the ecg, Jill
I too am having lots and lots the last week or two, currently waiting for appt for holter, last time I had one I was told they're nothing to worry about, however as said a high burden can turn into a VT which can be a serious condition in a heart with structural abnormalities, I've had holters, stress tests, MRIs and all have come back ok, but I still worry about mine
Me too, despite being told they're benign. They scare the hell out of me if I'm honest.
Serious ectopics can certainly be very dangerous. 31 years ago, aged 37, I had continuous weeks/months of it, maxing out at 15-16 missed beats per minute, leaving me momentarily faint on occasion. I had various stress tests, beta blockers, holsters, and none of them cleared it up. Then I chanced upon an American naturopath (in NZ) who immediately put me on complex highly nutritious salads and brown rice, lots of water and daily exercise. The deeply scary (and, said the specialist, potentially fatal) ectopics vanished in 7 days n didn't return. The relief was tear-jerking.
I've no doubt aided that outcome by maintaining a largely plant-based diet plus exercise. A sense of self-empowerment in maintaining my own health was a rewarding side-effect.
This anecdote may or may not be of interest, but it's my only experience-based contribution to your question.
Chris
Hi cjsabc
That’s amazing. Can you remember if they were atrial or ventricular ectopics?
Atrial
How long did the diet keep the ectopics at bay, and how long before you later developed atrial fibrillation?
The success of the diet n exercise combo lasted from aged 37-61, though meantime my work-life was hectic and my eating n exercise wasn't as strictly kept to all that time, as it might have been.
As a general observation, the truism of You Are What You Eat has proved in my case to be dead accurate. I'm in no way 'faddish' by the way, and not neurotically inclined to strictness, which seems to generate a neurosis all of it's own. Just trying to be common-sensical... and so far it's worked wonderfully well.
Well that is remarkable. Thank you for sharing your story
I think atrial from memory, because I was hit in bout 2010 (aged 61) with persistent AF; different from ectopics. After a successful ablation in 2013 I've kept to the aforementioned regime and (touch wood), it appears to have contributed again to it's disappearance/being held at bay. Prescription-free to date.
Eat well, and flex the muscles n joints!
Recent studies seem to indicate that ectopics are not benign when they are frequent and can lead to AF. I recently had two months of every second beat was ectopic and I am sure it was due to the steroid eyedrops. I still get the odd one, but as scary as that is, you have to sort of get over that moment, because they are essentially not dangerous. I think my 95 year old father had them very frequently (and he was lucky enough not to feel them) and died from cancer. Magnesium make a big difference for me as well.
Had an ablation in May and have been having eptopics over the last few months but only 1 or 2 a day but after being reassured on here and listening to Dr Sanjay Guptil video's about eptopics quite happy they are nothing to worry about.
Ectopics and exercise
Ectopics and AF - whats the link
Ectopics 
