It is sometimes me offering advice to others but on this occasion I could do with some help.
2 Ablations 2013 for PAF. Short episodes of Ectopic beats and 6 second bursts of Tachycardia every now and then since.
Been clear of the above for some time now but started getting a lot of Ectopic beats (1 in 3) with the added complication of NSR swapping between circa 65 bpm and 35 bpm. Couple of visits to Doctor and one to A&E highlighted a lot of Ectopic beats. Doctor not concerned about 35 bpm since I am apparently otherwise fit. Due for 24 hour monitor in 2 weeks time just to check AF is not back.
My question here being, like many of us, I get extremely anxious when my heart starts doing something completely different from what I have experienced before. Having got into a state over it for the last 3 weeks, I now have my suspicions. I am not concerned about the Ectopic beats although, I feel every one of them. Could my intense anxiety with the increased number of ectopics be causing my heart beats per minute to drop to 35 (circa)? When it drops to 35, I feel as if somebody is strangling my lungs and although I am not out of breath, my breathing is tight to the point where I feel as if I am about to pass out although I am not giddy or light headed.
Would appreciate all thoughts and comments.
Written by
RichMert
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Not sure if it’s going to resolve your problems Rich, but given the recent extreme weather, are you sure you are keeping well hydrated. I’m in my mid 70’s and try to maintain a reasonable degree of moderate exercise, but recently I have noticed subtle changes which I have associated with the impact of the hot weather……
Well Doctor said my heart rate was normal so I told him to check it again, it was 45. He could not understand how I could know that the rate had dropped just sitting in a seat without putting my finger on my pulse. My response being that I felt as if somebody was ringing my lungs out at 45 but OK at 65.
Hi sorry to hear about your experiences. I also suffer badly from ectopics and get a similar frequency eg 1 in 3 but it’s rarely consistent and can easily avoid detection even with 24 or 48 hour ecg monitors. A 7 day test might give you some answers, but again in my experience unless you get a heavy burden of ectopics virtually all the time the doctors don’t seem keen to take much action. I’ve had my medication tweaked a few times without having much effect on them, and it’s mainly down to self help to try and live with them. Of course anything new is a worry, and anxiety is a terrible additional enemy. Loved ones can’t really put themselves in your shoes, and it can be a silent hell sometimes. I think the problem lies in the view that ectopics are considered to be benign, and ablation for them is a very blunt tool. My heart rate is pretty low to start with and beta blockers (about the only thing offered to “take the edge off”) only drop my heart rate even further. I’m afraid I don’t have any good answers, but I suspect anxiety is making you feel worse. If you haven’t already do try deep breathing exercises which some feel can help. Practice relaxation techniques ( easier said than done when you are suffering!) and consider vitamin supplements eg magnesium which are often mentioned as helping. I’m happy to chat with you further on the subject, as the more shared experiences we have the more we can try and help ourselves through these difficult times. Good luck!
Try the link below for a breathing exercise. It's from one of Dr Sanjay Gupta's videos on YouTube which cover ectopics.
A lot of people on this forum rate his help and advice, and he seems genuinely interested in the subject.
There are other variations on the deep breathing exercise which involve holding your breath as well as inhaling and exhaling for longer, and I can send you more links if you are interested.
I think slowing your breathing down is actually good for other things , like reducing (at least temporarily) your blood pressure, and there is no doubt that when we are anxious your breathing speeds up and gets shallower.
On the other hand this isn't a cure, as I know only too well, but it is another tool to put in the kit bag!
I don’t know what means you have of monitoring yourself but I think you’ll find you are having short pauses. So maybe slightly longer than your average ectopic. Or runs of ectopics which certainly made me feel very uncomfortable.
Hi Rich You may have been told this one already, but when I get ectopics (some running most of the time, not as bad as you report, but can be annoying particularly at night) and if my chest feels "stiff" at the same time, doc said to cross my arms in front, like I am pointing left and right at the same time, and stretch gently, and then crook arms by my sides and push my elbows round to the back (keeping arms bent) as far as I can. Just to stretch my rib space, as we tend to curl up when we feel nervous or unwell. I find this helps with anxiety overbreathing and chest stiffness. I suspect as well as stretching it also provides something to concentrate on As anxiety sure does not help!
wow, I have not heard of that one but I need to read directions again and give it a try. The thing that bugs me is the stigma of putting your hand up to anxiety but it bugs you more when there is a genuine reason for being anxious but they dont really give you advice. I will try this though, many thanks
Thanks for posting, and this is similar to a situation which I am facing now. I had an ablation over a couple of years ago. I take three different blood pressure drugs, including a beta blocker, and I take Flecainide. And I have been doing this since the ablation with no problems. However the last two months I have developed this issue. In the morning, largely between 10-12, I have a low heart rate — 40-42 BPMs, and have had no symptoms in the past. But somehow, I have developed a fear that this heart rate is too slow. So I have some anxiety about this.
Then, recently, I am getting ectopic beats…usually two quick heartbeats in a row and then regular, and then two heartbeats in a row. This causes more anxiety — even though I know they are harmless. But anxiety makes it worse, it exaggerates the ectopics, and so it goes. If I am doing something completely different, like doing an exercise walk or playing pickleball or focusing seriously on something else, I don’t notice this. But if I am driving, and relaxed, I get the anxious feeling and the odd beats, which reinforce each other. Sometimes I have to stop driving, get out and walk around.
The rest of the day and night, I don’t have this problem. I know I have this in my head now, and I am not sure what to do…while it seems trivial as I write this, it is not when I am experiencing it. Yesterday morning, I was on a very interesting historical tour, but I couldn’t listen because I was having these ectopic beats and anxiety and couldn’t listen. Appreciate any thoughts in addition to what I see. The deep breathing normally helps anxiety, but in this case, it slows my heart rate when that is the issue.
You just summed up exactly my situation. If I get engrossed in something, the feeling goes away but, this can be interrupted by a strange sensation that tells you that all is not well. Yes driving can be frightening when you feel your breath is being taken away.I have just left Doctors surgery and he told me to stop taking the Propanolol which was prescribed for Ectopic Beats because it slows the heart down. He has instead given me Omeprazole for digestion until I get the ECG 24 hour monitor. He seems to think all is ok but that given the time (2 years) since the last bout of Ectopics, that I had forgotten how bad they were and getting over anxious as a result (this could be slowing the heart down). He thinks I will get used to them again and learn to live with it....... who is he kidding, I feel every missed beat. Spoke to the Pharmacist who confirmed no risk of taking Omeprazole, with Blood Pressure Tablets and Statins. I asked her for her thoughts on using a CBD Oil Spray to reduce the anxiety and she could not see any issue. She advised the obvious that I should keep away from Tea and Coffee for a while. Surprisingly, she also suggested that I reduce the exercise which for me is walking and an electric Bike which, I do not overdo. I should point out the the Pharmacist also suffered form Ectopic beats and was more than interested in the idea of CBD oil.
We can beat this and knowing that anxiety has a negative effect has got you half way to already fixing the problem. The best advice I can give for the anxiety is that although you accept it is a problem, trying to stop it actually prolongs it. Trust me, I know how difficult it is to ignore but try to induce further stress deliberately and strangely, you cannot do it. I hope you are laughing at this point but believe me, it is true, only fix is a distraction.
I am only laughing mildly 😅 because of course you are correct. The more you think about getting rid of it, the more it looms large. Interesting thought about CBD oil, my wife gets benefits of this to help promote sleep. Not sure how it fits here but might be good. Also not sure how it interacts with Flecainide or Labatolol.
I have noticed that if I experience the ectopic beats when my HR is 50 or above, the slow breathing really helps. And walking really helps when at 42 or 45 BPM. I think the reason I get anxious when I am driving in the morning and have this condition is that I can get out and walk around. I have recently switched driving with my wife, and focused on answer email or something, and the HR returns to normal. Odd…or maybe not so odd. A continual learning experience…
I appreciate you sharing your experience, as well as others.
I don’t have a great deal of advice because I’ve never had such big variations to heart rate. I have had the 1 in 3 before as well and I understand how horrendous it feels. Mine lasted a long time and in the end I had to just go and do other things to try and take my mind off it. For me, deep breathing can work, but I often need more stimulus to take my mind off the ectopics, just sitting around doesn’t always work for me (unfortunately).
You did not tell if you take medication. A 7 day holter monitor or more would tell you why the heart went so low. This 35 bpm is not compatible with life if it happens on long periods. For your ectopics I would take magnesium supplements and potassium as bananas or V8 low sodium. Usually it helps pretty good with ectopics. Stay well hydrated too. Also pay attention to the diet since high sodium food could cause these issues too. Some food as cheese which contains tyramine can trigger ectopics too. It depends on each person. Please don’t chase after the triggers, it would drive us nuts.
It is funny how you forget the fixes when you have been without the Ectopics for a while. I have a big box of Magnesium Citrate for Ectopics, hope they have not gone out of date. Not sure if I should be taking them with the Omeprazole that I have just been given. I take Lisinopril for Blood Pressure and Atovastatin for Cholesterol.
I have never looked closely at Magnesium Citrate, so I just did. But the produce description did not mention anything about about ectopic benefits, mainly about clearing the bowels. Am I looking at the right supplement?
Ectopics can be debilitating. I got mine under control with a daily dose of 25 mg Metoprolol. I also have pretty much zeroed out alcohol. To control anxiety, which can trigger ectopics, I take 10 mg/day of Lexapro, an anti-anxiety drug
I think we both came to the conclusion that the Ectopics were causing reflux. May be a coincidence but I have been unaware of any tightness since starting the Omeprazole
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
As anxiety sure does not help!
PVC’s (ectopics) or AF? 
Thought it was ectopics 
ventricular ectopics 
Ectopics in the night
Ectopics in the morning.
