Good afternoon.
Does anyone else become frustrated with constant ectopic heart beats. On average I get them every sixth heartbeat and they are driving my insane 😔
I don't drink a lot of caffeine and my stress levels are managed at the minute, so I can't understand why this is happening a lot more than before.
Any suggestions would be most welcomed x
For some people they just are, regardless of things they cut out, but there are other well-established triggers for ectopics: for me any amount is too much, but some people with arrhythmias triggered by ectopics are fine with caffeine, whilst they struggle with ginger, or even certain medications. The medically agreed list of things that *may* exacerbate or cause additional ectopics for some people is:
Caffeine (including the relatively small amounts in regular tea and chocolate)
Alcohol
Smoking
Ginger
Dark chocolate
White chocolate
Pseudoephedrine (often found in cold and cough remedies)
Asthma meds including salbutamol and ipatropium
Recreational drugs
Insufficient sleep
Anxiety
Stress
Hyperthyroidism
Hormonal changes including the menopause and pregnancy
I also had a major episode of SVT triggered by the use of the normal, adrenaline based local anaesthetic for a filling at the dentist. The docs told me I had to use an adrenaline free version going forward, but it’s not a well-recognised issue.
I realise that having an arrhythmia triggered by ectopics is slightly different, but my ectopics have substantially decreased and I haven’t had a single episode of SVT in 5 years because I decided enough was enough and entirely cut out the things that trigger me. It at least gives the meds I’m on a chance of helping. Prior to that my ectopics were constant and I would have at least 3 or 4 prolonged episodes of SVT a month. Sometimes 3 or 4 a week. I do still get VEs, but nowhere near to the extent I was experiencing them before.
Hi and thank you for your response. I'm so pleased to hear that your ectopics are under control 🙂 I rarely drink and don't smoke. I eat a well balanced diet, but probably don't exercise as much as I should. Although I do find that stress and lack of sleep do affect my palpitations. I'm hoping that I will find my trigger one day and hoping that a change or additional meds may help.
Since being on Entresto my Ectopic Beats have gone from 1000s per day to just a few 100 it has made a real difference.
I don't know if it is a combination of the other Meds with Entresto but it works for me !! I do take a 7.5mg Bisoprolol as well.
ps Entresto is prescribed for Heart Failure not for the Ectopic Beats
Hands Face Space to Stay Safe
N1kk1B
I find my ectopic beats appear out of nowhere. Good days, bad days, no rhyme or reason. Do everything you can through good nutrition, vitamins, no caffeine, no alcohol, no smoking, rest and no stress. Even with all of this under check you can still get them. That is what I have learned about this condition. Unfortunately it is something you just have to get used to.
Hi If I was you I would change my Dentist
UNLESS you hadn't informed him/her that you had an irregular Heart Beat. The adrenaline is a recognised common factor and All Dentist are trained to recognise it.
Hands Face Space to Stay Safe
Thank you for your response. My Cardiologist is going to try me on a new medication, so hopefully that may help.
I have Ectopics and I totally sympathise with you. They’re horrible! Had them for years but they’ve become much worse recently. I find lack of sleep and stressful situations are a huge trigger for me, but sometimes they just appear out of the blue even if I’m relaxed and awake. No explanation at all.
Currently having another round of tests, stress ecg, monitor, had a cardiac mri a couple of days ago to hopefully see where they’re coming from. Some days I’ll get a hundred, some days in the thousands. No reason why it changes. Frustrating! All previous tests have come back ok with diagnosis of PVCs.
Thank you everyone 🙂
Hi I’m writing this from hospital. I’ve had ectopics which have increased over the last 7mths which were going on all night and day so came to A&E. They did ultra sound & X-ray all came back normal. Cardiologist said they are going to put implant under the skin to see what’s happening and refer me to cardiologist who deals with electrical impulses of the heart. He said there is no quick fix as beta blockers are no good for me as I have low pulse.
Told him I can’t cope with no sleep and asked for sleeping tablets, hope taking these won’t adversely effect me and I am worried about taking them.
I do hope you can get yours sorted but have you been on YouTube -Dr Sanjay Gupta who talks all about ectopics. He may give you some help and hope.
All the best
Hello
Only been Hospitalised once with ectopic beats They started to occur every 1 in 3 then every 1 in 2 then every other beat very very off putting, but brought back under control with just lying flat for a few hours !!! At one point my BP did drop to Dangerously Low but it came back up when the Cavalry Arrived with the Heart Start Pads .
Hands Face Space to stay safe
Thank you for your response. I'm sorry to hear that you are in hospital. I hope things work out for you.
I'll take a look at the YouTube clip you have suggested. Thank you.
Yes love Sanjay Gupta!
What's your normal resting heart rate, N1kk-B?
Yes, you're on the lower side, like me, ectopics can be a problem as there's a bigger gap between beats. You might find gentle exercise, just to get you up to 70 or 75 helps. I could even stop AF attacks like this. I have also found consistent exercise every day to raise the heart rate a bit can also reduce them. Finally, magnesium is, I think, currently helping me out of a few months of really bad ectos. Much more steady, but it took over a month to kick in, if that's what's helping. 2 x 200 mg / day Mg Citrate.
I've got them following AVR. Hate, hate, hate as keep me up at night. Good luck and please tell us what it is called.
Tessie x
Frustrated with hospital appointment 
Frustrating! it's a little off topic but relevant 
Frustration with cardiologist, results of treadmill test
So frustrated with the system!!
Between 2 appointments, frustration building!
