Premature Atrial Contractions

[Destinyweathers]

Does anyone else suffer from P.A.C's? And if so how do you deal with urs? What can i do? Are they dangerous? I've been told my heart looks good why the hell do i have these? They're very scary to me and i get nervous the whole time i have em and im pregnant!

[Mercurius]

I have. Asymptomatic, but I see on my ECG. For me the presence of PAC means, that soon I will got afib. Walking up and down often depress my PACs. Also I have to care about my stomach. If my stomach is blowind, than I freqently have PACs.

All the best:

Mercurius

[chevidaniels]

Hi Destiny,

I myself was suffering from these horrid things, so bad sometimes it would make me jump out of my seat ready to run to A&E.

But since I was told I have a healthy heart etc, I just have to live with them.

I would defiantly say look at the lifestyle factors such as Limiting Caffeine, Alcohol, energy drinks and not getting enough seep, Because I notice If I have two coffees My heart starts going crazy.

Obviously In your condition being pregnant I am sure you don't overload on caffeine anyway, But I was told by a cardiologist that palpitations were common in pregnancy and periods due to the hormone changes in the body.

One major thing which made me start getting less Palpitations/Ectopics believe it or not was when I started meditating more, I found anxiety was a trigger with mine,. I also found that meditating and relaxing more meant you have a better coping mechanism when you do get them.

Unfortunately there is not much you can do to get instant relief and stop these, but having a better understanding of the triggers and the remembering the fact that your heart is fine so its just a harmless palpation will help.

[Nichammond]

Destiny, I first had them with my first pregnancy 15 years ago. Then had some more when my son was about six months old which really scared me, as they were like every fourth beat or so sometimes. I didn't have any for several years until they came back about 8-9 years ago, and I tend to just go through phases with these awful things... they are never triggered by anything that I am doing or not doing- they just come... sometimes for a day I will have many or sometimes for a few days or week they seem to flare up. Most days I have at least a couple. I do not know the rhyme or reason, and they still freak me out when I get them, but I try to ignore them and take deep and slow breaths and drink cold water. I'm sorry you are going through this. Try to remember what your Dr. said that your heart is fine and healthy. You can also google on youtube Dr. Sanjay Gupta PAC's, he has a way of explaining so well : )

[Destinyweathers]

Thank you so much

[Ann2703]

Hi Destinyweathers,

I am new to this forum but like you, have had some pretty terrifying PACS. Months of believing that it was all caused by my blood pressure medication meant that I suffered silently for a while as the symptoms are invisible and didn't want to make a fuss at work.

Anxiety definitely plays a part and makes them worse and I am guilty of not listening to my body when I need to rest.

My cardiologist was amazed when I rocked up with sky high BP and my heart doing the gangnam style!

I have had a heart scan and am told it all looks ok. I have been put on beta blockers to help as my BP is not under control.

The side effects are something else to worry about......

I suspect that beta blockers are not something that would be prescribed in pregnancy so talk to your Doctor if you are still worried and look for ways to make time in your day for reflection and relaxation. You are important and so is your health.

Good luck

Ann