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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Heart & Cardiology > Ectopic question for Dr. Richardson
Expert: David Richardson
Date: 5/9/2008
Subject: Ectopic question for Dr. Richardson
Question
Dr. Richardson,
I am a 21 year old male. Towards the end of last March I began having palpitations out of the blue. I had an echo and holter monitor along with some ecgs. Echo reports I have EF of 60-65%, mild tricuspid regurgitation. Everything else (echo and ecg) was normal. Holter monitor reported 22 ectopic beats all of which were single PVC's. I felt every one of them. I understand that compared with other individuals, that this is a very low number of ectopics, but these feel so bad and abnormal that they frighten me so much. Sometimes it feels like a strong beat in my chest that can suck the air out of me and sometimes a flutter that can last a second or two.
I have been reading some people's experiences with PVC's and some people report having thousands of these everyday. I am so frightened that I could end up like this. However, the pvc's stopped for about a week in April then started up again, then stopped a couple weeks ago again and I haven't had them since but I am anticipating them with such strong anxiety. Is it normal for these to act like this? Am I at any risk for these to get worse and worse? I am fearing these so much that my life has just been filled with worry ever since having these.
My anxiety has been so bad since December I became somewhat of an agoraphobic. My doctor says there isn't anything wrong with my heart but has me seeing an Electrophysiologist next monday to make sure because I have had some unexplained bouts of syncope.
One more thing, doctor. When I saw the doctor about these palpitations, he gave me an x-ray of the chest and coincendentally found a spot on my left lung. Got a CT-scan and they think it is a minor fungal infection or something and are not concerned. Is it a coincidence that the palps came around the same time I contracted this infection? Could the infection have anything to do with the palps?
Sorry for taking so much of your time, Doctor. I am just so scared about all of this. Thank you so much.
Answer
Dear Matt,
PVC's are normal cardiac activity; normal in the senses that about half of us have them, that they are easy to understand as normal from knowledge of the heart's electrical system, and that they don't mean you have heart disease or will in the future develop heart disease or any catastrophe.
It is coincidence that the palps came around the same time as your lung infection, which has nothing to do with the palps.
Please don't be scared. PVC's are no threat to life or health. Please ignore them.
Don't hesitate to write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
David Richardson
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