AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question Hi, I had a panic attack about little over a month ago and my heart beat fast for about 10 seconds if that, all that nite and into the next morning I was had the feeling and thought was going to die except for the fast heart beats. Then every sense then I have been having skipped heart beats and irregular heartbeats. So I have been seeing a doctor about it and he thinks that I have bi-polar. So its been now just about 4 weeks since I have been on Novo-quetiapine. and I have been taking clonazepam during the day when I feel that way. So just three days ago I just started doing weights again and my heart skip beats is it wise to be working out yet. I get really hot in the face when my heart does this and plus sometimes my left hand goes really cold my fingers mostly. Just I wonder is there anything to worry about or will I be ok. Should I wait the full six weeks to see if the pills are going to take effect.
Answer Dear Sheldon,
Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. About half of us have them, they are easy to understand as normal from knowledge of the heart's electrical system, and they don't mean you will ever get heart disease or any catastrophe. They are truly harmless. Anxiety and panic make them more frequent. Please continue your exercise. You will be ok.
