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 I am 37 years old and in decent shape. I have been experiencing on and off fast heart beat, chest tightness, and skipped heart beats. I've had recent tests done which include: ekg's, chest Xray, echo, and stress echo and all was ok. Since I still experience these symptoms, should I get more testing done like a heart CT scan to rule out coronary artery problems or anything that an echo wouldn't detect? My pulse fluctuates from 100-120 during daytime(when doing activity) but is in normal range when sitting. At night it is down between 45-55. Is this normal fluctuation? My doctor thinks its anxiety, but I don't feel anxious. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Have a happy 4th of July!
Answer Dear Sally,
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.
Your pulse fluctuation is iin the normal range.
I think further tests would not help. Coronary artery problems are extremely rare in women your age, unless you had your ovaries out 5 years or more ago.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
