Expert: David Richardson - 8/30/2006

Question
Hi

My husband experienced a very uncomfortable night last evening after we'd gone to bed. Throughout most of the night his heart kept missing a beat, re-commencing with a large jolt and what appeared to be an increased flow of blood through the veins - based on seeing the neck vein bulge with blood flow when the heart-beat (HB) recommenced. The hb increased in speed to 130 bpm (normal hb 98 bpm)just before the missed beat going nearer to normal speed after.

There is a family history of early death for the men - with most dying of heart attack in their mid 50's.

My husband is now 49 years old, has a physical job and likes active sports when his joints permit, so is fairly fit. He is not on medication but takes a lot of Ibrubofen for joint pain which we think is associated with arthritis. Other than the joint pain and last nights scare, his physical health is good rarely getting colds or other illnesses. He doesn't smoke, but does drink alchohol (primarily beer and wine with a once-a-year shot of whisky with his Burns' night haggis).

Particularly due to the family history I am very woried and he is avoiding going to a doctor to get this checked. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

caroline


Answer
Dear Mrs. Webster,

Skipped heart beats are normal in the senses that about half of us have them, that they're easy to explain as normal cardiac events 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.  But your husband's family history should lead him to a doctor at once to measure his blood pressure and blood cholesterol.  A lot of ibuprofen increases his risk for heart attack a little bit.  Moderate alcohol, 2 glasses of wine or two beers a day decreases risk of heart attack a little.  Let the skipped beats and the increase in heartbeat before each skipped beat lead him to a doctor, not about the skipped beats but to do all possible to prevent heart attack.  Oh, the bulging neck veins are o.k., just part of the skipped beat.

Please write back if this note doesn't really answer all your questions.

David Richardson


`