Skipped Heartbeats: A Sign of Impending Cardiac Arrest?

Before I get to the main content of this article, I wish to state somewhat of a disclaimer. My statement would be, to remind readers that any concerning symptoms one might experience, especially those involving the heart, should be reported to a doctor for further evaluation. I would also mention that I am not a medical professional but a well-studied layperson and I derive my information from the top medical information sources that are available. I do however keep my information basic and further details should always be obtained by a licensed medical practitioner.

Heart Skips and Flutters

Most people experience what they perceive as an occasional skipped heartbeat or a pause in heart rhythm. Many times this will be followed by an extra-hard heartbeat or what one might call a thump in their chest or a flip-flopping sensation. In some people, these strange heartbeats which can be felt -- also referred to as "palpitations", are also accompanied by a fluttering feeling in the chest that may last for a few seconds at a time.

These sensations can be very concerning to the one experiencing them however, in the vast majority of cases, they are neither harmful nor dangerous and they do not indicate that heart disease is present or developing. Of course at the same time, they can indicate the manifestation of a health condition needing treatment (either heart-related or indirectly affecting the heart) and so it is always wise to have them evaluated by a medical doctor.

Causes and Contributing Factors for Heart Palpitations

Medical sources, including the U.S. National Institutes of Health, state that these common heart palpitations can occur as a result of stress, anxiety and stimulants in the diet (i.e. caffeine, alcohol and refined sugars). Some people, find that the heart-skip sensations will occur for a brief period of time following hard physical exercise, such as an aerobic work-out or following a brisk walk or a jog.

Hormonal imbalances can contribute to heart palpitations as well, including thyroid disorders and changes in sex hormone levels, such as those that occur with menopause, pregnancies and menstrual cycles in women. Some medical experts also believe that untreated hypertensive conditions (high blood pressure) can also contribute to heart palpitations.

According to many medical sources on heart-health subjects, a condition called "Mitral Valve Prolapse" can also be a factor in heart palpitations. This common but usually benign "click-murmur" effects from 15 to 20 percent of the general population to some degree, according to some medical statistics. Yet others, who experience these strange heartbeat sensations, will not identify any particular trigger for them but they simply experience them for unknown reasons.

My Personal Experience with Heart Skips

When I was a teenager, I first experienced episodes of skipped heartbeats, which were very concerning to me. These would occur in phases but with some frequency, continuing into my twenties. I would then have years at a time that would pass, during my thirties and early forties, in which the heart-skips would only occur rarely and sometimes, I would only feel one occur and afterward none would occur for weeks or months at a time (at least none I could actually feel).

Now in my late forties, I have had a few phases of these but I have identified very definite triggers for mine, which include consuming chocolate or beverages containing caffeine, at any level above small amounts. Moderate to excessive consumption of these and refined sugars, will often set off a phase of heart-skips for me. My suspicion is that this is due to my already having a propensity toward being stressed and anxious, which can be exacerbated by stimulants. I have in fact experienced anxiety disorder symptoms, including occasional panic attacks, at various points in my life (rare now). I also tend to push myself too-hard in my work activities, rather than taking needed rest periods and I will become stressed-out, resulting in the heart palpitations. Lacking proper amounts of sleep can contribute to them in my case as well.

In Conclusion

Premature Ventricular Contractions (originating from the lower ventricles) and Premature Atrial Contractions (originating from the upper ventricles) are common types of palpitations that can both cause sensations of heart-skips but in most cases, they do not indicate heart disease. While some sources state that these are far more concerning if they occur with frequency, I would tend to disagree with this being a general rule, due to the fact that online patient forums are seeing posts by the 1,000s, written by people who suffer anxiety disorders and chronic stress, who report experiencing PVCs and/or PACs anywhere from a few per day, to one, every few heartbeats. In many of these posts, the patients are saying that their heart function tests and their doctor's evaluations have found no evidence of actual heart disease being present, even with the high frequency of palpitations being experienced by them.

Even with this being the case, I would again remind that a medical evaluation is important when cardiac arrhythmias of any kind are being experienced, to rule out possible heart disease or disorders needing treatment (many can be well controlled with medications) and to provide a patient peace-of-mind regarding heart rhythm sensations that feel abnormal to them.

Sources:

Heart palpitations: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

HeartPoint: Specific Arrhythmias

Heart Palpitations: Frequently Asked Questions: Michael G. Kienzle, MD