irregular heartbeat?

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Date: 12 Dec 2006 15:44:07
From: Mike
Subject: irregular heartbeat?

I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
head' that this might be something real.

Mike

Date: 15 Dec 2006 20:13:23
From: Kenny
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Bill Bushnell wrote:
>
>
> If your buddy hasn't already done so he should seek out an electrophysiologist
> (abbrev. EP, a doctor who specializes in the electrical function of the heart)
> to evaluate his condition. The EP will probably order up a stress test, a test
> that evaluates the heart's electrical function under load, or prescribe a day or
> two of wearing a data logger. If the condition is so elusive that it doesn't
> show up under these tests, then it's probably not anything he should worry
> about.
>
> Irregular heart rhythm that manifests itself as episodes of a few seconds to an
> hour or more of unusually high heartrate could be atrial fibrillation, a common
> electrical malfunction of the heart. The priy risk of the condition is
> stroke or embolism due to a blood clot forming in the heart atria. While the
> heart is undergoing an episode of AF, blood isn't being cleared from the atria
> and can form clots. The stroke can occur after the heart returns to normal
> rhythm and the atria are cleared.
>
> The condition is treatable with mineral supplements, drugs, and/or surgery and
> is no reason to curtail reasonable amounts of exercise.
>
> --
> Bill Bushnell
> http://pobox.com/~bushnell/

Thanks Bill. Will pass it along.

Kenny

Date: 15 Dec 2006 04:32:42
From: Kenny
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Mike wrote:
> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
> Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
> about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
> head' that this might be something real.
>
> Mike

My riding buddy has an irregular heartbeat. Using his Polar H/R monitor
he discovered that his H/R would spike up during rides when they
shouldn't and not return to normal when they should. He printed out the
H/R stats from his rides and showed them to 3 different cardiologists.
They all took a battery of tests. One even included a 24 hour stay in
hospital hooked up to an EKG the entire time. None of the doctors could
find the problem. But they told him not to worry, just take it easy.
Now on rides whenever he starts getting those abnormal spikes in H/R,
he unfortunately heads for home. Why take chances, eh?

Date: 15 Dec 2006 23:41:19
From: Bill Bushnell
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Kenny <Postoasted@gmail.com > wrote:

> My riding buddy has an irregular heartbeat. Using his Polar H/R monitor
> he discovered that his H/R would spike up during rides when they
> shouldn't and not return to normal when they should. He printed out the
> H/R stats from his rides and showed them to 3 different cardiologists.
> They all took a battery of tests. One even included a 24 hour stay in
> hospital hooked up to an EKG the entire time. None of the doctors could
> find the problem. But they told him not to worry, just take it easy.
> Now on rides whenever he starts getting those abnormal spikes in H/R,
> he unfortunately heads for home. Why take chances, eh?

If your buddy hasn't already done so he should seek out an electrophysiologist
(abbrev. EP, a doctor who specializes in the electrical function of the heart)
to evaluate his condition. The EP will probably order up a stress test, a test
that evaluates the heart's electrical function under load, or prescribe a day or
two of wearing a data logger. If the condition is so elusive that it doesn't
show up under these tests, then it's probably not anything he should worry
about.

Irregular heart rhythm that manifests itself as episodes of a few seconds to an
hour or more of unusually high heartrate could be atrial fibrillation, a common
electrical malfunction of the heart. The priy risk of the condition is
stroke or embolism due to a blood clot forming in the heart atria. While the
heart is undergoing an episode of AF, blood isn't being cleared from the atria
and can form clots. The stroke can occur after the heart returns to normal
rhythm and the atria are cleared.

The condition is treatable with mineral supplements, drugs, and/or surgery and
is no reason to curtail reasonable amounts of exercise.

--
Bill Bushnell
http://pobox.com/~bushnell/

Date: 16 Dec 2006 10:27:46
From: Fred
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

"Kenny" <Postoasted@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1166185962.168235.261440@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>
> Mike wrote:
>> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
>> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
>> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
>> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
>> Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
>> about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
>> head' that this might be something real.
>>
>> Mike
>
> My riding buddy has an irregular heartbeat. Using his Polar H/R monitor
> he discovered that his H/R would spike up during rides when they
> shouldn't and not return to normal when they should. He printed out the
> H/R stats from his rides and showed them to 3 different cardiologists.
> They all took a battery of tests. One even included a 24 hour stay in
> hospital hooked up to an EKG the entire time. None of the doctors could
> find the problem. But they told him not to worry, just take it easy.
> Now on rides whenever he starts getting those abnormal spikes in H/R,
> he unfortunately heads for home. Why take chances, eh?
>

Yeah but - if he had never bought the monitor, he'd probably still be here.
And if he just throws it away he'll probably stick around too. If the only
way he becomes aware of this irregularity is by reading the monitor - why
worry? I hasten to add that I know nothing about these things - but I do
have the same problem, and that's how I handle it. I'm more concerned with
taking my final gasp as I disappear under the wheel of a Kenworth truck.

Date: 12 Dec 2006 20:56:00
From: John Thompson
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Date: 13 Dec 2006 01:32:11
From: Mike
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

On 2006-12-12, Mike <mikee@mikee.ath.cx > wrote:
> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
> Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
> about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
> head' that this might be something real.
>
> Mike

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Saw the Dr, he listened and did
a quick EKG. I told him about my hopes and training for the long
randouneer(?) rides. He said if I feel fine that I am fine and that
people that work out lots have lower heart beats, etc. I understand
why the blood center must be so strict about accepting donations,
still it ticks me off that I was refused. That's the first time I've
been refused for a donation. I admit to being vain about my pulse
rate. I think lower is better and that's what I want. It is kind
of a contest with myself each time I go in to donate... too high
and I'm not riding enough... and it's always been too high.

Mike

Date: 13 Dec 2006 16:56:01
From: Mike Jacoubowsky
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

> Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Saw the Dr, he listened and did
> a quick EKG. I told him about my hopes and training for the long
> randouneer(?) rides. He said if I feel fine that I am fine and that
> people that work out lots have lower heart beats, etc. I understand
> why the blood center must be so strict about accepting donations,
> still it ticks me off that I was refused. That's the first time I've
> been refused for a donation. I admit to being vain about my pulse
> rate. I think lower is better and that's what I want. It is kind
> of a contest with myself each time I go in to donate... too high
> and I'm not riding enough... and it's always been too high.

Glad the doc says you're OK. There are worse alternatives! I assume you
train with a heart monitor and, if so, you can generally get a feel for how
you're doing and anything that might not be quite right. Amazing how
differently your heart responds (during exercise) just before you come down
with something.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Date: 12 Dec 2006 22:52:36
From: Marlene Blanshay
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Mike wrote:
> On 2006-12-12, Mike <mikee@mikee.ath.cx> wrote:
>> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
>> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
>> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
>> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
>> Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
>> about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
>> head' that this might be something real.
>>
>> Mike
>
> Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Saw the Dr, he listened and did
> a quick EKG. I told him about my hopes and training for the long
> randouneer(?) rides. He said if I feel fine that I am fine and that
> people that work out lots have lower heart beats, etc. I understand
> why the blood center must be so strict about accepting donations,
> still it ticks me off that I was refused. That's the first time I've
> been refused for a donation. I admit to being vain about my pulse
> rate. I think lower is better and that's what I want. It is kind
> of a contest with myself each time I go in to donate... too high
> and I'm not riding enough... and it's always been too high.
>
> Mike

don't sweat it too much about blood donating though... what matters is
that you're okay. They just don't want to make things worse. Maybe next
time you'll be able to donate. Lots of people can't donate for various
reasons- I have a bit of an iron deficiency these days so donating isn't
recommended.

Date: 14 Dec 2006 18:57:13
From: sally
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

In article <0OKfh.66698$aJ6.609081@wagner.videotron.net >,
lene Blanshay <blanshay@videotron.ca > wrote:
>don't sweat it too much about blood donating though... what matters is
>that you're okay. They just don't want to make things worse. Maybe next
>time you'll be able to donate. Lots of people can't donate for various
>reasons- I have a bit of an iron deficiency these days so donating isn't
>recommended.

I almost got rejected once because I had vacationed in some high
risk country years before. The screener asked the supervisor for the
details and the supervisor said since I was still alive, my blood was OK.
A lot of their rules are for saftey. Others are because it is cheaper
for them to reject you than to do a more detailed screening.

Date: 12 Dec 2006 13:56:20
From: Diablo Scott
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Mike wrote:
> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
> Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
> about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
> head' that this might be something real.
>
> Mike

15 years ago a doctor told me in a work physical I had premature
ventricular contractions... sort of a heartbeat misfire that happens
every once in a while. Told me to take antibiotics when I got dental
work. 5 years ago I had another EKG and my regular doctor said if it
hadn't killed me by now it likely would never be a problem... and I can
stop taking antibiotics before I see the dentist.

Get checked out for sure but a lot of these things are just nothing.
Sometimes I can see one happen on my hear rate monitor though, that's
kind of cool.

Date: 13 Dec 2006 14:04:33
From: Fred
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

"Diablo Scott" <DiabloScottNOSPAM@terra.es > wrote in message
news:457f2564$0$21853$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Mike wrote:
>> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
>> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
>> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
>> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
>> Any similiar stories? I don't think this is anything to worry
>> about, but there is still a nagging thought in 'the back of my
>> head' that this might be something real.
>>
>> Mike
>
> 15 years ago a doctor told me in a work physical I had premature
> ventricular contractions... sort of a heartbeat misfire that happens every
> once in a while. Told me to take antibiotics when I got dental work. 5
> years ago I had another EKG and my regular doctor said if it hadn't killed
> me by now it likely would never be a problem... and I can stop taking
> antibiotics before I see the dentist.
>
> Get checked out for sure but a lot of these things are just nothing.
> Sometimes I can see one happen on my hear rate monitor though, that's kind
> of cool.

Mine's been haywire for years. Was put on medcation (digoxin and amiodarone)
for it which improved things a bit - but afer talking to heart specialist I
decided to stop medication. I'm still here.

Date: 13 Dec 2006 08:01:12
From: Michael Warner
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:44:07 GMT, Mike wrote:

> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
> Any similiar stories?

Unusual heartbeat patterns aren't that rare - some people have
them all the time, others only exhibit them under stress. It doesn't
necessarily mean you're likely to have problems, so don't panic
yet.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Date: 12 Dec 2006 16:27:50
From: sally
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

Mike <mikee@mikee.ath.cx > wrote in news:b7Afh.304$fS7.63@newsfe07.lga:
> I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs said
> my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my Dr
> this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a problem
> with my heart and with respect to my heart I've always felt fine.
> Any similiar stories?

One of my cousins has an irregular heartbeat. The Army doctors discovered it
after he was drafted into the Vietnam War. They sent him home and he has
livied a normal life ever since. Some people do get heart attacks, though.
You should talk to your doctor.

Date: 12 Dec 2006 11:24:23
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: irregular heartbeat?

"Mike" <mikee@mikee.ath.cx > wrote in message
news:b7Afh.304$fS7.63@newsfe07.lga
:: I went to donate blood yesterday and two different techs
:: said
:: my heartbeat is irregular. I have an appointment with my
:: Dr
:: this afternoon to check it out further. I've never had a
:: problem with my heart and with respect to my heart I've
:: always felt fine. Any similiar stories? I don't think
:: this is anything to worry about, but there is still a
:: nagging thought in 'the back of my head' that this might
:: be something real.
::
:: Mike

Let's not play doctor on the internet. However, lots of folks have irregular
HBs, so don't worry.