Ectopic beats symptoms12/3/2023 ![]() ![]() But it also means you are more likely to be conscious of your heart at rest and this is especially the case when first going to bed at night, when there is little else to be aware of than your own heart beat. The reasons for this are that your heart beat at rest is usually much slower and this allows more time for the ectopics to occur and interrupt the normal heart rhythm. It is also very common for people to only notice ectopics at rest rather than when being active or rushing around. It is often unclear what the triggers are in these situations. It is very common for the frequency of ectopic beats to be very erratic – some days or weeks can be terrible and then be followed by long periods without anything. You are also more likely to develop palpitations or ectopic beats if you are pregnant, or going through the menopause. Therefore the function of the heart needs to be assessed if people develop frequent ectopics.Ĭhemical imbalances in the blood can also promote ectopics, such as a low blood potassium levels, which can be caused by certain rare metabolic conditions or when taking certain drugs e.g. ![]() Importantly, they can also occur in certain heart conditions, such as conditions that weaken the heart muscle (known as cardiomyopathy), as well as in people who have suffered heart attacks. Ectopics causing palpitations are also common when people are ‘hung-over’ or have had too little sleep. However, you are more likely to feel palpitations when the ectopics occur if you are under stress or have had too much caffeine or other stimulants such as alcohol, smoking or recreational drugs. They can be thought of as a completely normal phenomenon of the heart. Almost every person will have at least a few ectopics every day but the vast majority will not notice any of them. Palpitations and ectopic beats are usually nothing to worry about. It is this sensation that is commonly felt by patients and is uncomfortable. However, due to the subsequent short pause after an ectopic, the ventricles then have longer than normal to fill with blood and so the subsequent beat feels more forceful, or stronger, and can sometimes be felt in the neck as well. As ectopics occur early, it means the heart’s bottom chambers (the ventricles) have less time to fill with blood than normal and so the amount of blood ejected during the ectopic beat is reduced. The timing of the ectopic influences the symptoms felt. They often happen when you have over exerted yourself, for example after vigorous exercise, or when you are feeling particularly anxious or under stress. However, they can be a nuisance and feel very unpleasant at times. Palpitations are very common and for most people completely harmless. Others describe it as feeling like a thud or movement in the chest, which you can feel in your neck or in your ears when lying down. Some say this feels like a fluttering in the chest, or the heart pounding. ![]() The term ‘palpitation’ is used to describe the sensation of feeling your own heart beating. To book a consultation with Dr Segal, an Ectopic Beats Cardiologist in London, get in touch here to discuss your availability. ![]() Ectopic beats needn’t cause symptoms at all. As ectopics occur earlier than expected, they can cause the sensation of a brief palpitation, usually a momentary fluttering in the chest, and this is often associated with a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety. If this occurs, it causes an early (or premature) heartbeat, known as an ectopic, also called an extra beat. The normal heart beats regularly as it is driven by the heart’s pacemaker, called the sinus node. However, all cells in the heart have the ability to trigger their own heartbeat independently of the sinus node. In fact, many people who experience ectopics only feel the sensation of missed beats, not the ectopics themselves. There is usually a short pause after an ectopic, giving the additional sensation of a ‘missed’ beat. In this case implying the extra beat is not only out of place in terms of timing but also the location of its origin within the heart. ![]()
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