[Closed] Ectopic beats/palpitation during exercise

Yeah I had them for nearly 20 years, then after reading a few things on here I added electrolyte mix to my drink whilst riding, fairly strongly at first, and it went away immediately.

I reasoned that since I sweat a lot, I drink a fair bit of coffee and I started Zwifting, I was low on electrolytes. There is some clinical evidence for this I found as well.

I'm not a doctor, nor have I seen one, but it's easy as anything to try. I buy unflavoured electrolyte powder from bulk.com and to start with a drank a couple of bottles of fairly salty orange squash; from then on it was a normal amount (1g per bottle) that seems to have sorted me out.

I suggest you see your Dr. They can do a 24hr ECG during your normal activities, including cycling, and get it quickly analysed online to tell you if you have a problem or not.

With an occasional ectopic beat it’s very likely to be no problem.

Ask above, I've had these for about 10yrs and have had 2 x 24hr ECGS finding no issues. Mine also usually happen at rest.

I did have a serious fluctuation post covid in January after the first VO2max interval I did. It was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack and started to get very worried, but I was OK and out hasn't happened again.

how do you get rid of them

I don't think you can, its a natural phenomenon: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323202#what-is-an-ectopic-heartbeat

Anyone else experience these, and how do you get rid of them?

Yup. Did what the cardiologist said and drank more water.

how do you get rid of them

I don’t think you can

I got rid of mine.

Cheers gents

What kind of volume were you getting? I reckon I get one or two a minute when going hard. It doesn’t happen all the time however, sometimes I get none at all

It’s a bit disconcerting but as I’ve had a full check up in past 12 months I can only assume it’s just something I’ll have to live with

Cut out all caffeine, it helped with mine

I get these (PVCs) and have had the full gamit of tests, cardiac MRI, calcium scoring, exercise stress tests. Loads of them on stress test ecgs and halter monitor records.

As well as the ectopics (which make me feel a bit nauseous) I get some aching (micro angina) in the left side of my chest after periods of exercise and usually starting around 90mins in to a bike ride. It doesn't radiate, but it does get worse and it's no fun and worrying at times. I've had to 'call the team car' a few times when it got worrying.

No structural issues, and no blocked arteries (calcium score zero). They have got me down as microvascular heart disease (blockages in the small capillaries in the heart muscle), but that seems sort of a diagnosis of elimination (i.e. we can't find anything else obvious).

There could be electrical problems, but the cardiologist thought they were small enough that any invasive investigation/treatment would be likely to make the issue worse.

I've had a few short periods of SVT with HR up to 220+ too.

I can't tolerate the various beta blocker type meds (or statins, but my cholesterol is ok anyway) they've put me on, so have just got a small aspirin to take on an evening.

I just have to manage it as best I can, not do too much, too hard or for too long and rest if it becomes and issue.

I hope you get some sense. I found the whole process of investigation very frustrating and unsatisfactory; being reassured that 'you're not mad we can see there's an issue' wasn't much reassurance.

I've been getting them for years, on and off the bike. Been checked out, no issues found. On the bike I sometimes seem to miss every 16th beat or thereabouts. I find caffeine and stress make it worse, so limit myself now to one coffee a day and drink decaff tea the rest of the time. Since I retired the stress has (mostly) gone 😁.
I rarely notice it now......

What kind of volume were you getting? I reckon I get one or two a minute when going hard

Sometimes that, sometimes more up to I'd say once every 6 or 7 seconds.

Coffee made it worse, also certain artificial sweeteners. But like I say I haven't had it (bar one or two occurrences) since increasing my electrolyte intake.

Decaf coffee and tea also caused it btw.

When I get them I bad get them every 3 or 4 beats and it's not nice.

My Cardiologist and pharmacist said a normal amount coffee isn't an issue, but I don't drink it much anyway, maybe a few latte's a week. I do know that if I had a couple of proper coffees in a day I'd feel it.

Stress and lack of sleep make it worse too, and as above dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Best get checked out and see if you can do the 24hr monitor and exercise stress test if you can, but most people get them to some degree from time to time it would seem.

I've had them about 10 years. Came on very suddenly. Can get them any time but exercise is definitely a trigger, during and after. A hard ride is guaranteed to set them off. Had all the tests, including 24h ECG, exercise ramp test, etc.

how do you get rid of them

As others have said, for most people it's just going to be a permanent feature.

That said, mine are a lot better than they were 10 years ago. Drinking heavily, and getting fat and unfit was predictably not beneficial to my health, and even the gentlest of exercise would see my heart going bezerk.

Just look after yourself (mentally and physically). Lead a healthy lifestyle. Don't drink too much (very common trigger). I think that covers the bulk of it.

Yes I get them - started around Xmas 2020. Originally started with them when resting but like you noticed an increasing amount when exercising.

I was getting it looked into by the GP when, in April 2021, I had a bit of a scare - I nearly collapsed when out on my bike one morning. No chest pain but I thought I was having some kind of major heart related issue.

Anyway, that episode was enough to trigger significant medical investigations - I had the lot. Holter monitor, stress test, MRI etc.
They never found anything physically wrong with me - no explanation for the near collapse. It does still play on my mind though particularly if I feel any kind of chest discomfort or a lot of palpitations. It was very frightening indeed.

I would recommend getting as many tests done as possible just to set your mind at ease if nothing else.

I still get the ectopics - mainly at rest at the moment, but sometimes with exercise. They come and go. I can go days or weeks without feeling a single one, but then have a day where I get a load out of the blue.

As above general healthy living is the thing that keeps them at bay for.me. Get enough sleep. Don't drink too much (I have cut down a huge amount). Don't overdo the exercise. Get enough water and electrolyte
Also when I am feeling a bit under the weather (e.g. with a cold) that can bring them on, but not much I can do about that really.
Magnesium and potassium supplements can help.

Would also recommend the book 'the haywire heart'

I used to get them, both at rest and during exercise. Turns out I had a massive hole in my heart.*

Still, it's unlikely to be that in your case.

(*31mm diameter atrial septal defect to be technical. Fixed now, using medical magic)

Book marking.

Gosh, just seen this I've been getting this of late (palpitations). Maybe the same thing. But started upping my intensity and getting to an *almost* fainting stage. Recent ECG showing nothing.

About ten years ago had six months of pretty regular ectopic beats. Was bloody terrifying when it first kicked off. After tests nothing structural or obviously electrical but was warned off alcohol and caffeine (the specialist said - possibly apocryphally - that they saw loads of similar issues at weekends thanks to vodka and Red Bull). Dropped both and didn't ride or exert myself in any way (on doctors' advice) for a few months. The persistent ectopic beats stopped after 6 months or so (had started gentle rides after about 3 months with an alarm set on my HRM if I got over zone 4) and haven't returned in the same way since.

I do drink again now but haven't knowingly had caffeine since.

I very occasionally notice them happening again now (once every couple of months or so), and it's almost always at rest (before dropping off to sleep for example). Every so often one will pop up during riding and I always back off and pootle a bit for the rest of that ride just in case.

My only niggling worry is that whatever the issue might be is still there and I just don't notice them as often now as they're 'normal' to me?

My only niggling worry is that whatever the issue might be is still there and I just don’t notice them as often now as they’re ‘normal’ to me?

I’m not sure there actually has to be an issue though? I’ve read up to 25% of (healthy) people when tested on a treadmill had them.

If you’ve had all the tests and were clear I’m surprised your doc told you to ease of riding. My cardiologist said just bash on. I will be sure to mention it to my doc again when I next see them however

I get them. Docs found no serious heart issues. They gave me a little ecg thing to check.

Thing mine were down to stress

Got signed off work for a bit and they went away.