Tales of the Heart

About three months ago, my heart began adding extra beats at an alarming (to me) rate...sometimes as many as 15 extra beats in a one minute setting. I know this, because I can feel it. It actually feels like my heart skips a beat! I have had premature atrial contractions most of my life now, as do about 33% of the world's population, so I am told. In my twenties, I went to a cardiologist and wore a Holter Monitor for three days which recorded my heart beats electronically. This is when the PAC's were first diagnosed. I learned to live with them because they were far and few between....startling when they appear, but no other issues.

When they started up this year at the frequency they did, I was not amused! I spent 3 hours in ER with a doctor friend of mine who did every possible test: EKG, heart Xray, blood work, etc. He confirmed the diagnosis again of PAC's and said, "you're as healthy as they get, go and live your life." I continued to have these PAC's and visited my physician who referred me to another cardiologist. I did a sonagram (which was way cool). My heart looks very healthy, beats very regular, has no obvious signs of heart disease or disorder. All the flaps work properly and the walls of the heart are healthy. Again, I was told that everything is normal. Follow up in three months.

There are treatments for PAC's and PVC's (premature ventrical contractions), but the side effects are not worth the trouble. So, I'm continuing my current lifestyle.

During all this time, my thoughts periodically turned to thoughts of dying and I was amused again that I am not afraid of death. I am not in the least bit ready to die, but these PAC's caused me to review my life in an interesting, less thought of, perspective.