Long time followers and readers will know last year back in March I had some extremely scary heart episodes. I had tests and it came back as Premature Ventricular Ectopic Beats ( extra heartbeat and from the lower chambers)

The heart has an electrical system that makes it pump. The normal electrical impulse starts in a specialised area of heart tissue in the right atrium called the SA Node. It then passes from the right atrium through to the ventricles via the AV node.

As the impulse passes through the atrium it contracts forcing it to pump blood into the ventricle. It has the same effect when it passes through the ventricle. This electrical impulse travels through the heart each time it beats. It is something that happens naturally – you can’t feel it. Except I can!!

With ventricular ectopics, the electrical impulse starts from the ventricles before an electrical impulse can be made by the atrium and causes the heart to beat in a different way for that beat before resuming a regular rhythm.

The normal heart beat causes the ventricles (pumping chambers) to squeeze or contract at the same time (in synchrony). When you have an ectopic beat, the heart beat starts on one side of the muscle of the ventricles so one side contracts and pumps blood before the other. This is very unlikely to cause any harm if this is happening occasionally. However, if this becomes more frequent it can affect how your heart works.

Removing Alcohol and Caffeine from my diet massively helped, also taking lemon balm, chamomile and nettle tea also helped. My concern is I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and it may be of some concern.

The Ehlers Danlos Society
Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome–Hypermobile Type (for Non-experts)

The autonomic nervous system controls important functions like heart rate and blood pressure. Problems with this system (autonomic dysfunction) contribute to a worse quality of life in the hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). Typical signs and symptoms include fast heart rate, low blood pressure, digestive system problems, disturbed bladder function and sweating regulation. Autonomic dysfunction that impacts the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) may cause symptoms when you stand up, like lightheadedness and fainting. The occurrence of these conditions aren’t well understood, but specialists suggest they are frequently seen in hEDS. Checking cardiovascular symptoms in hEDS should include thorough examination and inquiry. Tests of autonomic function range from clinic room observation to more specialized techniques and laboratory investigations. Non-drug treatments are very important in managing cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in hEDS, but drugs may be useful for patients with significant impairment of daily function and who don’t see benefit from other treatments.

There is growing recognition of a link between autonomic nervous system dysfunction and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome—hypermobile type (hEDS). Many symptoms of autonomic dysfunction have been observed in hEDS, including heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) issues, pupil, bladder, sweating dysfunction, and digestive system problems. The purpose of this review is to explore what is known about the association between cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and hEDS, provide guidance on these in the context of hEDS, and consider areas for further research.

How it went

I went in with notes of everything that has happened over the last year. I need to write things down as I get white coat syndrome and forget it all.

First off I got an ECG which was over in less than 1 minute. I took longer taking my top and bra off!! But with new heart trace I then saw the consultant.

And apparently I’ve cured myself. Yes I still have some premature ventricular ectopic beats but 1 in 100 beats so not frequently and certainly not abnormal. The racing heart and panic has gone since I quit alcohol (binge weekends) and daily caffeine.  So its a chapter of health I can close and no longer worry about!! YAY!!