I woke up with a heart flutter this morning, an interesting sensation I've never felt before.  I probed for my pulse on the right wrist and felt nothing. When I then put a hand on my chest, over the heart, I could clearly feel the rapid beating; four or five beats per second with a regular pattern, it seemed. No other symptoms, no pain, no dizziness, no breathing difficulty. I lay still, and it was all over within a few minutes.

 

I turned to my friend Google Gemini and learnt that this was a regular atrial flutter, something quite common and nothing to worry about unless it were to recur frequently, but I plan to mention it to the family doctor back home in Italy when I go for my next annual check-up in September. At the moment, I am on vacation in Thailand, with my wife, ending in ten days.

 

Or should I worry?

7 minutes ago, Puccini said:

Or should I worry?

 

Should you worry that you are taking medical advice about a heart concern from google rather than seeking advice form a medical expert ???... 

 

Only you can place a value on your medical well being and decide if its a worry or not.

 

When was your last full on medical check up ??? - there's no harm going to check an EKG and getting checked out.

I also had a worrying flutter and woke up quickly thinking it was another stroke ,I took a slow release aspirin and seems ok now ,I continue with the aspirin at night 

22 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

…When was your last full on medical check up ???

 

In September this year, but no EKG. When I turned 60, my GP (general practitioner) suggested annual check-ups, but without EKG, as I've never had any signs of a circulatory problem.

12 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

I also had a worrying flutter and woke up quickly thinking it was another stroke ,I took a slow release aspirin and seems ok now ,I continue with the aspirin at night 

 

No history of strokes in my case, but as I was lying there I was waiting to see if one would be coming and thought it might be a bit inconvenient as my wife is away for a few days, returning tonight.

8 minutes ago, Puccini said:

38 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

…When was your last full on medical check up ???

 

In September this year, but no EKG. When I turned 60, my GP (general practitioner) suggested annual check-ups, but without EKG, as I've never had any signs of a circulatory problem.

 

Given the simplicity of both taking and interpreting an EKG - I would argue any doctor recommending 'not undertaking an EKG' when going for a medical check-up is tantamount to what I would call an unprofessional response. 

 

I've been given EKG's in every single medication I've undertaken since my early twenties - some more 'intensive' than others - with stress tests (running on the treadmill), O2 monitoring, ultrasound of the heart etc...  

 

To any doctor advising not to take an EKG as a standard part of a medical check up - my question would be why the hell not ?????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Puccini said:

No history of strokes in my case, but as I was lying there I was waiting to see if one would be coming and thought it might be a bit inconvenient as my wife is away for a few days, returning tonight.

 

History is somewhat irrelevant - or rather history is not a significant risk factor.

1 in 4 people have a thrombotic event in their life - this is a DVT, Stroke, Pulmonary Embolism etc 

 

An EKG won't pick up any of those...   Blood tests will (D-Dimmer) - thus - with even the slightest 'sniff' of something not 100% right - given the minimal degree of invasion - both blood tests and an EKG would be go-to simple tests (along with the standard basic tests, blood pressure, O2 levels etc)......

 

There really is no reason not to get this tested - especially in Thailand where you can get seen very easily and very cheaply.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

History is somewhat irrelevant - or rather history is not a significant risk factor.

1 in 4 people have a thrombotic event in their life - this is a DVT, Stroke, Pulmonary Embolism etc 

 

An EKG won't pick up any of those...   Blood tests will (D-Dimmer) - thus - with even the slightest 'sniff' of something not 100% right - given the minimal degree of invasion - both blood tests and an EKG would be go-to simple tests (along with the standard basic tests, blood pressure, O2 levels etc)......

 

There really is no reason not to get this tested - especially in Thailand where you can get seen very easily and very cheaply.

 

Oops. Now I'm going to start worrying.

2 hours ago, Puccini said:

I turned to my friend Google Gemini

 

Good decision!

You shoukd consult a cardiologist. Now,  not months from now. 

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Should you worry that you are taking medical advice about a heart concern from google…

 

 

Actually, Google added a few links to the AI summary, and I chose to read this one:

https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/heart-palpitations/?hl=en-GB

 

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

You shoukd consult a cardiologist. Now,  not months from now. 

 

Thank you, Sheryl. I shall go and see my GP the first week of January.

You probably need a Echocardiogram

You need to be tested for arrythmias. This often involves 24 -48 heart monitor (outpatient test). Not something a GP csn fo.

 

If you are in Bangkok I suggest https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok-heart/package/atrial-fibrillation-screening

2 hours ago, Puccini said:

I woke up with a heart flutter this morning, an interesting sensation I've never felt before.  I probed for my pulse on the right wrist and felt nothing. When I then put a hand on my chest, over the heart, I could clearly feel the rapid beating; four or five beats per second with a regular pattern, it seemed. No other symptoms, no pain, no dizziness, no breathing difficulty. I lay still, and it was all over within a few minutes.

 

I turned to my friend Google Gemini and learnt that this was a regular atrial flutter, something quite common and nothing to worry about unless it were to recur frequently, but I plan to mention it to the family doctor back home in Italy when I go for my next annual check-up in September. At the moment, I am on vacation in Thailand, with my wife, ending in ten days.

 

Or should I worry?

A checkup in a recommended hospital is not expensive. (around 5000 Baht) It will will give you a blood count including parameters concerning your "heart". 

If no issues you'll sleep better.

 

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58 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

You need to be tested for arrythmias. This often involves 24 -48 heart monitor (outpatient test). Not something a GP csn fo.

 

If you are in Bangkok I suggest https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok-heart/package/atrial-fibrillation-screening

seems to be a fair price for what you get

 

FYI - I just watched this video.

3 Doctors talking about best supplements for the heart.

At 3:23, one doctors mentions heart fluttering and recommends Magnesium supplement may help alleviate this.