Question:

I had problems with PACs this summer.  At the worst of it, I finally went to a doctor.  When he walked into the room, he joked "So your problem started when you went for a 20 mile run?"  I had gone on a 20-mile run a few days previously, but I told him I had noticed the problem before that. Anyway, I decided later that running probably was relevant, by depleting minerals.  I started taking more calcium and magnesium, and maybe it helped but it didn’t solve my problem.  After reading about potassium, I started eating a banana a day, and since then I haven’t had much problem.  (For some reason, having to burp also seems to be part of my problem, as is a posture of holding my shoulders up.) Bob Frick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. I’m 39 and I’ve been running for about 4 years, usually racing a couple of 21 min. 5Ks per year with no adverse effects but aches and pains. I recently completed my first half marathon in a PR time (vs. training times) of 1:59:30. It was a warm day and I had to push to reach this time, drinking plenty of water along the way.    The next day, and for the three months since this race, I’ve been having occasional irregular heartbeats. A 24 hour Holter monitor showed these beats to be premature atrial contractions (PACs) which my internist describes as benign. During a light run on the treadmill, I will also feel these beats but a stress test showed these to be PVCs (2-3 per 10 min test). An echocardiagram showed no structural damage to my heart.    A couple of doctors I’ve talked to don’t believe that the running initiated these irregular heartbeats but the coincidence is too great. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, perhaps from pushing themselves too hard on a long run. Thanks…….Ed

Response:

hi ed, i have never run a marathon, but i am a long distance runner. when i was 17 i was hospitalized in the peak of my running season with cardiac arrythmias, a heartbeat of 31 and low blood pressure.  i thought it simply meant i was in shape.  but according to the docs, they all were convinced i was going into cardiac arrest.  later, i did.   shell

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. I’m 39 and I’ve been running for about 4 years, usually racing a couple of 21 min. 5Ks per year with no adverse effects but aches and pains. I recently completed my first half marathon in a PR time (vs. training times) of 1:59:30. It was a warm day and I had to push to reach this time, drinking plenty of water along the way.   The next day, and for the three months since this race, I’ve been having occasional irregular heartbeats. A 24 hour Holter monitor showed these beats to be premature atrial contractions (PACs) which my internist describes as benign. During a light run on the treadmill, I will also feel these beats but a stress test showed these to be PVCs (2-3 per 10 min test). An echocardiagram showed no structural damage to my heart.   A couple of doctors I’ve talked to don’t believe that the running initiated these irregular heartbeats but the coincidence is too great. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, perhaps from pushing themselves too hard on a long run. Thanks…….Ed

Yo Ed, I’m a 36 yr old runner and I’ve had a couple of instances w/a irregular heartbeat. The 1st was approx. 6 years ago  when I was a non runner, Doctor says I had an overdose of too much beer and liquorice the day before. The doctor thought the beer dehydrated me and the liquorice depleted my potassium supply. My heart was  having spasms. After that time and knowing my family history w/heart disease I started to run. Then approx. 1 1/2 yrs  into my running program and after a hard 5 miler on a very hot day I had another irregular heart beat I converted to normal sinus rythem the next day. The last one I had was approx. 2 years ago and when I woke up one morning. I did’nt convert to sinus rythem within a day so I was hospitalized and after two days of medication I finally converted to normal sinus rythem. My cardiologist does’nt think that runnig has anything to do w/it . He really does’nt have an answer. I don’t think that running causes this.I typically average 30-35 miles a week and have completed 9 marathons. I truthfully think that running can do a whole lot for the heart than not running. Happy running Jeff

Response:

Hi. I’m 39 and I’ve been running for about 4 years, usually racing a couple of 21 min. 5Ks per year with no adverse effects but aches and pains. I recently completed my first half marathon in a PR time (vs. training times) of 1:59:30. It was a warm day and I had to push to reach this time, drinking plenty of water along the way.    The next day, and for the three months since this race, I’ve been having occasional irregular heartbeats. A 24 hour Holter monitor showed these beats to be premature atrial contractions (PACs) which my internist describes as benign. During a light run on the treadmill, I will also feel these beats but a stress test showed these to be PVCs (2-3 per 10 min test). An echocardiagram showed no structural damage to my heart.    A couple of doctors I’ve talked to don’t believe that the running initiated these irregular heartbeats but the coincidence is too great. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, perhaps from pushing themselves too hard on a long run. Thanks…….Ed

Response:

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