Question 1

slow heart rate, premature atrial contractions, are they connected?

Accepted Answer

AV Block?: Yes, it is very possible that the slow rate of ventricular contractions cannot keep up with a faster atrial contraction rate. It is an a-v block.

Question 2

if a person had sleep apnea could it cause them to have palpitations such as premature atrial contractions during the day? how does sleep apnea cause palpitations, stress on the heart? vagus nerve:nervous system? thanks?

Accepted Answer

: The heart requires a continuous oxygen and glucose supply to function. Sleep apnea, if severe, depletes the blood level of oxygen
 traveling around the body. As an organ quite sensitive to oxygen deprivation the decline could develop rhythm changes at the time. I don't see it triggering any rhythm changes at other times when O2 level is normal.

Question 3

i have premature atrial contractions (ep said benign) from time to time. about to get on a antidepressant for my anxiety and depression. which is the least likely to effect heart rhythm? from my reading prozac seems safest. thanks?

Accepted Answer

: Any of the drugs within the SSRI family are fine to take.

Question 4

is there a correlation between an atrial septal defect and a heart murmur?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but...: There are many reasons and/or heart defects which can be responsible for a heart murmur. An atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of them. This is a hole in the upper chambers in the heart which allows extra blood to pass into the right side of the heart. This extra volume load causes mild turbulence when it travels to the lungs, thus causing the murmur.

Question 5

what is the difference between a heart murmur, tachycardia and a cardiac arrythmia?

Accepted Answer

See below: A heart murmur is an extra sound.  It can be significant and  require medical intervention, or it can be just a noise.  Tachycardia means the heart is beating fast.  Arrhythmia means an irregular pattern of heart beats.  All three can be harmless or bad, depending on the circumstances in which they are found.

Question 6

what is the difference between having  a heart murmur and a mitral valve prolapse?

Accepted Answer

Heart murmur: Could occur in same person. Murmur is detected by auscultation by listening to heart beats with stethoscope. Mortal valve prolapse is seen on screen by doing echocardiogram.

Question 7

whats the difference between a heart murmur and arrythmia?

Accepted Answer

Very different.: A murmur is an audible sound, usually comming from a valve (s).  Arrythmia is an irregular heart rhythm.

Question 8

what does pac, activation mark mean on an ekg? i understand that pac means premature atrial contraction, but what is activation mark?

Accepted Answer

Pac: I presume the activation mark is where the premature artrial electrical signal begins for the early beat. On a ekg, it would be the p wave where the PAC starts. Best of luck-

Question 9

cardiologist diagnosis premature atrial contraction and said it was really benign. can i still exercise and is it dangerous? i also have anxiety.

Accepted Answer

Yes but . . .: To allay your anxiety, you should ask this question of your cardiologist who made diagnosis. With that said, check out american heart association's stance: http://www.Heart.Org/heartorg/conditions/arrhythmia/aboutarrhythmia/premature-contractions_ucm_302043_article.Jsp. Go see your family doc & psychiatrist to deal w/anxiety.

Question 10

i was wondering is a run of consecutive premature atrial contractions (pacs more than 3) classed as svt (supraventricular tachycardia)?

Accepted Answer

Depends: If it's regular, yes. If not, it might just be 3 PACs in a row. The mechanisms are different.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Difference between premature atrial contraction and heart murmur

A member asked:

Slow heart rate, premature atrial contractions, are they connected?

A member asked:

If a person had sleep apnea could it cause them to have palpitations such as premature atrial contractions during the day? how does sleep apnea cause palpitations, stress on the heart? vagus nerve:nervous system? thanks?

A member asked:

I have premature atrial contractions (ep said benign) from time to time. about to get on a antidepressant for my anxiety and depression. which is the least likely to effect heart rhythm? from my reading prozac seems safest. thanks?

A member asked:

Is there a correlation between an atrial septal defect and a heart murmur?

A member asked:

What is the difference between a heart murmur, tachycardia and a cardiac arrythmia?

A member asked:

What is the difference between having a heart murmur and a mitral valve prolapse?

A member asked:

Whats the difference between a heart murmur and arrythmia?

A member asked:

What does pac, activation mark mean on an ekg? i understand that pac means premature atrial contraction, but what is activation mark?

A member asked:

Cardiologist diagnosis premature atrial contraction and said it was really benign. can i still exercise and is it dangerous? i also have anxiety.

A member asked:

I was wondering is a run of consecutive premature atrial contractions (pacs more than 3) classed as svt (supraventricular tachycardia)?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?