[Neil]

Hello all , Firstly this site rocks, it really is the best. I may not write too much but I'm always on it.
As for the big thumping beats I get them when pushing hard during exercise . (as a result I have eased off but still exercise). As odd as it may seem I find "bouncy" types of exercise to be worse I.e. Running, skipping, any kind of jump or bounce that jolts the body. It's almost as if the internal. Rattling stimates the palpa. When pushing hard and the heart is pumping hard I feel that, that the palps are greatly amplified! Last time I felt one so big it stopped me in my tracks and I could not draw breath for a second or two. This resulted in a trip to A & E (ER) ECG followed by a few hours obs and release non the wiser as to why. I have found that avoiding the bounce helpful, by walking instead of running , (you also burn off more fat)! I also weight train more that use the CV equipment these types of exercises minimise the thuds for me whilst maintaining my fitness .
Best of luck to you all.

[jsuter69]

I really want to exercise but scared...is it possible to get the same benefits(burning calories) just walking the treadmill with my heart rate around 111-113? My heart rate for my age (old 40yr old) is min 130-max 160...
I'm afraid to push myself...afraid my heart will start skipping and those God awful long pauses!! Whenever I get excited or winded...I get those forever and a day pauses!!! I just want to look sexy!!!!! That's not too much to ask...is it??

[Strat_Attack]

here's how i look at it . . . what we have are conduction problems not heart muscle problems. excercise isn't going to stress the nerve conduction. exercise is GOOD for your heart as long as you build up gradually. i.e increase your excercise by 10% / week. i want to avoid, at all costs, having a weak heart and this conduction problem at the same time. that would be a recipe for disaster. i mean, after quadruple bypass surgeries patients are encouraged to excercise to get the heart healthy again. having heart disease and these PVC could be a real killer imho. i know you're scared but trust me, i've had PVC 20-30 in a row before getting that huge pause and then a thud and getting light headed and vision dimming, the works. I've never stopped excercising. i feel like it's the only chance i've got to live a long life sometimes.

[Neil]

I agree Strat_Attack, its also worth knowing that you burn as many calories brisk walking as you do running. (brisk walk is about 100 steps per min). the bonus is that as you maintain your heart rate in the lower fields you can achive a much higer percentage of fat loss than running would. High intensity exercise is great for CV fitness burning high cals lower fat low intensity better for fat burning as slightly lower cals but higher fat burning. Since i had my big bout of massive thuds i have walked alot and weight trained as this does not seem to casue the problems as much an i can still pop my HR from 115 to 155 in a set of 10 reps and back down which is great for fitness.
Start slow try the walking, i have dropped over 1 stone in weight since starting brisk walking more.
Let us know how you get on. i know exactly how you feel as i battle it every day (the worry the palps the fear/ anxiety) also but i have to say i feel 100% better in my head with the exercise much more possitive and able to cope

[Jeff]

You know Neil, I read about that and believed it for a long while, but then when I got into good enough shape to actually pound the pavement and run, I'm not as convinced. Higher intensity burns more calories - 40 minutes of a walk burns less cals than 40 minutes of running, and I'm not sure the body cares which calories those are.

And now that I'm running relatively regularly, it's far easier for me to manage weight. I gain a bit? Run hard a couple days, and poof - the weight is gone. I tried to do that same thing walking, and it just wasn't as effective.

But maybe that's just me. Not sure.

[jsuter69]

Well...I worked out...lol...kinda, I did 20 mins on the treadmill and only 10 mins on the bike, started getting the skips, so I freaked...but I didn't totally give up, I went and lifted...but this may seem weird but when I lift/strain my heart tends to act up also! I know I sound psycho but this happens sometimes when I cry really hard or laugh really hard, like when a very close family member passed away, I started getting really upset and my heart felt like it went haywire so I backed off...same thing happens(not always) when I "try" to work out...tired of this having control me...I plan on going back on Wednesday....as I sit here...I've been having palps...UGH!!!
Jeff, if I could run...I would...but I think I have an old lady heart

[Casper664]

I think Strat_attack is right...excercise to keep our hearts healthy is ESSENTIAL when thinking long term with our conditions....the more healthy we are the less worrysome these conditions are according to everything i've heard/read...I only walk (jog a small bit) then walk again....but will do a few miles since its not intense...then I do weights and ball excercises, lunges etc...to try and tone up....i fell a million times better just doing that stuff!! (not full out running or super intense, but its something!!) maybe one day ill be ready for full blown runs again (I used to run a LOT)..but for now...this is my routine

[Strat_Attack]

hey suter, i'm always one to try every angle here, and i feel so bad that you are trying but plagued by these damn things everytime. one other idea would be to try swimming. it is super low impact, you could go very leisurely and there's just something therapuetic about water anyway. maybe that would be a good bet for you. also thinking about cycling as a low impact alternative although riding in traffic can be pretty stressful, doesn't stop my dumb ass though! lol. maybe a stationary bike would be better than a treadmill? idk. just some thoughts. hope you can find a way!

[Neil]

Jsuter , WELL done it took guts to do the exercise and more guts to continue after some palps!!! All I'll say is keep going real small steps at a time! Look at the positive your hear to type on this forum ! You brought on the palps whilst unpleasant they did not kill you! I always seem to get them during and post exercise all the way through into the evening. I think the fitter you get the more you will burn off excess adrenaline and so help ease the anxiety . You also release feel good drugs through the body . Your heart will get stronger! Let us know how you go on!
Jeff I am pleased your running is going well have you had any large thuds or "fire crackers" goin off in your chest since doing more running. I agree with the calories being burnt more with intensity however my polar monitor also states I burn more of a fat percentage with lower intensity prolonged exercise. That said I would love to return to running like yourself as I find it does clear out those stuborn areas of excess!!! I just need some more courage myself to step it up a notch

[jkfrench]

Yea Juster!
You have a sensitive vagus nerve and weight lifting will trigger skips because we tend to hold our breath. That can cause sinus arrythmia which feels like pauses. It is actually normal.
I have that too.
I'm up to 3 miles of running. So far, no skips during the run. When that day comes I just hope it doesn't scare me enough to stop because I am enjoying it. I just listen to my tunes and go.
As for walking versus running. I am running 3 times a week now and I also walk 3 times a week. I do walk for 20 minutes straight up hill and then back down. I haven't noticed a difference in my weight by adding the running so I think whatever you are comfortable with will work. - Jodie