I am a 57-year-old woman and have had occasional cardiac arrhythmias for over 25 years. Because I also have a hereditary predisposition to (slightly) elevated blood pressure, I use metoprolol 50 mg every day. The arrhythmias are periodic, especially when I go to bed, then it can be very intense for two hours. When the GP listened, there was no mistake and the ECG only lasted a short time. I’m not sure. Why does this come in periods and what can I do about it?
Anonymously
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
What you describe are extrasystoles: your heart skips a beat, overfills it and then has to contract extra hard. I don’t know why you have it periodically, but it’s not uncommon.
Metoprolol can make the symptoms worse: it is a beta-blocker and it slows down your heart rhythm, increasing the chance that it will skip a beat. You can also have an EKG made for a long time, which is called a Holter registration; then you wear such a device all day and night. I would tell the GP that you want to see the cardiologist for a Holter EKG. Then you can immediately discuss with the cardiologist whether the beta-blocker is a good idea.
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