RLR
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Okay, it's important here to realize there there are ectopic beats with have an intra-cardiac origin and those with an extra-cardiac origin. It's important to your question because the lack of differentiation would mean that ventricular tachycardia is defined rather universally and it's not the case. Also realize that simply researching the internet for clinical data which appears to match your own condition is wrought with error that typically leads to much speculation or worse.
While the definition of v-tach can be clinically validated by a three consecutive ventricular ectopic events, they must be defined by ECG as ventricular in nature and they are codified by the fact that the origin of the ectopics is from within the heart, or intra-cardiac. By contrast, the type of ectopics that you and others who visit the forum here arise from inappropriate or wayward stimulation of the vagus nerve, of which one of the terminal endings is the heart muscle. These events are therefore extra-cardiac in nature. Those that originate within the heart can potentially represent the source of a problem but in most instances are benign, while those originating from outside the heart are entirely benign. The potential for a run of intra-cardiac ectopics to culminate into v-tach is qualified, while a seemingly similar run of extra-cardiac ectopics does not constitute v-tach. Regardless, it is entirely subjective to try and determine by sensation whether and to what extent these events occur, subsequently attempting to apply clinical definition where none is likely to exist.
People with benign palpitations are compelled to try and define the full spectrum of potential for harm by the events because they feel frightened that the palpitations possess far more capacity than is actually the case. In other words, any disturbance in rhythm can potentially rise exponentially to become the ability to prevent return of normal sinus rhythm or worse yet, produce asystole or absence of heart rhythm altogether. This type of speculation is rooted in irrational beliefs because many actual facts are beyond the awareness of non-medically trained persons.
It's very critical to acknowledge to yourself that the entirely of your vigilance and concerns are drafted from your own interpretations of the circumstances and not the actual medical facts in such instances. In other words, you can't simply read about similar sounding medical criteria and actually cause it to become a true medical concern. It's analogous to worrying that the moon will drift out of its orbit with the belief that thinking about it could actually influence the gravitational field holding it in place. People don't simply become concerned when the palpitations occur, but rather feel as though their life may be in jeopardy and so their quest for defining and overcoming the threat takes them to the absolute darkest corner of potential outcomes, far beyond the actual circumstances at issue.
You're going to be fine. There is nothing wrong with your heart and these events do not hold the capacity to do you harm.
Best regards,
Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)
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