Split heartbeat

[Jollyoldholiday]

Hi all,

Does anyone have experience of being told they have a split heartbeat?

I went to the GP today for something unrelated and had my heart listened to. GP said she could hear a tiny extra noise which she referred to as a split heartbeat. She told me there was a very big chance it was nothing to be concerned about (just a variation on normal) and referred me for an ECG and blood tests, but I’m now feeling very anxious (suffer from anxiety anyway).

Does anyone have any experience / insight?

Thanks

Not a medical professional and no personal experience but I do know that slight timing ‘differences’ in the heart are, as your GP says, not that unusual and often can be left untreated once fully checked out.

What I do know is that my cousin had an issue with sporadic arrhythmia for around 45 years (following open heart surgery as a toddler) and stopped even bothering to mention it to GPs in her 20s as everyone said it’s not particularly dangerous and there’s nothing to be done (just a bit uncomfortable and disconcerting at times)… fast forward to a few years ago and her current GP picked up on it during a check up, said there are treatments for this now, do you want a referral? and long story short, she went in for a day procedure as an out patient, rested up for a couple of days and now has a 100% normal heartbeat.

There’s loads of really good tech and meds out there now so I’d say try not to worry - there likely being over cautious

It's very likely to be just normal for you. I have a split heart beat - discovered when I was practising as a medical student, and I never bothered to do anything about investigating it as I was fit and well.

That was at least 30 years ago now, still fine.

Thank you both - feeling reassured now. I am having blood tests and ecg next week and then an echo so GP is being really thorough.

Just feels weird that it’s only been detected now (have obviously had my heart listened to many times, as most people have!)

Meant to say - as I’m 40