DEAR DR. GOTT: I recently went to my doctor for a checkup. When he listened to my chest, he mentioned I had PACs. What is this all about, and is there something I should be concerned about?
DEAR READER: PACs stand for “premature atrial contractions,” an irregular rhythm of the heartbeat. As a general rule, PACs are harmless and occur in many people at some stage. The condition may go undetected and not cause any symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they may feel like a flutter or skipped heartbeat.
Your premature beats may not relate to any form of heart disease but may result from anemia, excessive caffeine, nicotine or physical exercise.
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