i apologize if i am doing this wrong, i figured his exact case description would be best for accurate advice. any info/advice appreciated; my father is 55, 210lbs & the toughest man i know, contractor up until 4 months ago, now a security guard for our church (not as active now). felt faint at work yesterdy, refused to get in the ambulance (my mom had to take him)he was a long time major drug/alcohol user up until about 5 years ago. now is heavy coffee, salt, has high blood pressure & family history of heart problems. he went to the emergency room last night & stayed overnight. he has shortness of breath, chest pains 3 inches above the sternum. anyway his beats are 4-pause-3-pause-4-pause-3 almost steadily. the look on his face last night in the room with the respirator broke my heart. they wheel chaired him to xrays and turned around 5 seconds later due to irregular beats. had to have the wheelable xray come to his bed. i have read about irregular beats alot today but there seems to be a fine line between serious and not. how can i know? i get the feeling the doc doesnt want us to worry but the truth is necessary. i am scared for him and want to know what i can do. when he gets out i will begin an exercise program and how can i help with his diet (what to eat)? again i apologize incorrect, but im a little desperate now.

Sorry not to be able to offer much insight but the questions you're asking about exercise and diet, are things that are probably going to have to be discussed with his doctor after a diagnosis is made.

Obviously try to cut down on the salt and coffee... maybe try looking up a site on nutritional advice... but any exercise program will depend on what his diagnosis is and what his doctor wants him to do. There may be other dietary restrictions to consider also.

Hi save a civic,
You need to take one step at a time. I appreciate that you are very anxious about your father's condition, but you need to take some control over your feelings so that you can help and plan appropriately for your father. Firstly, you need to know his diagnosis and how the doctor's think he will progress.Secondly, you need to emotionally support your father as much as you can. The longer term aspects will become clearer as time goes on. I wish you all good luck and all the best.
Regards, Excelsoir

I'm 35 and my heart does the same thing; a couple beats, then a 2 second pause. When it does this for an extended period of time, I checked my pulse and it was 34 (for a minute). My doctor tells me not to worry but it's kind of hard not to.