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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
heart palpitations
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
heart palpitations
by nicoro, Sep 14, 2005 12:00AM
Dr. Thank you for talking a minute to answer my questions. they are as follows:
I am 31 year old female. In about2 years have lost 55 pounds (long live weight watchers and curves) still have about 15 to go. but i have been getting these weird heart palpitations. and some pain in my chest area. I went in about a year and half ago for the same thing to the er and they did and ekg and all was well.
Last month had a physical along with the normal blood test that go with a physicaland all was well. At that point explaind to the DR. and she listened with a stehoscope and siad it was fine. Perfectly normal
Then i went in again because it was really starting to scare me and again a different Dr. just listened and said it sounds fine and not to worry about it. It is probably stress related and i should go to stress namagement classes.
My question is by taking a bp which mine is 115/68 and pulse average at 72 BPM and listening to my heart can they TRULLY rule out anything serious?
Will the results of an ekg taken 2 years ago still be accurate? (i know that seems liek a silly one but i had to ask)
I just dont want to be a missed ticking time bomb.
also i think you should know that after the palpitation my heart rate goes back to normal any where from 72 bpm to 90. If i am very freaked out about it it stays around 90 BPM for a little bit then i take long deep breaths and breath out slowly then it goes right back to normal.
I have stopped drinking caffiene trying to excerise more but I honestly am afriad to get my heart rate up becuase i HATE how it palpates. can you offer any insites. Is this normal? Thank you so very much for all of your time...
Sincerley,
L.
I am 31 year old female. In about2 years have lost 55 pounds (long live weight watchers and curves) still have about 15 to go. but i have been getting these weird heart palpitations. and some pain in my chest area. I went in about a year and half ago for the same thing to the er and they did and ekg and all was well.
Last month had a physical along with the normal blood test that go with a physicaland all was well. At that point explaind to the DR. and she listened with a stehoscope and siad it was fine. Perfectly normal
Then i went in again because it was really starting to scare me and again a different Dr. just listened and said it sounds fine and not to worry about it. It is probably stress related and i should go to stress namagement classes.
My question is by taking a bp which mine is 115/68 and pulse average at 72 BPM and listening to my heart can they TRULLY rule out anything serious?
Will the results of an ekg taken 2 years ago still be accurate? (i know that seems liek a silly one but i had to ask)
I just dont want to be a missed ticking time bomb.
also i think you should know that after the palpitation my heart rate goes back to normal any where from 72 bpm to 90. If i am very freaked out about it it stays around 90 BPM for a little bit then i take long deep breaths and breath out slowly then it goes right back to normal.
I have stopped drinking caffiene trying to excerise more but I honestly am afriad to get my heart rate up becuase i HATE how it palpates. can you offer any insites. Is this normal? Thank you so very much for all of your time...
Sincerley,
L.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Sep 15, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 15, 2005 12:00AM
Palpitations should be worked up. An EKG would be a good start, however many times the heart is in a normal rhythm during the test.
An event heart monitor makes more sense. This is a portable heart monitor worn over the course of a month and a button is pressed to record the heart rhythm during the symptommatic period.
I would also consider an echocardiogram to evaluate the heart structure, as well as blood tests to evaluate the thyroid and metabolic panel (to evaluate the electrolytes).
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
An event heart monitor makes more sense. This is a portable heart monitor worn over the course of a month and a button is pressed to record the heart rhythm during the symptommatic period.
I would also consider an echocardiogram to evaluate the heart structure, as well as blood tests to evaluate the thyroid and metabolic panel (to evaluate the electrolytes).
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
this summer while on vacation overseas i overexerted myself playing soccer and swimming etc. and woke up one morning with iregular heart-bit. when the doctor told me i had atrial fabrilation i freaked out and my heart started racing more. i stayed overnite to a hospital and got medication that corrected the problem. echoECG, stress-test were all normal after that. now 4 months after the incident i started feeling the mononucleosis effects all over again and more intense. twinkling of feet, heart incidents of what i think are irregular bits especially after my excercise routines, neck pain etc. i went to PCP who ordered new heart tests...
i am sick and tired of this...i start to suspect that mono has a big part in this...my PCP says that mono does not cause heart arrythmias..anyone else with same problems?
thanks