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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Heavy Beating / Palpitation
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Heavy Beating / Palpitation
by TimK, Jan 25, 2004 12:00AM
I am a 34 year old male, exercise regularily light smoker and drink on occasion. I have always had an irregular heart beat / palpitation. For the past few months, I have noticed that my heart is beating excessively heavy/hard for long periods of time, sometimes days. I feel it most when I lay in bed at night, throughout my chest and left side. Sometimes it makes my side ache terribly. I can not lay on my left side due to the pain it causes around my heart and the severity of the heart beat increases. It is so strong at points it keeps me awake. In the past I associated this with personal stress or anxiety, but now I am concerned that something else may be wrong. Mentally I feel relaxed but my heart is on over drive?
Does this sound familiar to anyone?
What is my next step?
Thanks to anyone who can help
Tim
Does this sound familiar to anyone?
What is my next step?
Thanks to anyone who can help
Tim
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jan 25, 2004 12:00AM
Tim,
Thanks for the question, and welcome to the site.
Q1:"Does this sound familiar to anyone?"
Be careful what you ask for, 'cause you just might get it. Get ready to read some responses my friend...
Q2:"What is my next step?"
You need a diagnosis. This can be done easily at any decent internist's office. If you are having the palpitations (defined as any abnormal chest sensation associated with the heart beat) at the time of the visit, then the internist can obtain an ECG during the visit to see if you are having an arrhythmia. If you are having an arrhythmia, then therapy for the arrhythmia can be tailored to the particular type. If you are not having an arrhythmia, then therapy exists for that as well, again depending on what is seen on the EKG. However, don't delay seeing an internist until the symptoms start. There are other ways to arrive at a diagnosis as well.
Some generic advice would be to keep a log/diary of the episodes with attention to time of day, duration, possible triggers (eating, exercise, awakening, stress), relation to caffeine intake, and other symptoms at the time of the episode.
Also, many people develop the first skipped beats in their lifetime in association with caffeine intake or other stimulants. These can be hidden in drinks, pills, and food. So take an inventory of what you have been ingesting to see if a stimulant can be found.
Good luck.
Thanks for the question, and welcome to the site.
Q1:"Does this sound familiar to anyone?"
Be careful what you ask for, 'cause you just might get it. Get ready to read some responses my friend...
Q2:"What is my next step?"
You need a diagnosis. This can be done easily at any decent internist's office. If you are having the palpitations (defined as any abnormal chest sensation associated with the heart beat) at the time of the visit, then the internist can obtain an ECG during the visit to see if you are having an arrhythmia. If you are having an arrhythmia, then therapy for the arrhythmia can be tailored to the particular type. If you are not having an arrhythmia, then therapy exists for that as well, again depending on what is seen on the EKG. However, don't delay seeing an internist until the symptoms start. There are other ways to arrive at a diagnosis as well.
Some generic advice would be to keep a log/diary of the episodes with attention to time of day, duration, possible triggers (eating, exercise, awakening, stress), relation to caffeine intake, and other symptoms at the time of the episode.
Also, many people develop the first skipped beats in their lifetime in association with caffeine intake or other stimulants. These can be hidden in drinks, pills, and food. So take an inventory of what you have been ingesting to see if a stimulant can be found.
Good luck.
Your condition sounds almost exactly like mine. If I drink several beers like you, the next day, after I eat, my heart pounds hard and fast around 110 pulse rate. 6 months ago I drank a "Red Bull" and experienced palpitations. I panicked and drove myself to the hospital. Eventually I went to a cardiologist and had a stress test. My heart was ok but he put me on blood pressure lowering medicine and I did not have a pressure problem. Apparently, this medicine is used for palpitations also. Caffine definitely causes PVCs with me. My last 2 meals were Chinese and I have had PVCs again today. I will be checking myself to see if MSG is also causing a problem. I also smoke. I understand that nicotine, alchohol, and caffine can cause the palpitations, all 3 of which I do. I've been trying to revert to hot tea instead of coffee. My grandmother, mother, and brother all have the same problem. Today my pulse was 63, which is low for me and I have no idea why. Anyway, I would at least go see a cardiologist. When I showed up the DR asked, "Why are so many young people coming in today?" I was 42 when I visited the doctor.
Hope this helps.
Mark
Your problem sounds very similar to mine.
I have constant pounding heart with what I can only describe as "weird fleeting sensations of the heart".
My cardiologist has done the ecg and treadmill test and told me to forget the "problems" of pounding etc as they do not show up either via pulse rate or blood pressure or tests.
Anyone who has our "problems" knows this is easier said than done, so I intend to get further help and suggest you do the same.
There is a condition called Costochondritis which it seems as similar syptoms to many heart problems.
I am investigating this condition further and will let you know what I find.
I UNDERSTAND YOU COMPLETELY. I HAVE ALL THE TESTS DONE EKG,BLOOD,ECHO,TREDMILL ALL GOOD- IT IS SO BAFFLING TO ME I AM 35 ALL MY LIFE ACTIVE, LIVED WITH HUGE STRESS ATE WHAT I WANTED DRANK POP THEN ONE DAY IT ALL CHANGED. I SAW ONE DOC YEAP JUST FORGET HE SAID ITS STRESS, BUT THAT DOES STOP THE FEAR! EVERYDAY I HEAR MY HEART BEAT, I FEEL IT BOUNDING INSIDE MY CHEST IT DOESNT MATTER THE TIME OF DAY OR WHAT I AM DOING, AND WHEN I HAVE ATTACK IT LASTS 5MIN OR SO AND IT THE SCARIEST TIME. SO I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS FORUM AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING UP FRONT WITH YOUR CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS IT HELPS ME WITH MY UNKNOWN.WENDY