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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Almost blacking out and worrying about possible heart problems.
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Almost blacking out and worrying about possible heart problems.
by JC82, Nov 23, 2006 12:00AM
Hello, I've been reading the posts here for a while, but this is my first post!
I am 22 years old, rarely drinks alcohol, and doesn't smoke. I don't believe my family has any history of heart disease. I have always been more of a tense person, but with the things that have happened in the past few weeks, I am getting quite concerned that it might be more that just anxiety.
Three months ago, I was on an airplane when I suddenly felt like I was going to black out. My ears started to ring, it felt cold, and I couldn't see. I also felt like I was going to throw up just before these effects came. After several minutes, it got a bit better. I do remember a bit of "up down" turbulence before I got sick. Several weeks ago, I was just getting up from bed when the same thing happened again. I think these are sudden drops in blood pressure, but does anyone know what can cause them? It hasn't happened until this past year.
Ever since then, I have become afraid that my heart is failing or that I am going to have a heart attack. I went to the doctor who did blood work and did an electrocardiogram and said everything was normal. Now I am living in a new city by myself and for the past few days, have been feeling dizzy (especially after getting off the elevator - feels like the ground is still moving), feeling skipped beats, and constantly afraid that I'm going to have heart problems and no one will know. There's a hospital nearby, and sometimes I'm tempted to go and see if they will check me, but I'm afraid they'll just turn me away. I'm not sure if its just anxiety problems anymore.
I am 22 years old, rarely drinks alcohol, and doesn't smoke. I don't believe my family has any history of heart disease. I have always been more of a tense person, but with the things that have happened in the past few weeks, I am getting quite concerned that it might be more that just anxiety.
Three months ago, I was on an airplane when I suddenly felt like I was going to black out. My ears started to ring, it felt cold, and I couldn't see. I also felt like I was going to throw up just before these effects came. After several minutes, it got a bit better. I do remember a bit of "up down" turbulence before I got sick. Several weeks ago, I was just getting up from bed when the same thing happened again. I think these are sudden drops in blood pressure, but does anyone know what can cause them? It hasn't happened until this past year.
Ever since then, I have become afraid that my heart is failing or that I am going to have a heart attack. I went to the doctor who did blood work and did an electrocardiogram and said everything was normal. Now I am living in a new city by myself and for the past few days, have been feeling dizzy (especially after getting off the elevator - feels like the ground is still moving), feeling skipped beats, and constantly afraid that I'm going to have heart problems and no one will know. There's a hospital nearby, and sometimes I'm tempted to go and see if they will check me, but I'm afraid they'll just turn me away. I'm not sure if its just anxiety problems anymore.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Nov 23, 2006 12:00AM
Hello,
I am sorry to hear that you are having a heard time. The discription you gave
"My ears started to ring, it felt cold, and I couldn't see. I also felt like I was going to throw up just before these effects came."
Is classic for vasovagal syncope. Vasovagal syncope can but does not have to be associated with anxiety, but to be honest, reading your post is very suggestive that anxiety is a significant component. It can be hard to move to a new city and this may be the trigger for why you are having problems now. It is reasonable to do an echocardiogram and EKG, but that should be enough tests unless there is something abnormal.
It is also very common for people with vasovagal syncope and anxiety to fear that they are going to die or that something is very wrong. You need to do what ever it takes to convince yourself that your health is good so that you can move on to addressing what sounds like your real issue -- anxiety. You cannot honestly treat your anxiety until you are willing to accept that this is the cause of your symptoms.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
I am sorry to hear that you are having a heard time. The discription you gave
"My ears started to ring, it felt cold, and I couldn't see. I also felt like I was going to throw up just before these effects came."
Is classic for vasovagal syncope. Vasovagal syncope can but does not have to be associated with anxiety, but to be honest, reading your post is very suggestive that anxiety is a significant component. It can be hard to move to a new city and this may be the trigger for why you are having problems now. It is reasonable to do an echocardiogram and EKG, but that should be enough tests unless there is something abnormal.
It is also very common for people with vasovagal syncope and anxiety to fear that they are going to die or that something is very wrong. You need to do what ever it takes to convince yourself that your health is good so that you can move on to addressing what sounds like your real issue -- anxiety. You cannot honestly treat your anxiety until you are willing to accept that this is the cause of your symptoms.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
Erik
I feel skipped beats, funny(not sure what I'm feeling) beats, just this morning I got up and I was feeling SO STRANGE and couldn't fig out what it was, I checked my blood sugar, it was fine at 4.9 so I was like wtf? Anyway, I checked my pulse and it was flying high, at least 170 or more. I was not out of breath at all whatsoever, and tried valsava manover but that seemed to speed it up more, anyway, 10mins later, back to normal.
Our irregular beats have no true rhyme or reason, maybe some lucky folks do, but I know mine don't. Has anything else happened in your life recently to these attacks that could have made your more stressed out?? Are you scared of flying? (I AM!!) Anything in your private life change? (besides a big move on your own!) Ask yourself these questions. We can be under alot more stress then we let on to. I find talking to a councellor about my feelings and worries helps me. Also, research a little more into anxiety and panic. It may help you to determine if you do fit that type of profile or not. And, if I were you, I would just get a holter monitor (monitors your heart beat for a set period of time, they differ, some are 24hrs and others up to 30 days!) you had an echo, so just a check up and seeing a doc certianly woudn't hurt. If anything it may ease your unsure feelings. Best of luck!
Nurse Kagome :)
I have also looked into the symptoms of anxiety disorder and many of mine do match the list. I often worry that my heart is just gonna stop beating because it feels strange and I'll drop dead. Or with the present of any chest discomfort, I instantly think it could be symptoms of a heart attack. I even keep my phone right next to me when I sleep just so I can call 911 if anything happens.
I have tried often to tell myself that it is purely anxiety and nothing else, but whenever some discomfort, pain, skipped beats appear, I go back to being afraid that its my heart. So in the end, I can't make myself sure if its the heart, the mind, or both.
I will be having another check-up with my doctor (again, I always have this thought that I might not live to get a next checkup :( ) and it'll probably be a good idea to see a psychiatrist as well.
I want to say though that this forum has helped me calm down a bit, seeing others with similar events as well and how they cope with it.
Hope you get things figured out.
Just another cause to consider, good luck!
Tony