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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Tachycardia, palpitations, anxiety and hormones
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Tachycardia, palpitations, anxiety and hormones
by scareddee, Dec 01, 2006 12:00AM
Hello,
Thank you for taking my questions and for providing this very valuable service.
I am a woman who turned 49 years old yesterday. I have a ten year history of panic and GAD that waxes and wanes. Cardiac symptoms, such as tachycardia and "skipped" beats occur when it's high. I have had two echocardiograms, the first showed MVP(mild, but medicate for dental work), the second didn't. These were both performed several years ago. I had a normal holter monitor test last April. I did have some symptoms, but was told holter was "normal." I did not ask any specifics.
I have been having increasing bouts of tachycardia and palpitations again. I am also struggling again with my anxiety and I'm in the middle of an awful perimenopause. I am sometimes anemic and have had problems in the past with low potassium. Lab values for each of these was normal last month when I had them retested.
My questions for you are: 1. How much do changing hormones and anxiety-produced adrenaline factor in to periodic tachycardia and palpitations? 2. Is there any way I can tell if anxiety is precipitating the palps or if the palps are precipitating the anxiety? 3. Would more testing be in order and if so, which tests would be helpful? 4. Is it better to medicate for the anxiety or the cardiac symptoms? (I have had success in the past with klonopin and had no problems coming off. I have had terrible side effects with SSRI's and also with beta blockers. I am willing to give the beta blockers another chance if that is the best route to go.)
Thank you very much.
Thank you for taking my questions and for providing this very valuable service.
I am a woman who turned 49 years old yesterday. I have a ten year history of panic and GAD that waxes and wanes. Cardiac symptoms, such as tachycardia and "skipped" beats occur when it's high. I have had two echocardiograms, the first showed MVP(mild, but medicate for dental work), the second didn't. These were both performed several years ago. I had a normal holter monitor test last April. I did have some symptoms, but was told holter was "normal." I did not ask any specifics.
I have been having increasing bouts of tachycardia and palpitations again. I am also struggling again with my anxiety and I'm in the middle of an awful perimenopause. I am sometimes anemic and have had problems in the past with low potassium. Lab values for each of these was normal last month when I had them retested.
My questions for you are: 1. How much do changing hormones and anxiety-produced adrenaline factor in to periodic tachycardia and palpitations? 2. Is there any way I can tell if anxiety is precipitating the palps or if the palps are precipitating the anxiety? 3. Would more testing be in order and if so, which tests would be helpful? 4. Is it better to medicate for the anxiety or the cardiac symptoms? (I have had success in the past with klonopin and had no problems coming off. I have had terrible side effects with SSRI's and also with beta blockers. I am willing to give the beta blockers another chance if that is the best route to go.)
Thank you very much.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Dec 02, 2006 12:00AM
, Dec 02, 2006 12:00AM
scareddee,
thanks for the post. cute name.
1. How much do changing hormones and anxiety-produced adrenaline factor in to periodic tachycardia and palpitations?
For some women, hormonal fluctuations can have significant effect on their palpitations. Anxiety can also play a big role.
2. Is there any way I can tell if anxiety is precipitating the palps or if the palps are precipitating the anxiety?
If the anxiety is getting worse I would imagine that it is probably the main component here.
3. Would more testing be in order and if so, which tests would be helpful?
I probably wouldn't pursue too much more testing if your previous test were normal.
4. Is it better to medicate for the anxiety or the cardiac symptoms? (I have had success in the past with klonopin and had no problems coming off. I have had terrible side effects with SSRI's and also with beta blockers. I am willing to give the beta blockers another chance if that is the best route to go.)
Again I proably would focus mor on the anxiety component. It would be important for your cardiologist and whoever you see for your anxiety communicate their findings.
good luck
thanks for the post. cute name.
1. How much do changing hormones and anxiety-produced adrenaline factor in to periodic tachycardia and palpitations?
For some women, hormonal fluctuations can have significant effect on their palpitations. Anxiety can also play a big role.
2. Is there any way I can tell if anxiety is precipitating the palps or if the palps are precipitating the anxiety?
If the anxiety is getting worse I would imagine that it is probably the main component here.
3. Would more testing be in order and if so, which tests would be helpful?
I probably wouldn't pursue too much more testing if your previous test were normal.
4. Is it better to medicate for the anxiety or the cardiac symptoms? (I have had success in the past with klonopin and had no problems coming off. I have had terrible side effects with SSRI's and also with beta blockers. I am willing to give the beta blockers another chance if that is the best route to go.)
Again I proably would focus mor on the anxiety component. It would be important for your cardiologist and whoever you see for your anxiety communicate their findings.
good luck
I have frequent exercise-induced PACs and my cardiologist seems to think it's adrenaline. Like you, I have a history of anxiety. It seems many people here do, which makes me think it's very likely adrenaline plays a very big role in our ectopic frequency.
You read on here about alot of women having symtoms of more severity during their cycle and menopause...makes menapause even more scary. I am almost tempted to do a low dose birthcontrol pill to even out my hormones. Anyone try that? Good luck and i hope you feel better soon. Judianne
The beta blockers you're on, are you taking them only at specific times during your cycle? If so, maybe that would be an option for me to bring up to my cardiologist next time I see him.
Btw: I'm Rachel's mom too, lol, that's my daughter's name :)
Nurse Kagome
I'll have to ask my doctor next time I go if I could do something similar. He had mentioned BBs before, but since my symptoms are not constant, I've always said I'd prefer not to.