Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1584046 tn?1296756782

Irregular Heart Beat??

I am freaking hou just about every night...it usually happens after dinner and in the middle of the night if I wake up...Usually my anxiety is triggered by feeling an irregular heart beat...I never feel this during the day only at night..When my heart starts skipping beats it freaks me out. Sometimes I think I am having a heart attack or fixing to die..I used to have a major fear of dying when I was younger. It started at about age 15 and still today. I fear I am going do die at an early age and I have kids that worries the hell out of me..I am scared to go to the doctor cause I am affraid they are gonna tell me something is wrong with me...I have a MAJOR gas problem and that is usually what triggers my panic attacks because of all the pressure...but the irregular heart beat CANT BE normal...I have been to the doctor befor and was prescribed Zolof and Sertrilne. They gave me a 10 minute EKG and did say anything was wrong...I think I need a stress test or something but this is driving me nuts because it happens just about every night.. My wife is starting to get tired of me waking her up in the middle of the night cause I think I am gonna have a heart attack...I am 28 years old and for the most part in good health other than the panic attacks caused by my heart beating funny.. ANY ANSWERS?? This is driving me nuts!!
11 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
5891807 tn?1413433205
Don't worry about it. I used to get really scared too and would always go to the ER every time it happened but nothing was wrong with me. It's just what anxiety does to you. It's not life threatening.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had anxiety for 4 months im 19 and its killing me i have recently found out i have a irregular heartbeat but its constant and gets alot worse when im getting ready to relax or lie down...also when im walking around i get really scared because i can feel my heart beating so rapid and also been having really bad chest pain and then i constantly thimk im dieing...pains in left arm pain on heart and back pain i would just like to know if its anxiety getting the better of me many thanks...joeyyy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had anxiety for 4 months im 19 and its killing me i have recently found out i have a irregular heartbeat but its constant and gets alot worse when im getting ready to relax or lie down...also when im walking around i get really scared because i can feel my heart beating so rapid and also been having really bad chest pain and then i constantly thimk im dieing...pains in left arm pain on heart and back pain i would just like to know if its anxiety getting the better of me many thanks...joeyyy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As others have said, it's very common to have heart palpitations (skipped beats, faster heartbeat) when you have an anxiety disorder.  Most of the time, it really is nothing serious.

Go see your doctor, ask for a Holter test if you can (they'll give you a hearth rhythm monitor for 24 or 48 hours to make sure everything is fine).  Once you get the results, you'll either know what's wrong or you'll know for sure that nothing is wrong and then you can move on.

Also, if you are taking medication for your anxiety, know that a lot of those meds have "hearth palpitations" as a possible side-effect.  Maybe talk to your doctor if you want to know more about that.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh no this is so wrong! You don't have to live with it, it's never normal for your heart to skip beats, but it's also not deadly if you treat it on time. I'm 22 years old and I have been treated for anxiety for 4 years already, until recently I had a severe panic attack, to the point I became suicidal. My family worried so they took me to a doctor of Oriental & homeopathic medicine. He told me I had the irregular heart beat, which I hadn't even noticed! & that was the cause of my anxiety & panic... Anyways it wasn't expensive they charged me $100 for consultation and the natural medicine and a diet that'll help me with the cleansing of my body. I also got acupuncture which right away changed my heart beat! I no longer have that skip, but I have to continue going to heal completely.  I hope this helps, cause I had been treated by western medicine all this time with no results like the ones I got from this doctor.
Helpful - 0
723959 tn?1314744225
I feel for you bc i have been going through the same for a while now, it came out of nowhere. Reading this forum helped me so much I have been sooo scared. It has put me into a depression bc I feel like I am not rested during the dabc it keeps me up at night which slows me down. So all day I think of what it is, and why does it feel like it hurts sometimes. Both my mom and dad have severe acid reflux and I wonder it that is causing the pain. If you find a solution, let me know..lol. Its horribe to live with, being scared all the time.

Kalie
Helpful - 0
1584046 tn?1296756782
Thanks alot for the replys...It really helps to know I am not the only one with these problems...I am glad I joined this forum...
Helpful - 0
1547031 tn?1296831436
Have you seen a cardiologist?  Maybe that would be a good first step.  By doing that you can know for sure if your irregular heart beats are a symptom of anxiety.  Once all physical causes have been ruled out, then you can start dealing with the anxiety symptoms.  I will tell you that what you are describing is extremely common among anxiety sufferers and that you have come to a place where we all can understand to some degree what you are going through.  It is frightening.  It is terrifying.  It's so hard when your body tells you there is something wrong, and the doctors tell you there isn't.  But, there are so many excellent coping skills and techniques that can help manage this.  However, the first step, as I said earlier is to rule out all physical causes for the issue.  Take good care.  Jen
Helpful - 0
1584371 tn?1296733978
Hey guys, don't freak out. I was exactly the same. Was complaining that something was not right with my heart and that it even sort of hurt sometimes. My mum is overly cautious and took me to get an ultrasound on my heart. It was like $300 or something rediculous. But I found out I actually have a heart murmur. Which is an irregular heart beat. To be honest, you are probably noticing your heart skipping beats at night time because you're relaxed and everything is generally quieter. I still freak myself out sometimes but its reassuring to know that i've had it checked out and they have told me it is actually a good thing because you heart isn't working as hard as most because it is skipping a beat every now and then. I don't require any medication, it doesn't affect exercise or my life in any other way. But suggest getting one of these tests purely for peace of mind. :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im 28, ive had the exact same symptoms but for years,irregular heartbeat,when i first felt them i was young and when told it was nothing to worry about i accepted it and lived with it,just recently some bad stuff happened in my life and months later 'i must have some major heart defect or something!!!'(same symptom as always!)in my case its stress and health axniety, i know it but it doesnt stop it!also found out both my brothers get the abnormal/skipped beats that are worse at certain points in their lives! Theve been checked out and have accepted they are ok!
Helpful - 0
1573549 tn?1295891793
I know exactly what your talking about. I have had these same symptoms before. The excess gas can cause all kinds of weird feelings. I have suffered with bloating and gas for years. The best thing that I have found that works for me is Gas X  Extra Strength chewables. The gas alone CAN cause the palpitations you are having. The fear of dying is definitely a panic attack. When you are having an attack get up out of bed and do anything you can think of to distract your mind, so it has to focus elsewhere. I find playing solitaire or any other computer game, helps me a lot. Also deep breaths and counting backwards helps me. It's just about focusing your mind away from what you are feeling. You could definitely benefit from anti anxiety medication, like Ativan (which is what I take) Zanax etc..
Please dont be ashamed or embarrassed about what you are feeling be honest with the doctors and tell them how bad this is affecting you.
Blessings to you and yours. Please let me know how things turn out.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?