Scared by irregular heartbeat

Can an irregular heartbeat be a symptom of anxiety?  For example, sometimes I have a 'flash' or 'rush' during the day (as in of adrenalin, or a feeling like it), during and after which I get a heart-thumping sensation with an irregular rhythm.... thump thump ...(pause)..... THUMP thumpthumpthump....(pause)......... THUMP thumpthumpthump thump thump and then it passes.  During the "pause and then THUMP," I get a sinking feeling in my chest (I don't know if it's because it's real or because it's scaring me) and then a brief head rush.

Do people regularly get these kind of rhythms and just don't notice them?  Does this have a name?  Am I noticing something/scared by something that is "normal" just because I'm anxious?

I've had 2 normal ECGs and I can't afford another trip to the ER... I have not had any stress test / echo / monitor to wear or anything like that, but I don't remember mentioning this symptom to the doctor before or it ever being so strong. I know that I am plagued by anxiety about my health, and I am trying really hard to manage this, but I'm scared this may be a real problem.  It would help even to know that someone else has experienced this and knows what I'm talking about.

[Matthew1986]

Heya megan

It sometimes can be a factor of anxiety!, i get them quite often, from a normal beat to an all of a sudden rapid pulse that feels you like just ran the marathon! KATHUMPKATHUMP!!,

I do know that one cause is called arithmia (think thats the right spelling) only way to know for certain is for a GP to assess did they mention anything about that before?

[MeganPixel]

Hi Matthew, no they never mentioned to me, my doctor's assessed me many times and also said my ECG was normal, but this is kind of a 'new' thing for me. I recall having felt this in the past but I was always able to disregard it before.  So either I'm becoming hyper aware of it or it's getting more noticeable.  The fast thump doesn't bother me... the irregular pause and thump is what gets me... I even feel strange right in that 1.5-2 second pause.  I don't know how they test for those kind of things (maybe it just wasn't happening while the ECG was going or the doctor was listening??) or if it's even worth getting worked up over. I feel like a whining baby for even talking about this, I know the anxiety is amplifying it something terrible, but I'm really frightened!

[Matthew1986]

its so strange!, i wouldn't worry if you feel like a broken record no matter how silly it sounds,anxiety can make you feel likee you should be in a padded cell (thats how i feel!) i think that to myself sorta like "i know i've said this many many times before...i'm an idiot, and my doctor must think i am!"

ECG are fairly accurate in my eyes i've had two, i ended up in ER one night quite recently (my second ECG) with quite a worryingly fast pulse, they hooked me up to the reader and no longer than 10 minutes gone by, i got a negative result for anything out of the ordinary!

Keep yer head high megan!, it is like trying to wade through a high tide sometimes but you can get to the bottom of it, if it dosn't settle soon, give yer doc a knock on the head!

Stay safe and i hope you feel better!

[colleendawn813]

Hi Megan!I I am right there with you! I have that crazy thump pause stuff and sometimes my whole body feels a shock or headrush like it was suddenly deprived of oxygen for a second. It used to happen A LOT, but for some reason now only once in a while.
Ive had holter, ekgs, ecgs, bloodwork blah blah blah all normal. Just PVCs. I
have done exhaustive research on it because I have dealt with it for years. and if your ecg was clean, there is probably nothing structurally wrong with your heart. they would have caught it. If you have health anxiety (like me, who really enjoys trips to the er where they know me by name... not really but they should by now) you will probably still dwell on it no matter what, but i hope you get at least some comfort from my post. hang in there, this forum really helps. we are all in this leaky canoe together, as i think greenlydia said.

[MeganPixel]

Thanks to both of you, your comments really are a comfort to me. I do have the health anxiety... of course any "new" symptom sets me off something terrible, and this is new for me or at least I'm just becoming aware of it.  I did some (I know I'm not supposed to, rrrgh but anyway) Googling on "heart skips a beat" and --- for ONCE -- it directed me to some reassuring websites from heart foundations that said PVCs and PACs are normal occurrences and one should only worry if you actually faint or get dizzy from them.  Then I talked to my mom, who said she has been feeling them all the time for years and they started when she was younger than I am now!  Yeah I feel a little silly now!!!   Its been a very stressful week, every time I pick up the phone at work I seem to get them.  And its such a frightening sensation to me besides.  I'm glad that other people feel this and live (long healthy lives) to tell about it.

I was reading - I don't know how true this is and I haven't tried it - that raising your potassium or magnesium may help stop (or stop from feeling) PVCs. Dehydration can contribute, too.  So, I better start drinking water and taking my vitamins again... with all that's going on, eating and drinking are the LAST things on my mind.

I agree Colleen, this forum is really helpful...not only to get answers to your questions but also to read others answers and contribute... anxiety is so prevalent but so often misunderstood, it makes me feel better just knowing other people are out there struggling with the same thing and that there are several who have been there and gotten better!