constantly worrying about heart attack

Question

anyone out there constantly worrying about their heart?  i notice every little twinge and i always think its the beginning of a heart attack.  I have had EKG's, chest xrays, bloodwork and a holter monitor everything has come back normal.  but still its like i feel every beat my heart makes, and i can work myself up into a severe anxiety attack in a matter of seconds.  It used to be so bad that i hated to go to sleep for fear that i would die during the night. Anyone else experience this?

nursegirl6572 · Answer

The BP issue is commonly referred to as "white coat syndrome" where basically just the idea of being in the doctor's office causes anxiety.

I would urge you to start your own thread so you can get the help and support you need.  This thread is very old and will get passed over by most.  I'll keep my eye out for your thread!

moworrier · Answer

I have had heart anxiety all my life. I go to the hospital and my blood pressure skyrockets because of the anxiety, then they calm me down and I feel fine when they say everything is okay. I can not seem to get a normal blood pressure reading ever in the Dr.s office or hospital. Even just thinking they are going to take my blood pressure reading makes it go up! I wish I could relax but I can't. Its easy for them to say just think nice things or just relax, it does not work.

remar · Answer

Are you expecting your baby, or has the baby already been born? If the baby has been born and you're not breastfeeding you can go back on Paxil.

Eve037 · Answer

I'm a so called healthy 37yr old whom loved to exercise. I was diagnosed with GAD 4 years ago. I too was terrified of being ill. More concerned for my heart. I started paxil after a year of trying to cope on my own. The paxil made me feel better. Got off the meds last year and was good for 10 months then my wonderful husband had a heart attack. My husband thankfully pulled through. That sure as hell triggered my anxiety again and got back on paxil. 6 mo later I'm blessed with a baby and had to stop the paxil. Guess what it's back again. I'm driving my mind crazy. I'm afraid to eat certain things and any little pain freaks me out. Help!

cj29 · Answer

I am going to have to be an echo to greenlydia here.  You did the right thing by getting checked out, but now you have to tackle the root cause of this which is your health anxiety in my opinion.  My original bout with anxiety came from concerns with my heart.  I too had every test under the sun and I knew the doc's had to be missing something.  Not until I accepted that it might be anxiety did I start to get myself out of this constant state of worry.  For me, a combination of meds and talk therapy did wonders in confronting this.  I also agree that talk therapy is the most important step you can take it getting through this.

RubyWitch · Answer

You have a VERY common condition of a great many anxiety/panic people. It's called "heart anxiety," and it can make a living hell. You've had just about every test in the book and every one of them has come back normal. Being unable to accept there is nothing wrong with our hearts is simply another symptom of this "disorder." You could keep going back for more tests every time you have a palp or a twinge, hell, your doctor is more than happy to bill your insurance company and that co-pay helps put him in a new Porsche every year. Or........you could get into some therapy and get to the root cause of your heart anxiety. There is a reason you fear heart attacks so badly. Find out what and why that is and you're half way to beating that particular demon. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking something to help with your anxiety if it is really disrupting your life, but medication alone will only mask the symptoms of anxiety, they won't cure what is ailing you.
I had horrible heart anxiety for YEARS that occupied my mind 24/7. I will never get those years back. Through therapy and yes, a short course of antianxiety meds, but mostly therapy, I learned to accept that my heart was fine and I learned to cope with palpitations and other "odd" feelings that just about everyone experiences, but because of my anxiety, MY odd feelings were always about a heart attack. I have been "heart attack" free for many, many years now and I bet you wish you were too. The good news is that you can be..............it's your choice.
I wish you the very best,
Let us know how you're doing, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia

jeremydw · Answer

I am just going to go ahead and say it: your heart is ok and that is one of the worst parts of anxiety. I think most people at the beginning of their newfound anxiety will think they're having a heart attack. Only one "too big for the money I make" bill from the hospital helped to realize this. Celexa also calmed my heart down completely.

It's hard to ignore though. I don't take Celexa anymore, and my heart still beats quickly at times and it scares me but I've come to realize that it just can't be helped.

medicalquestioner411 · Answer

I'm a 29 year old female who can really relate to you.  If you have had those tests done and they all come back fine then you are most likely FINE.......I thought I was forsure having a heart attack, I went to the ER had an EKG and blood work all were fine, still wasn't convinced went to a walk in clinic two more times in the same week. Then to a cardiologist where I had another EKG and ECHO test, all tests were fine but I was sure I was dying. I even let my family know I may not be around for much longer they thought I was really crazy. Since then I have broken down and started taking an antidepressant, I still have really bad headaches but Im not convinced Im dying.  I know what you mean.....it consumes you life, every second and you feel alone. You are not alone and if you talk about it you will feel better.....Alot of people with anxiety feel as they are going to die, when it is happening to you no one, not even a doctor or an accurate test can make you feel better you have to calm yourself down. Talk to your primary doctor about meds for anxiety.

backdrifter · Answer

I don't worry about heart attacks as much as I do about going insane (another common factor of generalized anxiety), but it has been a problem. I'd say, don't waste your time and money on getting your heart checked because it is most likely psychological. The more worried you are about your heart, the faster it beats and the more aware of it you are. Here are some ways I help myself recover from this : 1: put on something warm. It makes me feel safer I guess. 2: eat something. 3: watch television. These may not work for you but give it a try. 

There is a great brand of tea called Celestial Seasonings, and their Tension Tamer should do the trick. Bach Flower Rescue Pastilles are really great too. Neither of these calm me down in all occasions of attacks, but I'm always less nervous than before I used them.