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Hard (not fast) Palpitations, Specifically After Meals

30yr old male.  5'9", 190lbs.  “Hard” palpitations for the past 6 years (normal heart pace/rhythm). They are most significant following meals. Intensity and length are directly related to size of meal, sugar/carb content, and other undetermined ingredients.

Generally, if I eat a sugar rich meal, within minutes my mouth will get dry and sticky. Approximately 30 minutes later the palpitations will begin.  Intensity will increase for 30-60 minutes. They can last anywhere from 1hr to 12+hours (depending on size/type of meal). The palpitations are usually so strong that I can feel my heartbeat in my extremities, hear it in my head, see certain arteries pumping, and it even moves body parts such as my stomach/chest, can close my jaw if teeth are left millimeters apart, and twitch my leg if crossed over the other when sitting.

The known potential contributing factors are: overweight (220 at highest), poor diet (a lot of meat, not many fruits/vegetables), not handling stress well, and binge drinking (since high school, once/week, 6-15 drinks). Through the last 6 years I have made intermittent and varied improvements in all areas without symptom improvement. More importantly, I have eliminated all with drastic/permanent changes in lifestyle.

I have seen heart, pulmonary, endocrinologist, natural, and psychiatry specialists. I have taken numerous tests, all negative. I’ve tried multiple meds, an at home glucose test, and acid reflux meds.   I am currently taking Nadolol which does seem to help a little bit. Since the palpitations began, my blood pressure was borderline hypertensive (13x/8x), but it has recently been low (11x/7x).

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions anyone may have? Are there any other specialists, tests, medications, diets I could try? Does anyone have any insight specically what my be causing my heart to beat harder (ie chemicals/processes/reactions)? What do other patients do when they have symptoms without diagnoses?

THANK YOU! Chris
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Avatar universal
Thank you very much for your reply.  My palpitations are much stronger than just "noticeable", they are very intense and extremely uncomfortable (verging on unbearable at times). Although I'm sure the redirected/increased bloodflow may contribute to the palpitations, I feel like there is something else going on.  Take care.
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976897 tn?1379167602
It is normal for your heart to work harder after a meal, a lot of blood is redirected to get the digestive system working efficiently. In many cases, people simply notice this, become aware and then feel it's a problem. Do you think this could be the problem in your case? As long as there are no discomforts. I know my heart pumps harder after I eat, the more I eat, the harder it gets. Before my heart attack in 2007 I never really noticed. It was only after I became tuned to my heart from the scare that I started to notice such things.
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