Heart palpitations while sitting/lying down

I am a 28 yr. old healthy female, 5'3 120lbs. exercise everyday. I've been getting heart palpitations for years. Recently they've been coming more frequently but mostly only when I sit or lay down. I do have an underactive thyroid and yes my levels were way off which can cause them, but why only when I sit or lay down they affect me. Any insight to this...

[CollegeGirl143]

Symptoms that are caused by change it position is usually due to blood pressure or blood volume change, but unfortunatly, theres no way to ever know for sure why you get them at these momenths

[Thepeach]

I have been getting them at night also when I lay down on my back or on either side.  I feel like if I lay on my stomach I am o.k.  I always feel like I want to cough when I get them.  I also get them when I bend over or turn and stretch my chest.  I guess our hearts are just more sensitive than other peoples??  What causes these stupid things?

[anacyde]

I've been told by my doctor that when the heart rate slows, there is simply more time for extra beats to happen.  It could just be a matter of that.  Since I've been here reading the forum tonight, I've had about eight of them, and I'm certainly under no stress, and my heart rate is around 60.

At night when I first lay down, I get a few of them if I am on my left side initially.  Which is no problem, since I read at night and I'm on my right side when doing so.  After about two minutes on my right, I can turn left without issue, so I guess it's just my circulation adapting to a different position.

[Adamant]

yeah, i get them like 30 times a day, but i understand the coughing when it occurs cause i get that 2. why do we fell like coughing??

[sunshine79]

Hi,
I am 28 years old and for the last month I have been getting palps like crazy,I had an ekg done an echo done and a stress test done, all normal. I do have alot of axiety and I worry to much. Everyday I get the palps more at the evening and it does it like crazy. I pay to much attention to my heart and I feel it does it more. I do take lorazapam .5mg to relax me but sometimes it does not help, like today. I understand the coughing because I use to do it like crazy and now just a little, I think its because its taking your breath away but not sure. I lye on my stomach to because it relaxes me and I don't feel the palps like that. It really is scary to have, but there is nothing wrong with my heart but I still think I am gonna have a heart attack.

[rothsean]

Wow, I thought I was a unique case!   After reading this my mind is more at ease.  

I have had palpitations since I can remember (I remember having some at 10 years old, but only a few times per year).   As I got older they got more frequent.   There have been a few years where I did not get any at all (22-25), not sure why.

I am 32 now and it drives me crazy.  I go a month or two with maybe a total of 3 episodes, then in the last month I have had about 60 episodes lasting about 5 seconds each.

I noticed when I eat a lot or get full that it is bad.  Also, when I stretch or twist my upper body I get them sometimes.  

It is annoying because I worry about it all the time, especially because my job takes me to places like Brazil and Peru, therefore my brain thinks about going to a local hospital there and that scares me.

[backtobaghdad09]

Wow...  Well hopefully this thread hasn't given me a false sense of security but just about all of the comments relate to me in some way.

I'm a healthy 28 year old male, 6'4 200 lbs

I had a physical about 8 months ago and checked out healthy as a horse.

I've noticed a few heart palpitations throughout my life, but never really gave them any thought.  Until recently the last two nights in a row when I layed down on my back I had an episode lasting maybe 2-3 seconds.  Which causes me to immediately sit upright in the bed becuase it scares the hell out of me.

Then it goes away..  if I lay down into the same position (on my back) it happens again.  But if I lay on my side or stomach is goes away.

I realize this is probably a dead thread, but figured I would post anyways.

[dezi911]

Hi, I am a 25 year old.  I suffer with anxiety and panic attack.  I am always paranoid that my heart is beating too fast and I tend to monitor my heart beat on my arm.  I didn't know so many people had the same problem as I have.  Anyways, I had ekg done test came back normal.  Had CBC and other blood work done, all normal.  I have learned to control panic attacks (I don't get them anymore), but anxiety I just can't get rid of.  I get the palpitations when I am laying down or sitting.  Never when I am up and walking, or running.  My family has no history of heart disease (no deaths due to heart disease in my family ever).  One of my brother in law is a doctor and he told me it's 99% due to anxiety in my case.  He told me even he gets it when he works 90 hours straight.  Anyways, I think it's mostly related to stress/anxiety from all the cases I have been reading here.  If you have chest pain, tightness, shortness of breath and numbness, than I'd go check it out with doctor.  Anyways, by controlling anxiety (there are many techniques out there) you can get rid of/minimize these palpitations.  I wish yall all the best.  

[DrPrinceton]

I exactly have the symptoms as "backtobaghdad09" described..

I started getting this only from last month (a few weeks before i was about to close a home..) A lot of stress indeed, getting a loan, moving and doing all that thing while my job is not so secure... :)  But it got better after i moved to the new home and started once again after a week may be.. I am sure it is stress... becoz i tested that by thinking something dangerous and it did sure start my palpi.. ( i start giving it a nick name..!) . My character is more of panic type and i am a perfect candidate for BP as my parents had it and my character reaffirms it.. but that does'nt seem to be the problem here. BP is perfectly normal....
still trying to figure it out... ( i went to ER room once fearing a heart attack... remember i told u, i was panic type..:) ) they said, i am healthy as a horse (like some one said above..)  The only thing that surprised me in the ER room was very friendly staff on that day.. usually they are frown faced and stress out people..  whatever i will post after a few weeks to update the status.

[iecowboy]

I've been stuck to the computer the past 2 days reading these posts. I'm a 40 yr Male, 6'0 185.

This string is a bit older but I found another that goes 14 pages from 2007 till 10 days ago and all saying the same thing.

I had palpitations about a year ago and had an EKG that came back normal. I do have mildly high blood pressure so I do watch my diet and exercise.

Recently I broke my wrist snowboarding and about 3 days later I started noticing the palpitations again, more often and stronger...often when I sit or cross my legs at my desk. I have not noticed it when I lay down. I am not taking any meds and was really getting concerned until I found these threads. I'm wondering if I should just bite the bullet and get on BP medication...

Here is the other thread: http://www.************.com/heart_palpitations_with_the_urge_to_cough-t93285-0-asc-100.html

[origbryan]

Glad people kept posting on this thread. I turn 29 this month. Exercise hard, 185 lbs and medium to slim build. In my early 20s I first had them bad; was under a lot of stress, emergency room visit, numerous episodes that kept me up all night. Definitely had anxiety and panic attacks.  I came to terms with life, unloaded some stress, dropped caffeine, and have been fine for 5 years. Only having them very very rarely and when I laid on my right side.
Now I'm married and they've exploded into my life again. It got bad enough that it was affecting work so I went in, had a simple EKG and blood test. Took beta blockers for a month, cleaned up my diet (I'd been drinking coffee/tea for a year), and amped up running. I'm off thebeta blockers now but still being plagued with these blasted palps. Lying down is the worst.
I'm not stressed that I know of, but these palps have me extremely pissed off. Now I'm losing sleep over them. I'm not concerned about dying like I was in my early twenties. Just very upset.

[paulh192]

Interesting thread. I also had a huge issue with palpitations and SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) that started when I was about 10 years old.I was playing baseball and ran into a player. My heart began racing and stayed that way for almost two hours. I wasn't sure what was going on. Just like most people here have written, I would get palpitations whenever I would lie down or lie on my left side. I would also notice that if I ate too much food or if my stomach was empty, I would get more frequent palpitations. My palpitations would then start this SVT and my heart would beat at 150-200 beats a minute for hours. It would start and stop instantly. I never actually felt bad during these episodes but they did scare me. Eventually in my late 20's I began having panic attacks that were related to my heart issue. I was very conscious of my heartbeat at all times..pretty annoying. I had a procedure called an RF ablation about 10 years ago and that stopped the SVT and my panic attacks. I am also an RN who has practiced in the acute care cardiology field and learned that many people who have frequent palpitation just have very sensitive electrical systems or extra nerve pathways in their hearts and position changes put pressure on different parts of the heart muscle where the nerve systems are and cause the palpitations. Anyway..just thought I'd share my own experiences.

[bikermo]

i've had all these symptoms for over 15 years, starting when i was 19.  i'm a female and at the time i was fit, and the problems have not gotten worse with weight gain, they get worse with anxiety.  i had them for 2 weeks straight- constant all day and night.  i'd been to doctors and emergency rooms for it before and been treated like a hypochondriac and told i was fine.  when this episode hit i went back after a week and a half an was told they were going to put me on a 24 hour heart monitor (a holter) but there was no one at the clinic who knew how to put one on so i had to come back the next day.  of course the next morning, knowing i was going to have a test that would give me answers, i had de-stressed enough that i never had one palp during the time i was wearing the heart monitor.  i think i can safely say it's 100% anxiety in my case!

[lesnmo]

I'm kinda relieved to hear all these people have heart palps.  Not that I like that other people have them, but that I'm not the only one.  I have an appointment next week with a cardiologist to do a halter and a ultrasound of my heart so hopefully everything comes back normal. I'm also pregnant so could this also be a possible cause for my heart palps?

[notrite]

hi iam 42 male and my papitations wont let me sleep does any body have the same pounding in there ears and in the back of the head       please help

[danib37]

Hi everyone,
I too suffer from the palpitation- anxiety cycle. Sometimes it’s bad (10s - 100s) a day and sometimes weeks with nothing. In my case I have had two 24hour halters, EKGs, blood tests and echocardiograms – all normal with a few extra beats shown on the EKG found once. Of course Docs rule not a problem. Which of course they are right. It has just been hard for me to accept as I feel very anxious when it happens and get very fearful.  
I am very sensitive to changes in my body (due to my constant monitoring of my heart) and have learned that this makes it worse. I have had these palps my whole life. Pretty sure they started when I began maturing and all the hormone changes (Im a woman by the way – 23 now). Because I have lived with them for so long and have been fearful of them for so long I have learned a lot of reassuring info from forums like these and I highly recommend those with anxiety read these forums. It really helps to know people are going through similar things. In my case, the hardest thing for me to deal with was not knowing WHY they occur. No doctors have ever been able to tell me to my satisfaction why, but have always told me how to reduce them. Unfortunately, like most of you, I don’t drink caffeine or alcohol; dont do drugs, so not much I can reduce. What I can and have done is learned to control my anxiety which does help, but does not always eliminate the problem.
Palpitations can and do occur for me due to hormone changes, sensitivity to changing blood pressure (sitting down in my case), and anxiety. I also think I just have a hypersensitive electrical system or extra nerve pathways like Paulh192 was talking about. This makes sense as all my senses seem to be hypersensitive. For example, I have extremely acute sense of taste and smell and will react to loud noises uncontrollably (like if someone trying to scare you) even when I know its coming. My flatmates love to come right up next to me and just yell - I always jump EVEN WHEN I KNOW ITS COMING. I think this hypersensitivity just means its likely that my heart is the same way. It will send out a little electrical pulse which will make an extra beat (feels like a skipped beat) and then the heart goes back to norm after a few more strong beats. In a way I feel lucky to know my body is well tuned, but on the other hand this cause palps/anxiety!
Also some of you might find it interesting to know that the vegus nerve (runs right though the middle of your body and basically connects/affects everything) can cause your heart to send off an extra beat if stimulated. This is why splashing cold water on the face of a person in tachycardia can help slow and control the heart rate (vagal reaction to cold stimulus causes it to affect the heart). Vagus nerve reactions aren’t problematic but can be annoying as they can cause palps. Thought this might be interesting for people who are trying to figure out WHY they get palps. The vagus nerve might be why.  For me the biggest causes I believe are hormones and minor vagal stimuluses. So I try to prepare my mind for these and associate them when I get a palp. This helps a lot! Like if Im in a movie theatre I get palps because the loud noise stimulate my vagus and bam - palp! Understanding has helped me a lot with managing my anxiety. Hope some of this helps and is reassuring!

[yfire1]

I am responding to an old post, but I am the same as you danib.  I am a 44-year-old female and have experienced occasional palps since 17.  But half way through this year it jumped to a high frequency. I am hypersensitive in general (especially to meds), and cardiologist said I have no underlying heart disease, but I do have pvt's.  tried me out on bystolic to help regulate with disastrous results, nearly lost my life due to the reaction I had.  I do have anxiety and panic at times due to a very traumatic childhood, but stack perimenopause on top of that and I have many episodes per day of palps, especially during pms.  Cardiologist didn't know what else to do other than possible ablation, NO THANKS.  Sent me to ob/gyn for possible hormone issue.  I work out a lot and I am a go-getter type.  this means all this crap I am going through has me deeply frustrated and angry.  It is a fearful thing when the palps don't stop for extended periods.  I can't sleep at night or on left side.  This comes and goes. But, I can't fall asleep till about 4:30 because of the palps.  If I were working right now I would be fired.  Oh, the obgyn said I am likely low in progesterone.  I have tried it, but I am having a paradoxical response; meaning it is having the opposite effect of what it should be upon my nervous system.  I am miserable and need a very serene atmosphere to keep them at bay and even then they don't completely disappear.  Now, I can't drink alcohol (I really miss those gray goose and cranberrys), No more coffee (This one really hurt), no caffeinated drinks.  I am also hypoglycemic which exacerbates the problem.  If I miss getting appropriate sleep, that is another trigger. I want to go back to being 30 again...seems after 40 everything starts seizing up! hmmm....where's my reading glasses? lol.

[Whattheheckisupwithmyheart123]

I am so happy others feel these horrible palps to.i remember getting them when i was a teen but very few times. As i have gotten older i have had them way more than i want to. I'm a 33 year old male that thinks i'm dieing every time i have them. I wish there was an answer to this problem already. By the way, I have also been to the doc and everything is supposedly fine. What gives.

[BettyPage8480]

Wow... I am also very happy that I found this.  I no longer feel alone!  I am a 26 yr old female; I have had palpitations/flutters in my heart since I was 16; I have been to so many doctors, in and out of the emergency rooms in fear I'm going into cardiac arrest; I cut caffeine out of my diet 3 years ago and cut back on smoking (1 pack a week).  No matter what I do, I always get them in moments of stress, and in the past month or so, I get them when I'm laying on my sides or on my back while watching TV.  I have a stethescope to hear my heartbeat when I'm having the episodes and i noticed that it sounds like my heart misses a beat, then has one big beat and goes back to normal.  While laying down this can happen to me up to 30 times in 15 minutes.  My heart doctor said that staying hydrated keeps the blood volume in your heart higher and can help.  I do know that if I drink too much wine the night before, I'm dehydrated and the palpitations get pretty bad.  I pray to God that I don't go into cardiac arrest anytime soon and have a wonderful life with my husband and make babies. I hope that God Blesses all of you and keeps you safe and well.

[mm3400]

Thanks for all your comments! Nice to know I am not alone. I have had all the usual tests done too--all came back normal. In my 20's, 30's, and 40's, I had one panic attack per decade but have had the night/sleeping palpitations since early 40's.  Trying to reduce my generalized anxiety about life but what has worked for me is to either sleep on a firm (high) pillow or folding my really flat pillow in two and sleeping on it. Then I don't feel or hear the pounding as much and it gets my mind off of it and I can go to sleep. Experiment with it because some pillows have made my neck hurt in the morning.  I haven't talked to anyone about this because it seems so embarassing. But I agree with everyone on this post, that I thought I was dying too! The sensation is just so damn strange.Thanks for sharing, that helps a lot!

[Nwoslived]

I am a 28 year old healthy female. Four years ago I started to get palpitations, I thought it was due to anxiety. It occurred at different times of the day including lying in bed.
I finally made an appointment to see my GP, he listened to my heartbeat and queried a systolic heart murmur. He sent me away for further tests; a EEG and echo. Results from the echo showed a possible hole in the heart but would be confirmed by a final test - a camera put down the throat ( cannot remember the correct name!). This test confirmed a hole in the heart; which was missed at birth. Six months later I had open heart surgery to complete a ASD Closure which was successful. To this day I experience the odd palpitation and wonder whether the op was really the 'best' option.

[ulua808]

I feel like Im going to die...i guess it aint the dying part that *****..its the part where i leave my family to moarn that really blows...is there any natural meds or herbal things that I can take? Ive been to the doctor 3 or 4 times..they gave me a few tests and it came back fine. screw it if its time to go its time to go..

[ulua808]

I have noticed one thing in common with about90 percent of our comments..i seem to see the word anxious , stress, worry and excerise in alot of post on this forum..could there be a connection.

[gnostic_dude]

i got the same problem as u all have but i was aware of my problem due to the facial flushing which occurs while doing any activities ! so it made me to be curious about  any parts of my body and it took me to this point .
i really want to know if palpitation which gets harder when i sit and even worse when i lay down has any relation to my face when it burns .
i'm a 25 yrs old male having researches about 3 yrs on this but haven't find anything useful to this and i'm really fed up with my life . ( i have no hormonal imbalances or hyperthyroidism history )
please tell me if any of you guys , beside palpitations , you also suffer from any feeling of heat or a hot flush on your face ?
i appreciate it .

[mtt6050]

im a 23 yr old male 5'11 210 lbs. i have always had weird heart palps here and there but starting last night i got back on my asthma meds and now whenever i lay down my hearts just beats weird, kinda like a twitch with an awkward thump. i dont feel bad but i can feel it in my chest and it scares me bad so i cant sleep. my girlfriend listened to my chest and said it sounded like a weird thud then a short pause followed by a louder beat then back to normal. i dont know if i should have anything to worry about or not but i know that i have always had really bad anxiety ever since i became an adult. im always worried something is wrong, especially with my heart, which makes me constantly check my pulse anytime i feel funny. i hope that we are all fine, and that our palps are coming from anxiety, because that seems to be the case after reading these post.

[aj_atroctiy]

man it's about time I find other people I can relate with!! I was diagnosed with anxiety about 8 years ago, i've been dealing with occasional palpitations from time to time, but recently they have been extremely bad! I have had several tests done, ekg's, holter monitors, stress tests, blood work.. doctor's say i'm fine and just to try to ignore it, but it's a whole lot easier said than done! I have never actually counted how many palpitations I get in a day, but i'm sure it's up in the thousands range.. the weird thing is I never get them when i'm being active.. or even when I exercise. It's usually when I sit down alone, or am home alone, when others are around I don't tend to notice them as much. Not to mention I check my pulse constantly. I do drink caffeine such as coffee and sodas, chocolate.. i'm trying to cut back, I also drink and smoke on occasion, I am wondering if I give all of this up if they will completely subside or if they will continue, either way i'm going to go to my doctor to find out if there's something else I can take.

[mami31]

hello , i have been having mild panic attacks where i get this weird palpitation starts it off and i get scared and my heart starts racing and if i ignore it it goes away that has been for the last 3 yrs..   then recently under alot of stress and anxiety my daughter was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule doctors want to take her thyroid out to se  what it is and i have a very difficult husband and weve been fighting for 15 yrs.. and a few days ago while on lthe computer i started getting this big palpitations that would come constantly i had those for a whole day worse when i lay down  i went to the emergency room did an ekg was fine checked my hear enzmes to rule out i was having a heart attack and they also did blood work on my thyroid but wont know till the follow up visist about the results apparently thyroid problems give palpitations while i was in the er the doctor asked me if i had any big stressors in my life recently and i busted crying telling him about my daughter and me and my husband fight all teh time ( i hate how sensitive my feelings get i dont like to cry in front of people ) but oh well,, but im hoping that theres nothing wrong with my heart and that its just anxiety i just have alot on my plate at this moment..   and i do think that our post have alot in common,,  hint words,,,, anxiety , palpitations,, laying down, while sitting and suddenly standing up  etc... God bless us all and hope that its nothing more than anxiety and fear !!!  but it does feel horrible it puts a pause in your life the taughts race trough your head  specially if you have young children the fear is 1000 times greater what will they do with out you ! it s the most horrible feeling in the world and that just adds to the anxiety its like a circle you cant get out off ,, i read somewhere in the computer that it helps alot to ignore the palpitations and ignoring will help control them,, and that its like a loop whole where you feel a palpitation and you panic your heart starts racing and its a cascade where your whole body gets in panic mode waiting for the next palpitation and all the bad toughts start off a new one...so the best bet is to ignore them see what happens !!

[karen311]

i am 28 female and i have fluttering in my chest. it scareds the crap out of me. i went to the hospital and had blood work done they said everything was find. i still think something is wrong with me. i do stress out alot i am scared that i am going to die any min.  can yll please help me to reasure my self that i am find.

[kimmie2011]

wow i didnt think so many people had the same problem...about a year ago i was in the er with heart rate of 150..it scared the hell outta me..did blood work ekg and chest xray everything was ok...for the past few months i have had mild paps when i wake up in the am...idk what or why this is i was thinking anxiety but y when i wake up....just last nigfht i was in the er with heart aps..again ekg blood work..cant do xray im 3 months pregnant..i have to follow upp with my dr and c a cardiologist.....im just so scared that im gonna dye that i always check my pulse..i have always had a hot flush feel to my face but no paps is that aniexty?

[runtaylor]

I started having palpitations again after a four year absence (I am a 50 year old male). I agree with the stress that having peps can create i.e. loss of sleep and anxiety. Which of course, leads to more paps. I also can work on my feet all day -13 hours shift as a manager- and not have a single episode. But then I fear going to bed because of having pap’s (which leads to more pap’s). I have done the doctor route too (all normal).Further, I do not fear dying, but as was stated in previous posts; I worry about the future of my family.
I try to reduce my stress level and stopped all caffeine (love the stuff) but still having paps. It does bother the crap out of you. I am glad I am not alone but I do not wish this on anyone.
I am praying for relief.

[Patman715]

I get palps when lying down in bed at night or in the evening sitting in the computer chair.  Since I have been Exercising and losing weight I get them more often!  I read somewhere else that taking a deep breath and exhaling several times in a row helps me (increasing oxygen content in blood?) and also tensing every muscle in your body and then relaxing (like a mini orgasm?) also helps me and hope these things help you all here, good luck and have a stress free life!!

[smydeer]

I have been getting heart palpitations for a few years now. I am 36 and female. I am healthy and getting fitter. I have notice that i sometimes get them if I have over eaten, sometimes I get them when i lay on my left side and also they get worse when I have taken natural remedies. I think sometimes stress or anxiety plays a part also. Still trying to work it out. thankyou for all these posts as I don't feel like I'm the only one anymore.  I am going to change my thoughts to be positive and accept these palpitations as a part of me and I think once I have accepted them, they will disappear.

[jessicakeding567]

Im a 25 yr old female. Im so glad im not alone Im having all the symptoms that many of you are getting, I too have been getting rapid heart rate and palpitations, and feel flushed at times. I have noticed that alcohol and caffeine exasperates it. I just went to the Er  2 days ago while in Vegas for rapid hr and they found that my ekg was abnormal (which scared me even more and made my hr sky rocket to 150) so they did a bunch of tests and found that everything was normal except that my aorta curves off in a weird way and one of arteries goes behind my esophagus, which is diff from everyone else, they said these 2 things should not cause a problem, just different.. Im still super worried and anxious like all of you, I understand what you are going threw and feel your pain, I think a lot of it has to do with stress bc my wedding is coming up in like 2 months, even though I don't feel like I'm stressed.. I was wondering if any of you have suggestions of how to control the anxiety when I feel these weird symptoms?

[crazybeautifulhudson]

Reading these forums really help. It's a relief to know there are people out there experiencing the same thing as me. I was born with a heart murmur but it supposedly healed. I have experienced palps since as long as I can remember. I am 26 female and I feel them more than ever. Sometimes I feel like i am going to die when my heart races and I feel so nausiated. I have 2 young children and I don't want to leave them. I have gone to the doctor and she did an EKG and blood work and everything was fine. I have gone to the emergency room and they did the same tests, even an x-ray and They said I am extremely healthy. I am a personal trainer and I eat a very healthy diet. I do triathlon's, I run and I bicycle up mountains. I never experience any problems with my heart when I am doing cardio. It's only when I rest. It is scary. Recently I started to take an herbal supplement called nutri-calm by nature sunshine. It has vitamins, minerals, and hops, valerian root. That has helped significantly. I haven't experienced the palps at all lately. I knew it had to do something with anxiety. I used to hyperventilate easily and my nerves are really bad. I get scared very easily. The nutri calm has helped me with anxiety and stress and overreacting to situations. I guess we may have to live with this forever but at least we can manage it by reducing caffiene and alcohol and taking supplements. I think it's because our body deals with stress differently. Maybe we are the types that hold everything inside and our bodies, including our heart ends up with all the stress and anger? We need to reduce our stress by getting a massage or listening to relaxing music. take 10 deep, deep, deep breaths. That helps. I do know that stressing about the palps is the worse. Take your mind off of it if you can. Love, Tracy

[printinsights]

Wow, so many of us!  I always had palpitations, just single blips, but in the last 9 years (I'm 71 now) they have increased.  I was told that I am extra sensitive to caffeine...didn't want to believe, and did have them go away for a few years.  But after a year of one cup of coffee per day with no problem, two months ago I started to have serious palps on lying down that keep me awake, taking about an hour to sleep.  Because of another condition I am up every 2 hr or so (bladder condition), so the nights are pretty much a 'nightmare' these days.  They say heart function is normal,   I have been off caffeine for 3 weeks, and they started to get better untill I had to have antibiotics for a week....back to square one!  But I will stay off the caffeine, and see what happens.  Crossing fingers that it will happen like last time and eventually I can have a cup of coffee again (even decaf affects me).

I really feel for us all, it is a terrible situation that needs research.  Hard to say it is not pathalogical when you can't sleep.

[Calibraxis]

    I must say that I am very surprised to find so many people afflicted with the same condition that I've been dealing with for the past 20 years.  Surprised, happy and sorry.  My heart goes out to everyone on this thread.  As everyone here knows, FEAR is the result of our condition and is what we have to live with on a daily basis. Fear of what might come after the next palpitaion.
   My story:  I'm 39 years old. 6'4'', 255. Healthy, except for high blood pres. which is under control.  I've been dealing with this since I was 19 and been a total head case ever  since.  I have many of the triggers most of you have. After meals, quickly bending over, belching, quickly lying down, sneezing, holding breath, stress, anxiety, etc,.....    And the frequency is never the same, as well as severity.
    Three years ago I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. On my way back to bed I consumed about a quart of ice water. Then went back to bed.  As I laid down on my back the palpitations started and would not stop.  I woke my wife up and told her I thought I might be in trouble and told her to call 911.  When the paramedics showed up, they hooked me up to their EKG.  My heart went into atrial fibrilation.  That turned out to be my first, and hopefully last, ambulance ride to the ER.  So, in the hospital, I laid there wide awake waiting for someone to tell me that I needed emergency open heart surgery.  But that order never came.  Six hours later the A-fib ceased and my heart regained its normal sinus rhythm. After a few crazy tests I was given the thumbs-up.
    It has been explained to me many times how the heart flutters. But not why.  Going through some of these posts and many hours of book/online reading I tend to lean towards sensative electrical paths or just a wild vegus nerve.
    It looks like we're all in the same boat together.  Lets try not to stress so much over this anymore.  Its the fear that hurts.   Peace on everyone and everyone's minds.
    

[sweetmocha7]

Thank you for posting your comment. I'm a 34 year old female and have had heart palpitations in the past, but over the past 2 weeks I'm having them more often. It doesn't matter if I'm sitting down or doing any physical activity, they just start. I have had blood work done, and an EKG done and of course everything comes back negative, yet I'm still experiencing these palpitations. I'm thinking mine may have to do with stress or anxiety, but I don't feel stressed or anxious, but I guess my body is telling me otherwise. I just wish they would stop and I could move on with my life without having to worry about them. The first thing that comes to mind is having a stroke if these palpitations continue. I'm glad there is a forum like this to post concerns. I could sure use the reassurance..... :)

[Frosty1208]

I'm SO glad I found this thread. A little background, I'm 28 years old, healthy female. The first time I experienced heart palpitation was about 2 years ago. I started off getting those "thump" feeling, I brushed it off, then as I paid more attention to it, it felt like a flutter, skipped beat, etc. I started to feel my pulse as I am getting those palps, sometimes it's the strong beat after a regular, sometimes it's an extra beat. Something like a faint beat after a normal beat. God, it's hard to explain but you guys know what I'm talking about. IT IS SO ANNOYING!!! It used to scared the crap out of me, now I'm pretty much used to them. It ***** big time but what can I do right? Gotta learn to live with it. Ugh! I normally get them after I stretch, let's say like standing up after sitting for awhile, or even stretching sitting down, seems to me is whenever I stretch out my chest. I also get them randomly throughout the day. I'm to the point where I do not mind getting them during the day, but I sometimes get them at night when I'm asleep and it would wake me up, that's the worst! There will be days where I don't get any episode at all, where other times I would get multiple a day. It still scares me because it is my heart after all. My doctor kept reassuring me that it is normal and a lot of people out there suffers from those palps. I do have anxiety along with a bit of depression so whenever I get them, my anxiety is through the roof. I pray to god one day, we will be palp free because they bring nothing but unnecessary worries. Happy 2012 everyone!

[80srockster]

I'm 44, 8 months ago I had an atrial fibrillation episode which resulted in me being taken to ER by ambulance. EKG proved AFIB.  Had many tests and follow up tests, EKG, Echocariogram, stress test, holter monitor.  Everything proved normal.   Had a few episodes through out the year.  Lately I have been having skipped heart beats. (as proved by listening with stethoscope)  For some reason laying down on couch or bed with legs crossed seems to bring them on more so.  I try not to cross legs.  I have read to try taking Omega 3 or Fish Oil pills can help. Also, consumption of bananas for potassium can help.  Good luck.

[Calibraxis]

  I agree 100% with stress and anxiety as being some of the factors that may cause our palps. I've noticed that with a rush of a adrenaline the heart starts to do some crazy things. Also, too much caffeine and alcohol consumption. Not so much the alcohol causing them immediately, it's the morning after that I've notice them more often.
  As far as having a stroke, it's my understanding that having palps will not cause them. Now, if your palps kick your heart into atrial fibrilation for an "X" amount of time, then it's possible to form a clot in the heart and "throw" it somewhere in the body.
  Hope my ramblings help ease the worry you feel. Talking (posting) helps.

[BuckslayerBob]

Count me as one of the many pulse checkers here. I'm sitting here at the computer after eating a subway and my heart keeps skipping. It seems being full has something to do wtih it. Stress and anxiety definitely. I'm 42, a bit overweight on BP medication. It seems how I sit and lay definitely affects the palps. Not fun at all. But now it's gotten so bad that if I am in a situation where my adrenaline starts to pump, I get the palps really bad and then I feed the palps with fear and anxiety, thinking I'm dying and need a defibrillator due to what I believe is an irregular heartbeat. It's happened twice since this last Christmas. BOOM BOOM BOOM SKIP BOOM SKIP SKIP BOOM BOOM BOOM SKIP BOOM SKIP....etc. Really scary. Once I asked my brother to check my pulse to see if we had an emergency on our hands, they went away, thank god. But yes, I've had about 20 palps while typing this. I stand up and they go away. ***** being a palper.

[Anthonyholmes1987]

Wow,although it sounds abit harsh,its comforting to know other ppl get palps too! Im 25 5ft11. Ive got a cean diet and train both cardio and weights twice weekly.
I get about 7 palps per week,mainly when im tired and or resting in bed.
I also get a pulse or a light tapping sensation at top of my chest which feels almost like a seperate heartbeat...weird eh. Ive been to cardiolagist,where I had an ecg. He wants to do an anjiogram to be thorough. he going to look for a suspected extra pathway in heart. This sound familiar to any1? Thanx.

[butchoi]

h! there.. im  julz   24 years of age .. 4 da past few days my heart bits faster than a regular rate  of heartbit ,but then i dont know wat to do and it scares me ,den i ask my frend about my prob.  she said i have 2 go to doctor in have an ecg .. so eventualy i had an ecg and i'll check my result later.. i'll also experience some dizziness and shortness of breathing . ..
i'll go to doctor and ask about my problem ..
hope it will not to  dangerous

[dizzizz]

Hi all,
Nice to read all your stories, thanks for sharing. We're all in the same boat!
I'm a healthy 36-yo male, 150lbs, 5'11". Probably drink a little too much alcohol, and too much caffeine (though I haven't had any caffeine in the past week and am feeling great). I have mild anxiety and depression, nothing to write home about though.
I get an occasional flutter/palp when I lie down right after running up the stairs, stretching, sex, etc. I figured it was because of low BP. My BP makes some nurses say "wow." But then when I ask, they say it's nothing of concern, just on the very low end of healthy.
(The sex one recently was scary.. you hear about guys who die of a heart attack during sex.. like Richard Pryor's dad, who, as he joked, "didn't know if he was coming or going!")
Anyway, sitting up and breathing deeply always takes care of it. I'm also trying to drink more water and less alcohol, to stay hydrated and keep my BP in normal range.

A couple of checkups ago, I mentioned the flutter/palp thing to my doc, and she ordered an EKG. The EKG showed that I have a (left or right -- I forget which) BBB (bundle branch block), which is an abnormality in the electrical pathways in the heart. Electrical pulses here tell the left and right sides of the heart when to beat, and if the left or right branch is blocked, it just detours elsewhere in the heart, making that path a little longer.. thus the left and right sides don't beat at exactly the same time like they should.
Long story short, the doc said it's probably no big deal, but let's do an echocardiogram (ultrasound) to check for any underlying structural abnormalities. They did that, and couldn't find anything.
So.. here I am with all of you, and as others have said... the best we can do is try not to worry about it. Anxiety *****, but seeing a psychologist/therapist has helped me a lot, and I recommend it to everyone! Any decent insurance plan covers most of it.
Also, meditation. <<< give it a try.  ;)