Occasionally Racing Heart

[Kolia]

I am 29 years old, 6'0" and 217 lbs (male) and am getting married in one week. I have been in reasonably good health for my entire life. I have a decent diet, and exercise at least five times a week, usually three times with a cardio focus (45 minutes per workout), and twice on 4-5 mile walks with my fiancee. One month ago, I started to feel chest pain. The pain would last 5-10 seconds and disappear. Then my IBS acted up. I went to the doctor, had an EKG, blood tests, and he said I was fine, my heart is good, and that I should try to relax. I should add that the last nine months have been emotionally and mentally stressful. My company restructured, and in that period, I was engaged and began what has turned out to be a very difficult wedding planning process because of difficult family members on both sides - I also bought a house. I returned to the doctor because I was feeling lightheaded, and my heart was racing. He examined me again and said I was suffering from anxiety. He felt it would all subside once the wedding was done. Most of my symptoms are better, but the racing heart continues - it is acute after large meals - my pulse increases from about 65 to 88 after such meals. I still workout hard, and feel good during workouts, but am paranoid about this situation. The lightheadedness is gone, the chest pain persists (still 5-10 seconds), I think it is a muscle strain since it hurts only after I extend either arm or conduct my choirs at rehearsals. Should I be worried? My brain says no, but I'm still a little paranoid with the Big Day just around the corner.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Kolia,
Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials!  Between than and everything else in your life you certainly do have reasons to be stressed.  

In general, twinges (<1 minute) of chest pain are not due to cardiac reasons.  Common alternative reasons include gastric reflux, muscle strain, and yes, anxiety.  I would probably keep an eye on things and see how they are after things calm down in your life.  In the meantime have fun at your wedding and have a great honeymoon.  Bon voyage.

[Mr. Know it all]

If all else checks out, the chest pain can be due to Ischemia of the heart muscle.  I believe the heart muscle itself is deficient of Magnesium and you feel these chest discomforts. If you also experince cramps and bone pain, lighheadedness , than its more sure sign of Mg. deficency.  The occosianl racing heart is also related to Mg. deficency.  Check out this site:
http://www.execpc.com/~magnesum/cardio.html#FACTORS

thanks ***@****

[money1]

Anxiety.........enough said.

[pikamom]

It doesn't sound to me like you have anything to worry about. Chest pain from your heart would not hurt only when you extend your arms, that sounds muscular. A pulse of 88 is not a racing heart, that sounds normal. I think anything above 100 is considered tachycardia. Being under stress like buying a house, getting married, your job stuff, that's a lot going on and can give you physical symptoms of anxiety. If your EKG was normal and you don't have chest pain typical of angina, then your heart is probably alright. Good luck with your marriage and try not to focus on your symptoms.

[docrose]

I too suffer from a pounding heart beat but it is odd as this pounding is in my abdomen, between my ribs and just above my belly button. Most of the time this thumping heart beat can be seen. In addition I get this after I eat anything, no matter what  I eat. Also I wake up every morning with a pounding headache that matches the pounding heart beat in my abdomen. Do you have this or does anyone?

[Jean27]

I get the same thing, I have no idea what it is. It's almost as if my heart can be heard beating in my stomach like a loud rumble to each beat. I also get a fast uncomfortable heart rate after I eat. I havent found a DR to tell me why this happens. Also do you feel like it is a big effort to walk sometimes?? I get that often also and all of my tests come back ok, I dont get it.

[Kolia]

Thank for all the helpful comments. I have had the pounding heart in my abdomen, but only once, and for less than a minute. I actually feel better overall when walking or doing some kind of exercise. I'm convinced that the racing heart after eating is related to anxiety. A normal increase in heart rate to help digestion is noticed. I also think the problem is more acute if you have too much time in between meals.

[rebec]

does anyone have theses complaints?  Occasional pac's or pvc's which are no big deal.What reaaly bothers me is a fluttery, heart not beating organized feel when I go for brisk walks. Strangely it's not so bad when I run. I'm on 25 mg's of atenalol a day and since I have been on that the fluttery feel doesn't happen at the beginning of my runs. One time after a hill workout I'm sure I had a-fib. It lasted maybe 3 mins. and I continued to jog when my heart beat regularly again and felt fine. I absolutely can't do sudden sprint sports like hockey or soccer. They send my heart crazy.  The gradual warm-up of a run seems o.k. Had every test and ofcourse with the holter monitor on none of that a-fib feeling stuff happened. I think my cardiologist thinks I'm a hypocondriac! I don't like being on any meds. From what I'm reading I should see an electrophysiologist. An ablation sounds like the way to go. Also I'm not an anxious person. Does anyone who's not super stressed get these sensations?