Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Possible Causes of Rapidly Flucuating Heartbeat
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Possible Causes of Rapidly Flucuating Heartbeat
by Chris__0__0, Nov 25, 1998 12:00AM
I am a 34 year old female who, in the past 3 weeks, has begun experiencing an intermittent rapid heartbeat. I don't have the sensation of skipped heartbeats, just rapid heartbeat. I drink very little caffeine (1 cup of tea per day) and have an occasional soda. Over the past 6 weeks I have noticed some slight dizziness or feeling of being off balance. This does not seem to go together with the rapid heart rate. Some days I have no dizziness and a rapid heart rate, some days I have dizziness and my heart is normal.
I am taking 20 mg of Prilosec per day and I also take Synthroid because of a history of thyroid cancer. My TSH level has remained stable at 2.0 for quite some time. Today I went to my endocrinologist about this (thinking it could be thyroid related). When I was there sitting on his table my pulse rate was 94 (I was mildly anxious). When he had me lay down, my pulse dropped to 68. When I stood back up again I could feel my heart begin to race. The doctor also took my blood pressure at this time and it was normal throughout all positions. His suggestions were that due to the vestibular neuritis I seem to be experiencing, I could be having some autonomic nervous system problem upon going upright or all of this might be caused by the Prilosec. He gave me a prescription for Inderal and said to take it if my heart rate gets above 120.
A few days ago I had an "episode" of this which lasted about two hours. I was taking a bath, then I cleaned my tub. When I finished I noticed my heartrate was high. I thought it was due to the exertion of cleaning the tub (I have a large tub); however, this continued on for about an hour or so. My heart rate got up as high as 135. If I laid down it would go to about 90. When I stood back up it went back up. Is this normal?? I am very concerned. My doctor asked me to cut back my Prilosec dose and we will reassess in a few weeks. Got any ideas?
Dear Chris
You said you saw your endocrinologist. I am assuming that he checked a TSH level now.
It is unclear what might be causing your heart rates to get so high. I would recommend an EKG and a Holter monitor (portable EKG that you wear for a couple of days) to see what heart rhythm you have when you are going fast. Your endocrinologist may not be able to get these tests easily so you may need to see a cardiologist.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
