Skipped heart beats causing anxiety

I have had occasional skipped heart beats for the last 5+ years - similar to a flutter, actual skip beat.  They are not regular, but occasional. Sometimes it makes me cough, other times it just happens.  I had a skipped heart beat a couple weeks ago, after eating dinner, that made me a bit dizzy.  I have anxiety disorder with occasional panic attacks - lorzapam as needed.  I have had an echocardiogram (normal, with a heart murmer), stress test (normal), catherization (normal).  Do I need to worry about these?  My anxiety is higher now because of the experience I had a couple weeks ago. I don't use caffine and watch my sugar intake.

[Veritas01]

Considering the amount of testing you went through it probably not something to worry about in terms of mortality.  As far as quality of life it might be an issue if it continues or worsens.  For many people it is very disturbing when skipped beats occur and that ruin your life to some extent.  That being said...you should look to the cause.  The primary "triggers" that most people agree on are caffeine and other stimulants, alcohol particularly in excess, stress, high sugar intake and "others" like cold medicine, diet pills, novacaine (it has adrenaline) and others.  There are also tons of other causes that people say cause skipped beats...from spicy food to sleeping on your side to straining when you go the bathroom, etc.   It can often vary from one person to another.   One way to find out is to try and keep a log of what you do, eat and feel...and keep track of your skipped beats.  MedHelp has trackers that help you do that.   You may notice patterns..my skipped beats got worse when I....fill in the blank.....and the patterns could lead you to a cause.  Then if possible address the cause.  There are also medictions specific to skipped beats that might be appropriate if they get so bad your social or work life are seriously effected...but meds have side effects and you have to balance things out.  Some people swear by vitamins and supplements...I do not.  I have taken more vitamins like fish oil, CoQ10, taurine, etc and frankly I think it made no difference when or how severe my skipped beats were.   It may be comforting to know that many people live with thousands and thousands of skipped beats a day.  I couldn't stand it but they do and live pretty normal lives..for others...they cant take it and like me take medicine (I take Atenolol and Flecainide) or surgery (ablation)...but that is putting the horse before the cart.  There is also a cycle..you have skipped beats...you get anxious...and they worsen...and on and on.  Happens to me.  At one time I had a prescription for Xanax to help at those times....but my current cardiologist (EP) does not get involved with that so I go without.   Good luck and try not to worry.  

[IronMolly]

I really appreciate your comments - thank you.  All my testing was over 4 years ago, so I made an appointment for the end of this month to see the same cardiology group for a check up.  I will start tracking when they happen and look for a possible pattern.  I understand the vitamin and supplement part - so many suggestions and recommendations, how would you even decide what to take as there are so many....  One day at a time.