diuretics/ arrhythmia

My husband has started having periods where he feels like his heart is racing. He is 48 years old and has been on HCTZ for 4 years. Blood pressure is under control. We walk a few times a week and are basically fit.
He went to the doctor to make sure the racing heart wasn't something more serious. The doctor listened to his heart and did an EKG. He said it seemed fine. He drew some blood. He said his potassium was off a little and his thyroid was off a little. He suggested eating bananas and oranges, take an aspirin a day, work on stress management and exercise more. He said he thought the racing heart was due to stress.
Couldn't it be due to the potassium and the thyroid being off? His thyroid was "a little off" before and he suggested having it tested again in a month. He did that and it was back to normal. Now it is off again. Should something more be done about this? Will this cause a racing heart? Should my husband see a cardiologist? If so, what should be tested?
Lots of questions. : )

Regards,
Michelle

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear mbtay,
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a diuretic used commonly for tretment of high blood pressure.  It can cause low potassium levels and sometimes replacement potassium supplements are needed.  Electrolyte abnormalities can cause heart arrhythmias if they are significantly out of range.  Mild changes usually do not cause problems.  High thyroid is a very common cause of fast heart beats but low thyroid levels can cause the opposite.  The best test to diagnosis exactly what is going on during an episode of racing heartbeat is called an "event recorder".  This is a small device that is worn and can record the heart's rhythm during a palpitation episode.  I would have him ask his doctor about the possibility of getting this test to assist in the diagnosis.  In addition if the thyroid levels were high I would look further into this issue.

[bilko]

I am a male 56yrs old 5ft 11ins tall, until 3 years ago was 217lbs about 49 lbs over weight my blood pressure was 160 over 90.  I saw Cardioligist passed treadmill test after 20mins he found LVH but said it was insignificant and should correct  with fall in blood pressure. I went on low fat high fruit and veg diet and for three years I have been correct weight 168lbs, I walk and aerobic exercise 1 hour per day five time per week no problems.  I was put on medication Lisinopril 20 mg and Bendrofluazide 2.5mg. I had attack of rapid heart beat, regular no chest pain sweating or other side effects.  Had 2 ECGs one at rest one whilst having rapid attach doctor said rapid but otherwise normal.  Put on 50 mg atenolol had no attacks for six months. Rsting Blood pressure check every 3 months 3 times per day for 1 week has been stable at 127/79, cholestral for 2 years has been 4. For passed 3 months have had missed heart beat and additional heart beat some frenquent, always at rest or during or after meals, between delayed beats I have sensation of SOB but no SOB. Never at excercise or under physical stress.  Walking around and or exercise relieves or disperses the symtoms (symptoms).  Resting heart was 70 before medication is now about 48bpm but can fall to 45 occasionally.  Have recently had 24 hour ESG monmitor but only had one missed beat attach for about 5 minutes.  From the above circumstances do you feel I have signs of a major cardiac problem.  Any suggestions for releieve is very frightening when it occurs.  Thank you in anticipation sorry to be so drawn out but never asked like this before and thought to lay all facts might help.  Nankin.

[Levys]

Generally, the doctors at Cleveland Clinic don't respond to comments posted after their response to the patient's original question.

What you might want to do is ask your question again as a new question. The easiest way to do this would be to simply copy and paste your comment from here to a new question.

I'd really like to hear an answer to this one as I have many of the same symptoms. I have mild hypertension, controlled by Tenormin and passed my stress test and an echo cardiogram, which found slight LVH. I too have been losing weight (via weightwatchers-very easy) and doing 1/2 fast walks about 4x a week.

The doctor said my main problem is probably a mild generalized anxiety disorder, which gives me the tense feelings and skipped beats you described. I also feel much better after I have worked out.

Anyway, please re-ask your question as a new topic and let's see what the docs have to say.

Best of Luck.

[JBS]

I THINK I HAVE HAD ARRHYTHMIA(A-FIB) FOR 20YEARS. I AM 48 YEARS OLD. IT COMES AND GOES AND I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT SHOWS UP!
IN 1978 I WORE A 24 HR. MONITER AND MY DOC. SAID I HAD A PALPITATIONS. HE TOLD ME TO STOP EATING AND DRINKING CAFFEINE PRODUCTS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2000 I HAD BEEN IN GREAT SHAPE AND WAS RUNNING WIND SPRINTS AND MY HEAT WENT WILD AND I THOUGHT I
WAS GOING TO PASS OUT. I WENT TO A DOCTOR AND HE SAID THAT I HAVE A-FIB AND I AM ON TROPAL 100MG AND COUMADIN 5MG. MY HEART STILL WILL RACE FOR HOURS! I FEEL ON SIDE EFFECTS ON THE PILLS.
I WISH MY HEART WOULD STOP DOING THIS A-FIB!

[Virdee]

I am a fit man of 50. I went on the Atkins diet and lost over 20 pounds over a 5 week period. I now have skipped heart beats and a feeling of pressure around my neck. I also feel a need to cough to improve my breathing although my breathing is fine. The skipped beats are as often as one every 4 beats. I have made an appointment to see my GP but I want to know more about my condition.