Slow but strong heartbeats (w/ palpitations) on suddenly standing from sitting or lying position

[Qatada]

Hi,

I don't know if this normal, but whenever I've sat or lain for a long time, and then if I suddenly stand, my heart does not change its beating rate (which I think it should), but instead beats stronger with the same rate with which it was beating while I was sitting or lying. Also, when I suddenly stand from sitting or lying I feel palpitations and a little head pressure, but only a short period of time (about 5-10 seconds), then it becomes normal again.

There's another thing. I also have these feelings (stronger heartbeat, palpitation, head pressure, along with the feeling that my heart is missing every third of fourth beat) when I squat, and this time again it happens for 5-10 seconds, then becomes normal.

Two and a half months ago I visited a cardiologist who listened to my heart and heard late systolic click, for which he asked for an ultrasound of my heart to be performed for the possibility of mitral valve prolapse. However, the results came back normal, thank God. The doctor didn't give me any medicine.

Also, two months ago I weaned off the drug Paxil after 6 months of taking it (20 mg) for general anxiety problems and panic attacks.

Finally, I'm very hypochondriac, especially when to comes to heart related issues.

So does anyone have any idea if this considered to be a normal function of the heart? Are these paliptations a normal thing when the body changes position from sitting/lying to standing and vice versa, etc.?

Any info will be appreciated. Thank you.

[cookienkikin]

24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ive had echo,ekgs,stress echo,holter monitor, event monitor, and blood work. i also have been experiencing pac's and pvc's. all my test were normal besides the event monitor which showed the pac's and pvc's. today me and my fiance was about to eat at a restaurant and i started having the severe left side chest pain, radiating down my left arm and into my left hand, was sitting at the table and couldnt eat, felt to bad, and then is just went full blown, severe pain, cold sweats, feeling lightheaded,about to pass out, went to the ER, bp was 150/100. O2 levels was 100%. they did chest xray, urine sample, blood work, and ekg, said everything was completely normal. by the time i got in to do my ekg i was already feeling better. im still having the pain in the same spot right now on and off, with about 2 min breaks in between the pain, its localized on the left side of my chest, like right over my heart. 1.could this be Prinzmetal's angina? im also wearing a wrist heart rate monitor and my resting pulse is around 60-70bpm, and when i stand up it immediately goes to 120bpm and then, immediately back down to 60bpm, and that makes me feel faint and weird.  what does that mean? my heart rate goes all the way to like 135bpm from just getting off couch and walking to fridge. what kind of significance does it have since it will shoot up that fast and then back down in a split second, not gradual?? does this indicate anything? a more increased risk of SCD? (because i have frequent multi-focal pvc's) this will also wake me multiple times during the night. thanks so much

[Donna3841]

Hi cookienkikin!  Your post sounds exactly like me!  I just googled why my heart rate might increase after squating or even just sitting then standing and walking into the kitchen or somewhere and this is what I found!  Makes me feel much better knowing that I'm not the only one this is happening to and hopefully we can help each other out!  I am a 33 yr old female and the last 6 months I've been dealing with what the docs say anxiety/panic attacks and have been put on 1mg of xanax xr.  I've been to the ER twice these last 6 months with full blown panic attacks but thought I was having a heart attack.  I just started planting flowers and every time I would squat then stand my heart would race and I'd get a little dizzy and it only lasts for a few seconds but it repeats itself ever time I squat and I'm not getting very far in planting my flowers!  I have had EKG's, XRays, blood work and wore the heart monitor and all comes out normal.  I have gone to 3 different docs and they all say anxiety/panic but the last doc I went to did say my iron, vitamin d & b12 was a little on the low side so I am now taking supplements for that but havent seen much change yet.  I never have any energy to exercise because when I try to, my heart races and pounds really hard and I start shaking so I'm getting very discouraged here!  If you have found anything out since your last post, please let me know and I'll give you any updates that I might get as well.  Thanks and I hope we can all get this problem under control real soon, it's really getting me down!

[clchen17]

hey, same boat here, now i even feel when I change from leaning to sitting up, i feel some rush or HB surge for a couple second or two, and very very minor sweating, i suffer from PVC/PAC since a year and half ago.  also have anxiety problem.

[Qatada]

"If you want to document this, and make sure that it is not any life threatening rhythm then an event monitor can be ordered to see what your rhythm is exactly during the events."

You've really given me anxiety here. Are you sure it could be a life threatening rhythm? By the way, I first noticed this by accident four months ago--I happened to take my pulse when I went to the squatting position. I don't know if I had this before that or not.

[Qatada]

Thanks.

Does anyone else feel the same way? I mean, when you've lain or sat for a long time then suddently stand up, the heart beats forcefully for a few seconds then becomes normal?

What about when going from standing to squatting position? Can anyone check this by placing the index and middle finger at the side of their neck?

By the way, a question similar to mine have been asked here: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/Palpitations-on-Standing-Up/show/10883

[Cleveland Clinic]

I am not sure, it may simply be that you have what is known as PACs or PVCs. If this does not sustain then you may not need any other treatment, but if you are very symptomatic then a beta blocker or a calcium channel blocker to decrease the frequency of said PACs. If you want to document this, and make sure that it is not any life threatening rhythm then an event monitor can be ordered to see what your rhythm is exactly during the events.