irregular heartbeat

[JRC448]

Hello,
I am a 22 year old female and I have noticed an irregular pulse within the past year or so.  Especially recently, it has been very obvious at times after I walk somewhere quickly, run up the stairs, or even get up quickly to walk somewhere else in the house.  Immediately after these things, my pulse feels like one weak beat, a pause, two hard beats, pause, hard beat, pause, etc. and at these times I get a weird short-of-breath feeling as well.  It takes about a minute (estimate) for it to get back to normal.  Even at rest, my pulse isn't totally normal, it doesn't skip beats but it gets faster and slower.  Some days this is worse than others.  I just started full time grad school and haven't worked out since I graduated undergrad last spring so everyday activities are the only things I have noticed these symptoms with.  I just wanted to know if this sounded dangerous or not and what I should do.  Thank you!

[Cleveland Clinic]

JRC,

You most likely have palpitations. These are very common and are usually completely benign. Mention it to your physician who will investigate a little more.

If you search for palpitations in the forum you will find a plethora of information.

good luck

[oneil420]

It is always wise to get any concerns checked out by a doctor but from what you say i am assuming it is sinus arrythmia. Does it speed up, hesitate then slow down? does it speed up on inhale and slow on exhale? if so then it is sinus aryhtmia and is considered a normal finding, but like i already said and real concernes should be presented to a physician, keep us posted oneil

[silvermane]

Hello, I first noticed my symtoms when i was diagnosed with irriatble bowel syndrome. I then developed panic attacks and a fast beating heart. I told this was down to stress. I was 17 at the time and had no stress. The doctors told me i was worrying subconciously. During panic attacks i always thought i was going to die, no matter what as i didnt understand panic disorder and visited the local library. That was in 1988. I didn't have access to a computer then. I then developed what i called then a ping pong ball sensation in my chest and the doctors would laugh at me and then give me propanolol where the doctor said this could bring on an asthma attack. (I was asthmatic) and that put me off taking them. I didn't know what the tablets would do so i didnt take them. From then on as the years went on i kept getting panic attacks. I was convinced i was dying which makes matters even worse as i realise now. Panic attacks i would have full blown.
Feeling of suffocation, racing heart, tingling and numbness in fingers and toes a sense of needing to open the bowels, sweats, feeling clammy, an over whelming fear of dying, nausea, and faintness. I was sent to a counceller which was of no help what so ever and started meditating by myself instead.
My main concern is my heart. I have ectopic heartbeats. Some last 3 or 10 in a row, if i am unlucky it will start a racing heart and all hell breaks loose Sometimes my heart feels like it jiggles and wobbles as if a branch has been shook. I had the 24 tape where i pressed a button when they happen. My cardiologist said three years ago, it is noraml and nothing to worry about! but it will get worse as you got older??! No consolation to me if you said it is normal!! I drink decaffeinted coffee/tea no more than 1 a day and do not have cola/chocholate. I do not drink alcohol. I can't understnad why these episodes of missing heartbeats /racing heart can be normal. Something causes it. Why do we get a build up of adrenalin? I am having them more recenly in the night and they are waking me up. I have now been woken up with vertigo. I get these episodes of virtigo 3 to 4 times a year. I do not feel as i am focusing properly and feel giddy. On the odd occasion the ectopic heartbeats are painful. Any ideas?, My doctor did say that my heart trace sheet had long points. What does that mean? Thankyou, Helen. UK aged 35

[JRC448]

Hi Helen,
You might want to repost that question as a new post in the morning sometime.  I think a doctor only reads questions on new threads once and the rest of the posts are from patients or other people.  Then new people can read your question and offer advice.  Good luck!

[silvermane]

Thankyou

[hollyloxx]

hello!!

i have pvc's and pac's. i had an ablation done for svt when i was 19 i am now 24.

everyone has extra beats & early beats. there are those of us that feel them more than we would like and there are people out there who dont feel them at all!!

everyone on my mothre's side has them my gramma tells me that her heart feels like a marching band. as does most of us in my mom's side of the family. no heart disease or high cholestrol like that either.

i posted amny times that i think there is a connection to food that they have not found. i notcie themmore when my eating habits are poorly. ( lots of sugar and msg)

i am a worry wort i worry over everyone which, STRESS and ANXIETY cause these skipped beats and poundin and racing hearts.
its a double edged sword becuase i get a skipped beat, i worry then my heart races cause i am worrying then it skipps more.
its a cycle.

the best thing for ust is to eat healthy!!! eat unprocessed foods. i am telling you it made a huge difference. dont eat alot of fast food or chips and candy and soda.

get plenty of magnesium, calcium and potassium!! they are good for your heart's natural pacemaker and  magnesuim is also good for your brain's anxiety controller. look it up!!

[silvermane]

Thankyou Holly for taking the time to post a message it means a lot. I hope you are ok, helen.

[hollyloxx]

i am trying to focus the most i can on being positive and its so hard.

i am on my way to the cardoilogist to see what they say again......... i have been having so many of them again. its scary to me.

i pray every day that its nothing

[AngeliaXA]

I have been having a really hard time posting a ? on here so this is my last resort. I have been for years having PACS and PVCS. It just has gotten worse. I have had the echos the monitors Etc. They thought they might have caught a quick run of AF but it was too short to tell. I have 4 kids and I live my life in fear everyday when is one going to stike again. The PVCs are bad but the really scary ones is the ones that your heart just vibrates in your chest. I have really had it especially when today driving down the road with my little kids in the car my heart starts going off beat. It feels like it is flopping around in there. I did not know what to do. I felt strange in the head and tried to pull to the side. My heart was speeding and skipping beats by that time. I am afraid to drive now. I really need help! Thanks for letting me vent here.

[tristsnana]

I've read all of these and I just had to post.  I hope I can help even just one of you.  
I am a 50 year old female that started with palps about ten years ago.  The same old lines I've read...anxiety/palps or palps/anxiety..menonpause...on and on. After countless trips to the Emergency rooms....they took over my life.  I became obsessed.  Life came to a hault for me.  So after going to two different Heart Specialists....countless tests....they've been called PVC's and or PAC's.  Who knows?  I started Celexa and Klonopin for the anxiety and depression over them.  I don't know what worked but they calmed down off and on for a few years.  But they are back from hell the last few weeks with fury. Very discouraging but, I do know this.  I know they are related to stress, stomach problems of any kind especially gas and gerds. When I overeat...eat rich or foods with sugar...it kills me.  Immediately it feels like my stomach and esophagus go into spasms and oncome the palps. (I do take Nexium)  I'm having them right now writing.  What do I do?  Some days I handle them better than others.  When my husband comes home from work I fall in his arms and cry and I'm better.  Some days I just say to heck with it....life has to go on.  They are annoying to say the least and I wish I couldn't feel them but I am also one of the poor souls who feel every heart beat.  My husband has them too and I don't get how he handles them????  I have a check up (for my benefit) with my Heart Specialist every year. I'm hoping they will have their run this time and go away for awhile again but if not, I pray and try to go on.  But I will tell you this that I've found..if I keep my stomach problems in check....I do see a huge difference.  Hope this helps.  My palpitating heart and love goes out to those with this....and a prayer.  This board is great.

[woodruff]

Ladies, I am sorry to hear that you are having so much distress because of these odd heartbeats.

Having had them myself for many years now, I know how troubling they can be, but it's important to note that, in spite of your fears of death or disability, your bodies are perfectly capable of doing the required work even while your pulse rate is chaotic.  Have you not found that to be true?

Tristnana, were you off celexa and klonopin when your pvcs came roaring back?

I ask, because if your heart tests repeatedly come back normal apart from pvcs and pacs, the lmajor problem is learning how to deal with the anxiety or panic that often accompanies the erratic heartbeats.

If you want to know how many of us here have learned to deal, type pvcs into the search box at the top of the page.  You will not believe how many of us share the same experiences and fears.

[casserole]

Angelia,
I know exactly how you feel.  I have three children and have had my heart beating eratically as I am driving in the car with them.  I've also pulled over and waited for my PVC's & PAC's to subside.  I had a full blown anxiety attack in the car and felt horrible that my oldest (a boy) could tell there was something terribly wrong.  I think the main thing with this disease is to control the anxiety level we feel.  It's much easier said than done, I know.  I have been doing some breathing exersizes that help.  The same ones they teach in Yoga.  It's helped with my anxiety.  With small kids life is stressful.  Lately, I have been going in for a 1/2 massage once a week and it's helped me a lot to be in a nice quiet room without kids demands even if its just 30 minutes.  Whenever I get a chance, I take time out for myself in my room everyday.  I used to care so much about my house being clean.  I just care about my health and being able to see my kids grow up now.  I am changing my priorities and for the first time in a long time am finally realizing that I have to take care of myself first in order to then be everything to all people (kids).  But I understand what it's like to live in fear.  I can't help to feel fearful when my heart is going weird because it doesn't feel normal.  The more I read about other's experiences here the calmer I become just knowing that I am not the only one going through this.  I hope this helps.  Take care...

[kja03c]

Has anyone tried changing their diet?  My heart has been wild ever since I was 18 yrs. old...I am 26 now.  Year by year it would get worse and worse...Skipped beats, pain sometimes, erratic rhythms...so many symptoms. It was so bad that I didn't want to live at times...meaning, I wished that it would stop on its own so that I could not think about it anymore.  I tried everything...Magnesium, exercise, reducing stress, stopping caffine, etc. Everything made it worse.  I would get probably 1000 skipped beats a day.  I had all of the tests done, more than once, and eventually lost hope.  I was told to deal with it.  Anyway, I tried changing my diet.  I cut out the sugar and carbohydrates--the change is incredible!!!  I literally feel normal.  I get a skipped beat or two when I exercise, but its been about a month and a half, and those are getting better too.  I have to figure out how to do this in a healthy way, or see a nutritionist, bc I think I have an intolerance to carbs or an allergy or something, but I recommend trying this too.  I can even drink coffee with little to no effect on my heart.  That is unheard of.  I have had only about 1 or 2 random skipped beats during the day, probably twice in a month and a half.  It probably took two weeks for really noticeable results, but you will be aware of the difference immediately.  Please, if you do try this, let me know...write back or something...***@**** would like to hear if this helps anyone else.

Kim

[cmiller]

I am AMAZED at the number of people at this site who have similar symtoms that can be so severe, and their cardio work up turns up clean.   PLEASE get a cellular (red blood cell) Magnsium test.  And even that may not be sufficient to tell you that you are missing Magnesium.

This is a partial list of symptoms of deficiency... they ALL came from your list.

irriatble bowel
anxiety (panic attacks)
fast beating heart.
stress.
depression   (feelings of doom)
Difficulting breathing/hypeventillation (Feeling of suffocation)
racing heart
tingling and numbness in fingers and toes (medical term paresthesia)
sweats, feeling clammy,
nausea,
and faintness (medical term syncope).

http://www.mdheal.org/magnesiu1.htm


search the web for this info.  or this site.  there is lots more that may help you.
CMiller

[gerom]

Hi everyone,

I have been experiencing ectopic heartbeats and 2 paroxysmal tachycardias from the age of 16. The cardiologists at the time diagnosed nothing wrong with my heart. I ‘ve been told that was absolutely a normal heart. It kept having palpitations until the age of 23 and then they disappeared for not apparent reason.

I am 40 years old now and the last 5 years palpitations have returned. I have all the tests (24 hour monitor, exercise and scan) 2 years ago and again the answer was not to worry it’s normal.

The last a few months things got lot of worse. I get ectopics many times during the day and sometimes several in a row. My heart feels like a stop and start process like …one missing … one back …one missing … one back … and goes on for several beats. I visited 3 cardiologist and I had the tests done twice. Again I have been told it’s anxiety and stress, my heart is normal try not to worry and ignore it. How can I ignore it? It’s just make me feel more anxious when it happens. I don’t smoke and I gave up on coffee and alcohol, also try to eat healthy and exercise.
I don’t have any family history of heart disease and any other health issue.

I don’t know what more to do about it…
Please advice


Many thanks

[griffindor]

Hi, I am going for a stress test tomorrow because i am having irregular heartbeats,  feels like im missing a beat or heart slows down and sometimes there is an extra beat.  I am quite fit and attend a gym regularly and recently had a sharp pain in my chest that made me go to the doctor as it alarmed me.  I was born with a heart murmur and during my last pregnancy 6 years ago experienced partial blindness in one eye, numbness in my fingers and slurred speech.  Was diagnosed as possible mini strokes or TIAs. These symptoms stopped after i had baby.  But heart irregularities continued.  However only recently have they been getting worse. Bit worried about them now.  Any ideas?

[BeBrave]

Hi. I've been looking at this site from time to time when I get freaked out about PVCs. I've had them for YEARS. I'm 60 so years means years. I am post menopausal, but still have many, many hotflashes. Anyone else out there have this? Today, I took the sheets off the bed and then had a pattern of like BEAT, BEAT, BEAT, PVC - BEAT, BEAT, BEAT, PVC. I layed down and deep breathed and they were absent. Needed to have a bowel movement a few minutes later. Any similar experiences?

Thanks - BeBrave (my montra, I guess)

[gerom]

Dear BeBrave

I have similar experience. Sometimes it goes like  that BEAT...PVC...BEAT...PVC...BEAT...PVC...BEAT...PVC... for a few  minutes. It seems to happen when or after by body has been under strain, such as after a run or after lifting weight etc.
I have mentioned it to cardiologists and they keep telling me that there are harmeless premature beats when the heart is trying to adjust. However I am very uncomfortable with them makes me concerned and anxious daily.

If anyone out there knows how to makes things better please advice

much appreciated  

Gerom

[808]

This is such a great forum for us to view whenever we need that extra encouragement that we are not alone with these symptoms.

I've had irregular heartbeats for over 15 years and I'm now 44. Had the anxiety attacks and several a-fib bouts. Took my *** to the ER on numerous occasions with the same outcome; your heart is fine and many people have these arrhythmias.

I do agree with some of the postings that one significant cause for my bouts is gastro-related. After a full meal, I do get the irregular heartbeats, an upset stomach, gas, and at times, need to move my bowels immediately. I'm relieved that I'm not the only one with these symptoms. There are many of us out here with the same identical symptoms. I certainly will try changing my diet as described in this topic.

To help calm my anxieties and reduce some gastro problems, I am prescribed 10mg of Doxepin per day. Very little dosage, but it made a huge difference in reducing anxieties.

I know I'll be living with this problem for life and I'm truly greatful for this forum to help with my piece of mind.

A

[gerom]

Has anyone tried acupuncture to treat palpitations? I 've been told that it helps...but does it?
Can somebody who has done it to let us know whether it's helpful.

Many thanks

Germ

[mikie500]

A related discussion, Irregular Heartbeat in the upper chambers was started.

[adambluekc]

A related discussion, Heartbeat Skip - GERD - Anxiety was started.