Aware of heartbeat/vibration

I am constantly aware of my heartbeat -all day long - sitting, standing, laying down - all the time.  It is not pounding or fluttering, not skipping a beat (although I have had those feelings also) just a normal heartbeat that I feel constantly.  At times it's almost a vibration, and it's absolutely driving me insane!  It is so unnerving to sit down in the evening to read the paper or a book, let alone try to lay down to go to sleep!  I am a 52 year old female, so I have to wonder if its menopausal.  I have been having anxiety attacks over it and I'm getting to the point where I'm afraid to go to bed at night because it sometimes wakes me up.  Has anyone ever had these feelings?

[Artaud]

Hi,

Actually, I don't believe that feeling your Heartbeat, even when it's beating normally, is that uncommon. Hearts can become hyperdynamic as we age. Of this, an article at the Mayo Clinic has this to say:

"A heart is hyperdynamic means that it is overactive — beating too hard, pumping too hard and circulating blood at too rapid a rate. The patient may feel palpitations, nervousness, excitement, edginess or shortness of breath. The whole system is revved up as if he or she has been running hard, yet the activity is internally generated....The hyperdynamic heart could result from a bona fide physical condition such as anemia, elevated thyroid function or an abnormality in the heart itself. Alternatively, it may simply be a response to alcohol, stimulating drugs or excessive consumption of caffeine."

The article gives some clues to some of the possible causes of this condition, Stimulating drugs, excessive caffeine, anemia, an elevated thyroid function, or the heart itself. A common treatment for this condition may be Beta Blockers, which will slow your heart and make the contractions less forceful, therefore you will be less likely to feel them. A friend from work had the same complaint, feeling his heart pounding all the time. He was given Atenolol, which he claimed made him too tired. He stopped the Atenolol and in a few night, ended up at the Hospital, convinced he was having a heart attack. All was well though and he told the Doctor that he quit the Atenolol, and my friend suggested that maybe he would just take half a pill, which he does and it keeps his problem under control. Likewise, I used to take my Beta Blocker in the morning, but by night I was disturbed by my pounding heart. With the doctor's approval, I now take half the dose in the morning and half at night. It works for me.

You should consider visiting your Family Doctor and expressing your concerns. Basic tests, including an EKG, may be utilized to determine if a cause exists for your condition. If so, treatment should be available and may relieve you of your symptoms.

Best of health.

[whatayear]

LOL......I was getting ready to write a new forum with this same question...I am sitting here right now and its like my body is rocking with my heart beat!!!! this just started about a week ago I have IST and had this before I knew it was IST it comes and goes but I have put my fingers under my neck and it is going with my heart beat!!!! its wierd more annoying then anything I dont know what causes it.....

[linzar]

Hi,
I have had this for several months.  It started out just feeling the vibration.  I started to feel like a cell phone on vibrate! Now, I feel every heartbeat.  It seems to be a little more pronounced in the morning and will sometimes soften in the afternoon / early evening.  But then when I go to bed  it's hard to fall asleep or it will wake me up in the middle of the night.  You say you have IST - what is that?  I am not familiar with a lot of the terms I see used in these forums.  I have had an EKG, echo, chest X-ray, and blood work and all are normal.

[whatayear]

yeah all my tests are normal to I have inapropriate sinus tachycardia. check your heart rate sitting and then stand up and check it and see how it goes if its inaprotpriate it may be IST.