Can't stop worrying

I am a 24 yr. old female. I have suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember (my first clear memory was 7). I have always had a racing heart and have been told to not worry even if my heart rate goes up to 150 (because for me that was considered normal). In the last 9 months or so I have suffered from the complete opposite. My heart rate reaches its lowest when I'm about to fall asleep or already asleep. Often after I fall asleep, I startle awake gasping for air. It feels like my heart has stopped and then re-started. The lowest it's reached is 48, but my heart FEELS weak. Sometimes I feel like I have a weak pulse also, throughtout the day. I went to a doc. and had a normal EKG done, and everything showed up fine. I have not changed medications or any other 'trigger' of bradycardia. I have no other symptoms of bradycardia, and the LOW heart rate only happens at night. Is it still something to worry about? We are waiting for insurance before I can get any tests done. Any insight would (hopefully) calm my nerves a little!

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

It is normal to have a slow heart rate at night.  Heart rates in the upper 40's at rest shows that you are a young person with increased vagal tone -- this is good.

If you doctor is not worried and you have a normal EKG and no other symptoms of cardiovascular disease, the most like problem (which you have already identified) is anxiety.  Have you tried anything for anxiety?

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.

[kitcurious]

You could have a Holter monitor done to ease yor mind.  You do realize that low heart rates while sleeping are normal ?

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/251177

[jkfrench]

Hi
Don't you just hate that when you wake up thinking you are not breathing!  I'm not even gasping, I just wake up thinking I can't take a deep breath and I can't breathe.  I have been assured it is anxiety after all the standard testing.  It is really random when it happens, but I tell ya, It makes me NOT want to ever have to sleep alone.  If I travel, it for sure happens if I am by myself.  I hate it.
Frenchie

[Vinnie67]

With the gasping awake have you ever been tested for sleep apnea? I have had chest pains off and on for years and gasp awake at night a lot. Had a sleep study done and they found that like 48 times an hour I was waking and that my O2 was dropping into the 60s at time (apparently very low when normal is in the high 90s from what I've read).

I had septum and turbinate surgery and am on CPAP now. Don't like CPAP (the masks are uncomformatable) but I can tell you this. When I wear it I do not gasp awake once in the night.

I also have recently been diagnosed with Lone A-Fib. That is scary too. The doc told me, though, to make sure I use my CPAP becuase there have been quite a few times I've woke up to find my heart rate in the 100s when it was fine when I went to sleep. My cardiologist said that they believe more and more that adequate sleep is a key factor in cardiac health.

Don't know if this helps but thought I'd share.

[2 Sensitive]

I came across something that has drastically changed my life for the better!  I have suffered from P.V.C.s and other heart problems for years now and nothing seemed to help me..At 49 I felt my life was practically over until I tried Goji juice..I am a new person today and I cannot say enough about this wonderful juice..I hate to sound like an informercial but,I want the world to know that GOJI juice has trully saved my life!  Anyone else with heart problems tried it yet?  
To:

[Jslow]

I too suffer from PVC's, what is Goji juice? What does it do for you and where do you buy it?


Jslow

[2 Sensitive]

It's on sale right now at the Vitamin Shoppe for only $9.95 a bottle..( I also found it for sale at e-bay and various health food stores carry it) I first tried the dried Goji berries and noticed a significant improvement in my health,so I went back and bought a bottle of the stuff and I haven't felt the same since..I've never been so excited about any other product before!
  Before I found it I felt just horrible and nearly depressed to the point of suicide.I felt like just giving up on life. I then prayed for help and I felt that I was led to this product..

It boosted my energy level up and it gave me physical endurance and strength...It gave me feelings of joy and enthusiasm for life,something I haven't felt in years,but most important of all,it greatly reduced the number of P.V.C.s I got..Where I was getting about 3 a day instead of 50..

It had a calming effect on my heart much like Inderal,but much better without the drug side effects....My heart felt less jumpy and less "P.V.C. "trigger-happy"..

I can only hope that it will continue to work like this..I feel like a new person!  

That's my experience with the Goji Juice..You can do a Google or Yahoo search and find out what else it can do..I invite everyone with P.V.C.s to at least give it a try and you'll see a diiference!

[Jslow]

Thank you so much for your quick response. I stumbled up on this site and it's such a relieve to find others out there that know exactly how I feel. I'm going to buy some Goji juice. I forgot to mention in my previous email that I suffer with tachyacardia as well- at rest 76-90 and while walking 90-100. Once I eat the BP is higher at rest and during activity. I'm looking forward to trying the juice

Jslow

[2 Sensitive]

I found a link with more information on the Goji Juice..Enjoy!

http://www.gojibook.com/HI01.html