Cardiac Confusion

Hello all, looking for some help here.
I am an 18 year old college student with some baffling symptoms.  I have always noticed that my heart would skip a beat a few times a day but since coming to school it has increased and more symptoms have appeared.  I am fairly tachycardic which I took as just being a college student but since starting to exercise more and become healthier my pulse hasnt returned to a normal rate.  I am extremely tired all the time and have frequent migraines.  Besides that I am mildly anemic but blood pressure is fine along with cholesterol and all other triglycerides. I don't smoke, or do drugs, am mildly overweight but very active and only partake in alcoholic festivities every few months. The skipped beats still show up here and there but I took these to be harmless PVC's (I am a nursing major and an EMT so I am well rehearsed in cardiac problems.) The PVC's are more frequent when I exercise and oddly enough when I drink (I know it's bad). In fact I can recall one time that my heart went uncontrollably tachy and I thought I was going to pass out only a few beers in. Basically what I want to know is if there is a link in all these symptoms especially the alcohol link.  I am straight out scared to drink anymore because I am afraid I will have a heart attack and theres been  times where the pvc's have gotten so bad I'm afraid to go to sleep (5 or 6 in a minute).  Please help me out with any answers!

[Chriswpw]

Hi

I can say that there is a link to alcohol. I had one instance when I went out one night and drank heavily and later on early in the morning I had an episode of a-fib. My HR was into the 250's. Talk to you Dr and run some tests......even though you shouldnt be, watch your drinking for more reasons than just this........

[Jerry_NJ]

I think you are on to something when you recognize your new environment (college) may be contributing to the heart rhythm changes.  Try to settle down and minimize alcohol as you've already established there is a link for you.  I think it isn't for some.  I'm a old guy who graduated from college many (many) years ago and I suffer from AFib today.  I don't find any impact from having a drink or two, maybe three is it is a long affair with a meal.  Otherwise I don't drink alcohol (even a beer).  You may find that after you're really adjusted to your new environment you condition will improve.

It is always a good idea to check these symptoms out with a doctor, but you seem to have a good handle on managing your health, that's good.   You also didn't give any numbers, e.g., a fast HR of 100+ when standing and walking around is pretty normal, but 130 is likely a symptom that should be checked.  A rest HR of less than 100 is usually fine, but a young adult in good health should, I think, expect to see a HR in the 60s when fully at rest.   I'm sure you know these boundary value number, I send them along just to share my reference numbers.