Heart pounding, shortness of breath

[jaredh54]

I am a 25 yr old male, 6' 2" 250 lbs athletic/muscular build (12-15% body fat). I exercise 3-4 times per week.

Through out the day and night I will occasionally feel what seems to be my heart skipping a beat, or pounding quickly 2-3 times in a row very hard. I can feel it in my neck as well; immediately after I begin to breathe hard, like I have just completed a workout. This all happens while resting. This scenario also happens in a magnified manner after climbing a short flight of stairs. This has happened after climbing stairs immediately after getting up from resting throughout my life, but never this often.

When I was 13-14 yrs old the doctor performed an EKG but found nothing irregular. It has been within the last few weeks that it has worsened to a daily occurrence and happens outside of physical activity.

I am currently on Morphine Sulfate 15 mg, 3 times a day for an injury to my L. knee cartilage; which is still being worked on. I am currently being considered for a partial knee replacement. I have sustained multiple injuries to joints while participating in sports.

Also, I don’t know if it applies, but for the past 10-12 yrs my hands quiver or shake even when I attempt to hold them still, this is greatly worsened after physical exertion or a rise in adrenaline.  

I generally dont feel well. It is hard to put my finger on what it is, just feel weak, tired and ill 90% of the time.

Any idea what the problem might be? Is it somthing to be concerned about?

[jeanettepabon]

I have been feeling very sick. every day my heart beats realy fast, and on ocasion its like an electric shock. I have hand tremos and shotness of breath, my joints are in a cronic pain. As of now I have been in the hospital for a week and its not geting better. I also have blood in stool test. asma since small but its not the problem at time.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

It is hard to say what is causing the palpitations without seeing recordings of them.  This is usually related to premature ventrciular and atrial beats. I holter monitor should answer the question if they happen every day.  If it bothers you, it is probably worth talking to your doctor.

The shaking like that is some times caused by essential tremors.  If they are bad, no selective beta blockers like propranolol will often help calm them down.

Thanks for posting.

[jaredh54]

Oh man that sucks! I know how you feel. I have been trying to ignore the heart pulpations but its getting increasingly hard.

What did the docs say was wrong with your thyroid? Do your hands shake?

Ya I hear you, I played HS and college football, always been really healthy, but now i feel like i am going down hill fast. Its frustrating. Especially now with my knee issues, i cant do any of the sports i use to do.

[Used2behealthy]

Man, buddy this describes pretty much what has been going on with me, i have a thyroid problem too but that got ruled out with blood test, i have not got a reply on my post yet either.

Your description of yourself sounds like me too, or what i used to be.
Before my thyroid problems i was 6-3 235 10%bf, lifted weights and ran, took great care of myself.  All of that's gone, but i still eat really healthy and was trying to workout, but i get the palpitations like you said.  

I will say this, i don't get SOB to my knowlegde, and that is a more serious symtom, so you should see the doc, i'm setting up an appointment for myself.

You said after getting up you get the symtoms and that's what struck me.  My heart will beat really hard, but not fast after i stand up from resting a long time, it is uncomfortable to say the least, and i get the skipped beats now more often. I even had an echo and 24 hour holter 6 months ago when i complained of these symtoms and they found nothing, so now i seem to get ignored. But i know this, it's not normal because i was a complete athlete for 6 years and now all this stuff.