Rapid Heartbeat With No Cause?

[Bourjois]

Hey there. For a while now my heart hasn't felt 'right'. When I lie down to sleep, it begins thumping irregularly for a few minutes and then it starts beating really fast and it leaves me quite breathless. I'm beginning to find it hard to do things also because I get breathless right away, and my heart beats rapidly, once reaching 200bpm. Its worrying me because i'm only 19 and I don't know what's causing it. Opinions?

[Bourjois]

Went to the doctors today...being referred to a cardiologist... :/

[Bourjois]

Thanks for that. I'm definitely going to go see my doctor now.
With the heartrate, it kinda just goes from one extreme to the next. Sometimes it does slowly work its way up though, but most of time it goes from fast to slow really quickly.

[is_something_wrong]

No need to speculate - go see a doctor.

If I would guess, I'd say it is some kind of an atrial (upper chamber) arrhythmia, anything from PACs to atrial fibrillation - most likely PACs (premature / skipped beats from the upper chambers) and some runs of supraventricular tachycardia.

How to the quick heart rate terminate? Slowly, or from one beat to the next, like HR 50 - 160 - 50 again?

If you are going through a manic phase, you likely have massive adrenaline release in your body - that can cause arrhythmias. If the doctors see a connection here, they can prescribe a small dosage of beta blockers to use during the manic phases, to block some of the adrenaline effect on your heart.

Quick heart rate, SOB and dizziness warrant a visit to your doctor. Maybe he will refer you to a 24 hour EKG test. Most likely this is not dangerous, but get it examined, and possibly / if necessarily treated.

[Bourjois]

Thank you for replying. I can't see my doctor until Friday. My heart did it again today, it started thumping really hard and violently. It was also beating about 50bpm. Then suddenly it went right up to 160, and the breathlessness and dizziness came again. I'm not in the best of shape, but this has never happened before. I do have depression and have been having quite a manic phase recently, but I don't think this caused it?

[Jerry_NJ]

You say "for a while"...I have no way of knowing if that means a couple of weeks or a couple of years.  If it has been for a short time I'd try to think of anything that has happened recently that could have caused you stress/anxiety/depression.  If you can, that may be the reason.  If you can not quickly find anything to "correct" then a visit with your doctor is well advised.

A resting (physically and mentally) over 100 is considered problematic, one at 200 must be slowed down.  I assume from what you say you HR has moved to more normal levels.
If there is an irregularity to the HB I think taking an aspirin a day until you can discuss with your doctor may be a good precaution.  Keep in mind, the aspirin bottle warns against long term use without an approval by your doctor.  I think long term is more than a couple weeks.

[rilesnic]

Have you been to your doctor with these symptoms?  Have you seen a cardiologist?  Your symptoms do warrant a visit to the doctor if you have not already done so.  Please try not to worry, as stress seems to make heart feelings even worse, but let a doctor take a look to determine what may be going on.  There are many reasons one may feel his/her heart and there are many reasons hearts beat fast and irregular.  In the mean time, try to avoid caffeine.  Other factors that may aggravate the heart are alcohol and smoking (I know you are only 19 and probably already avoid these things).  Please keep us posted on how you are feeling.  Best to you!