Aa
Just palpatations or anxiety?
Been lurking in the forum for a while and happy to know I am NOT crazy, I do have "skipped heartbeats", have been to the doc about this at least 6 times. Like most, I've had an echo, EKG, thyroid tests and now counseling for anxiety. I am a smoker (less than half a pack a day) and am trying to finally quit. Stress in my life? Heck yes! I'm 51 and having to be a caretaker for a mother dying with COPD and a father who is relying on me for his support has gotten to me! My blood pressure is always in the perfect range, my BPM during "episodes" is always 19-21 bpm. I get them mostly when "relaxing" (not exercising). It is so hard to explain to someone who has never had them, but mine seem to skip and roll up into my throat causing me to sharply inhale and swallow. Sometimes a little lightheadedness happens. I also occasionally get this when I EXHALE completely. I had a sleep study and no apnea but in need of ENT consult.
Since my dad had to open heart surgeries by the time he was 53 and a pace maker by 60, and a mother with COPD and emphysema, I had myself convinced I must have heart disease and/or COPD TOO!!! LOL My cholesterol is fine by have been subclinical hyperthryoid for the past 13 years. My therapist said that our bodies physically remember stressful events in our lives and that something as simple as a negative thought can trigger the body to react.
Just wondering what ya'll think about adding magnesium to my daily routine? I take cetalopram daily for anxiety and wellbutrin to quit smoking. Doubt it would interfer.....but ya never know!
Since my dad had to open heart surgeries by the time he was 53 and a pace maker by 60, and a mother with COPD and emphysema, I had myself convinced I must have heart disease and/or COPD TOO!!! LOL My cholesterol is fine by have been subclinical hyperthryoid for the past 13 years. My therapist said that our bodies physically remember stressful events in our lives and that something as simple as a negative thought can trigger the body to react.
Just wondering what ya'll think about adding magnesium to my daily routine? I take cetalopram daily for anxiety and wellbutrin to quit smoking. Doubt it would interfer.....but ya never know!
Thank you very much! That's the best explanation I've heard. Just sitting here reading a book and realized my "thought process" responded to a line I read and low and behold, I had a "missed beat" causing me to inhale quickly. Guess the two can be connected.
Thank you again!
Thank you again!
OK, important to remember to multiply by 4 :)
I understand exactly what you are talking about when you mention the skipping and the "rolling" sensation when you breathe or swallow. It's usually caused by premature beats from the upper heart chambers, so-called PACs, and they are easy to explain. When you inhale sharply, your veins in the chest, including in the lungs, push lots of blood into the heart, which again is putting a little strain on the upper chambers, making them dilate a little, and this "stretch" may provoke a premature beat.
The esophagus is located just behind the left atrium (upper chamber) and is often mechanically affected by esophagal movement, most often when swallowing hot or cold food, but swallowing may also trigger a nerve response that may provoke premature beats.
Stress, and the borderline hyperthyroidism, makes the heart more irritable, so premature beats are easier triggered.
I would ask a doctor before adding any supplements. The most important thing you can do is to quit smoking and make sure the hyperthyroidism is kept under control. With time, I hope you will be able to reduce your stress too.
Take care :)
I understand exactly what you are talking about when you mention the skipping and the "rolling" sensation when you breathe or swallow. It's usually caused by premature beats from the upper heart chambers, so-called PACs, and they are easy to explain. When you inhale sharply, your veins in the chest, including in the lungs, push lots of blood into the heart, which again is putting a little strain on the upper chambers, making them dilate a little, and this "stretch" may provoke a premature beat.
The esophagus is located just behind the left atrium (upper chamber) and is often mechanically affected by esophagal movement, most often when swallowing hot or cold food, but swallowing may also trigger a nerve response that may provoke premature beats.
Stress, and the borderline hyperthyroidism, makes the heart more irritable, so premature beats are easier triggered.
I would ask a doctor before adding any supplements. The most important thing you can do is to quit smoking and make sure the hyperthyroidism is kept under control. With time, I hope you will be able to reduce your stress too.
Take care :)
Oops, definately my mistake! BPM are generally 76-88!! I would definately be on the floor with 19! LOL
Thank you for the information. I'm thinking the stress I've been under is the major contributor and am hoping things calm down soon!
Thank you for the information. I'm thinking the stress I've been under is the major contributor and am hoping things calm down soon!
Hello.
The "19-21 BPM" you mention in your post is a little confusing. A heart rate this slow would usually not be enough to keep you conscious. Are you sure your heart rate is this slow? Do you have symptoms like near-fainting (worse than a little light-headedness)? For how long is your heart rate this slow? What is your heart rate before the event?
The "skipping and rolling up into your throat" may have something to do with premature beats, and if you get a premature beat (PVC or PAC) after each normal beat for a short while, your heart rate will feel like it's dropping to half for a short while, but again, to achieve a heart rate of 20 bpm, your normal heart rate would be just 40 bpm, and that sounds a bit slow too.
If you truly have a heart rate of 20 bpm, it may be serious and you must see a doctor. There are reactions towards stress that may slow the heart rate, but not as slow as 20 bpm..
The "19-21 BPM" you mention in your post is a little confusing. A heart rate this slow would usually not be enough to keep you conscious. Are you sure your heart rate is this slow? Do you have symptoms like near-fainting (worse than a little light-headedness)? For how long is your heart rate this slow? What is your heart rate before the event?
The "skipping and rolling up into your throat" may have something to do with premature beats, and if you get a premature beat (PVC or PAC) after each normal beat for a short while, your heart rate will feel like it's dropping to half for a short while, but again, to achieve a heart rate of 20 bpm, your normal heart rate would be just 40 bpm, and that sounds a bit slow too.
If you truly have a heart rate of 20 bpm, it may be serious and you must see a doctor. There are reactions towards stress that may slow the heart rate, but not as slow as 20 bpm..
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