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PLEASE HELP!!!!!
Last night I was laying down trying to go to sleep......all of the sudden I noticed my heart was racing (130). I didn't have any pain anywhere but could feel my hewrt pounding. It took about an hour or so for it to return to normal. Does anyone know what it could be??? Should I be worried?? I also suffer from anxiety which doesn't help matters. What should I do???
I had the heart scan today.....my score was a zero. They said you can't get any better than that! Now if I just don't have anymore episodes of my heart racing maybe things would get better!!
I did contact my doc an she says she thinks it is most likely my anxiety but if it keeps happening to call her an she will get me set up with a holter monitor. Tomorrow I an going for a healthy heart scan, its something you just pay for an I an I thought I would try it out but if I get that feeling anymore believe me I will be back to the doc.
You said you had chocolate and other caffeine, for me that's a bad combination (as is msg, fried foods, sugar, alcohol) and my heart does start racing and pounding when I have these, even in moderation. I have GERD, which is the fancy name for reflux, so I think having any caffeine, for me at least, triggers the reflux which in turn, triggers my heart. Anxiety is a terrible culprit, and I speak from experience. I find that when I'm at rest, things are much worse for me. I don't think I notice the fast rate when I'm busy doing things, but when it's time to relax, I feel everything, which is normal by the way, but sometimes people like me who suffer from anxiety, tend to focus too much on it.
As itdood said, checking in with your doctor and letting him/her know what's going on so they can set you up with a monitor, will allow you to know what you're really feeling. I hope you feel better soon. Try to stay away from the chocolate and other caffeines for awhile :)
As itdood said, checking in with your doctor and letting him/her know what's going on so they can set you up with a monitor, will allow you to know what you're really feeling. I hope you feel better soon. Try to stay away from the chocolate and other caffeines for awhile :)
Folks, why are we discussing VT for someone who's already got an anxiety problem?
franceslee, you said you were terrified at the time. Being scared, anxiety alone, can drive a heart rate much faster than 130.
There's no way anyone on this board can tell you what was going on. There are dozens of things. Diagnosing a heart rhythm based on the rate is pure guess work.
It needs to be seen on an EKG to tell you if it was just you being scared or something else.
next steps, if it bothers you, would be to get something called a holter monitor to catch it on EKG when it happens. There are two type, a 24 - 48 hour loop, and an event. If this happens all the time, the loop recorder should catch it. If it's not predictable than an event style monitor would be needed, which can phone to the monitoring office every so often to upload its data and make room for more.
franceslee, you said you were terrified at the time. Being scared, anxiety alone, can drive a heart rate much faster than 130.
There's no way anyone on this board can tell you what was going on. There are dozens of things. Diagnosing a heart rhythm based on the rate is pure guess work.
It needs to be seen on an EKG to tell you if it was just you being scared or something else.
next steps, if it bothers you, would be to get something called a holter monitor to catch it on EKG when it happens. There are two type, a 24 - 48 hour loop, and an event. If this happens all the time, the loop recorder should catch it. If it's not predictable than an event style monitor would be needed, which can phone to the monitoring office every so often to upload its data and make room for more.
I really don't know what exactly causes VT though from what I have read it seems as though it is more likely to occur in someone with heart disease. You aren't necessarily prone to develop it just because you have pvcs though I would think your chances are higher if you have pvcs and develop heart disease at some point but I am not a doctor or scientist so I could be way off base on that. From what I have read VT is actually pretty rare and I don't know that it is congenital though if you are born with a bad heart I could see it developing. But again I can't be certain so anyone else is welcome to clarify or correct anything I have said.
From what I can tell VT actually doesn't feel quite as intense as an atrial tachycardia. I guess the ventricles don't beat quite as hard I suppose so when they take over it feels fast but not necessarily hard. I can't say for certain what I felt but right after my ablation I felt something that felt very fast but it was not the same as my tachycardia but rather felt like some sort of fast vibration that lasted maybe 5 seconds or so. It is possible it was a run of pacs or pvcs (vt) I was feeling but I can't say for certain what it was. I have not felt it since but I have had episodes of bigeminy that feels like a really long pause with some beats thrown in. Then again, in my worn out state right after the ablation it is possible what I felt was possibly vt may have been bigeminy. I was kind of new to ectopics at the time so the feelings were all unfamilar to me and since it wasn't recorded I will never know but from what I understand VT feels fast but not as intense. Maybe someone will jump on who has had it who can tell us what they feel. But I don't think it just happens. I think it occurs mostly from heart disease and possibly congenital in cases of people who have long qt.
From what I can tell VT actually doesn't feel quite as intense as an atrial tachycardia. I guess the ventricles don't beat quite as hard I suppose so when they take over it feels fast but not necessarily hard. I can't say for certain what I felt but right after my ablation I felt something that felt very fast but it was not the same as my tachycardia but rather felt like some sort of fast vibration that lasted maybe 5 seconds or so. It is possible it was a run of pacs or pvcs (vt) I was feeling but I can't say for certain what it was. I have not felt it since but I have had episodes of bigeminy that feels like a really long pause with some beats thrown in. Then again, in my worn out state right after the ablation it is possible what I felt was possibly vt may have been bigeminy. I was kind of new to ectopics at the time so the feelings were all unfamilar to me and since it wasn't recorded I will never know but from what I understand VT feels fast but not as intense. Maybe someone will jump on who has had it who can tell us what they feel. But I don't think it just happens. I think it occurs mostly from heart disease and possibly congenital in cases of people who have long qt.
If I can ask ... how does VT happen? Is it genetic or does it result from a structural defect in the heart, or does it just happen? Is there any way to tell it apart from other tachycardia?
You're not an idiot. They are good questions. VT is Ventricular Tacycardia or a fast beat coming from the ventricles. This one is dangerous because it can turn into Ventricular Fibrillation which is deadly in a matter of minutes. SVT is Supraventricular Tachycadia, Supra meaning over. So a tachycardia that comes from above the ventricles or more aptly from the Atria. Most congential heart svts and simple sinus or anxiety tachycardias come from the Atria. VT is not common. It is good you don't have shortness of breath or pain. So if it comes back just try and relax and breath through it as best you can. Take care.
I feel like an idiot but what is VT?? SVT?? I'M SORRY I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT MEANS. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PAIN OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH, JUST FAST HEARTBEAT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
Were you stressing right before the tachycardia started? What were you thinking about? Did you feel anything physical happen like an ectopic that could have brought on a panic attack? In any event, I am with Jerry. I have not heard of tachycardia being a symptom of a heart attack. I actually think in a heart attack a part of the heart muscle dies and causes the heart to not beat proper but not necessarily fast though I am not a doctor so I could be wrong about that. What I have heard is that anxiety attacks can feel like a heart attack maybe from the person tensing up. I know when I had svt I felt a fast beat but I never stressed about it so I never got chest pains with them. I would get short of breath and light headed but I just sat and breathed as calmly as I could and I would feel fine once it passed. But the bottom line is I believe it is extremely rare for anyone to die from tachycardia. VT may be a different story but any sort of svt is generally not life threatening but do keep an eye on it and if it keep occurring you may need to take steps to try and control it. Take care and stay strong.
Thanks for all your help! I'm hoping thats all it was but if it happens again I will call an have them do the holter. Sorry you had to deal with that happening a lot. It's scary!! Also thanks again for replying to me. Last night I actually got some sleep :)
It sounds like your heart is sensitive to chocolate and caffeine. If i were you I would try to stay away from both. A Holter monitor is a good idea. I've worn one many times over the years. I had a-fib and had an ablation for that 1 1/2 yrs ago. Then over the last 6-8 mo. I've had tachycardia, only mine would come on...day or night, and last for hrs. Your Dr. will be able to suggest an appropriate med for an "attack."
BY POUNDING I MEANT I COULD FEEL IT IN MY CHEST. I DID EAT QUITE A BIT OF CHOCOLATE AND had caffine. I usually moderate both but I coulda went over board last night. It was very scary!!
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I haven't checked the list of classic heart attacks symptoms, but to the best of my (poor) recall I do not think a short run of a resting HR of 130 is a heart attack indicator.
Yes, try to identify anything you are experiencing or taking/digesting such over the counter medications that could be associated with the higher than normal HR. Pounding you say, that also is troubling in my mind, but still not an indication of a heart attack. The answer may be as simple as "don't do that".
Yes, try to identify anything you are experiencing or taking/digesting such over the counter medications that could be associated with the higher than normal HR. Pounding you say, that also is troubling in my mind, but still not an indication of a heart attack. The answer may be as simple as "don't do that".
I did call my doctor, she said she thought it was from my anxiety.but if keeps happening to cal an they can do a holter monitor. I was terrified I was having a heart attack
I feel for you...I know what that's like. For myself, it's tachycardia and it can be caused by anxiety and stress. It can also be caused by something you ate or drank or even certain cold meds. It would probably be a good idea to run this by your Dr. I don't think it's anything serious, more of a nuisance, but let the Dr. decide that. Good luck to you, take some slow deep breaths and try to stay calm and relaxed.
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