***Welcome to the Palpitations Room***

[dannyMH]

Dear to all Heart Rhythm Community
I am trying to come up with a list of "What causes your palpitations?"

Okay here's mine:
- Lack of sleep/rest
- Not enough water
- Caffein
- Anxiety
- Bending down position to stand up position

Your list would might help others realize that they are not alone, so please feel free to add in.

Life is good, so lets all enjoy it by living healthy.
Cheers!

[Celeste77]

Hi Danny!
Great post...It's always interesting to see what others triggers are!

Mine are:
~Severe stress (usually a delayed reaction, starts 24 hours after a stressful event and PVC's can last months)
~Big emotional events, good or bad (PVC's start immediately)
~Severe Pain
~Hypoglycemia
~Dehydration
~Overheating/Heat Stress (big trigger for me)
~Bending over or twisting in certain positions (pressure on the vagus nerve)
~Low magnesium and/or potassium (another big trigger)
~Overeating or eating too many carbs (pasta, breads, etc.)
~Being startled
~Over exercising/exhaustion
~Hormone changes/menstral cycle
~Uncontrolled GERD
~Vomiting
~Paying way too much attention to what's going on in my body makes them worse!(psychosomatic)
~Prednisone
~Epinephrine
~MSG
~Cilantro
~Heavy tabasco
~Certain beers, wines
~Red Bull

Take care!

[Momto3]

Great post........

Large meals, spicy foods
Fever
Cold medicines
Laying on left side
Adrenaline rush
Lack of sleep (big catalyst for me)

[Momto3]

Before the post got deleted I copied the post from Michelle12a (hope she doesn't mind, but I didn't want to lose the contribution)

Hi Danny,
I've suffered palpitations since age 7 (I'm 35 now!).  I agree with you, my palpitations were brought on by lack of sleep, stress, not eating, upset, dehydration, competition, stress, STRESS AND STRESS!!!!!  

However, I could control my attacks once they started by controlling my breathing, lying flat and afterwards passing water!  However, I had a pacemaker fitted at the end of January and that seems to have really upset things.  Now my palpitations come on for any reason and aren't controlled by me (only by A&E and the wonderful drug, Adenosene).  

So now I can add bending over, pulling out a drawer, picking up something from a table, coughing, sneezing, opening the front door to the list of triggers - I'm just lucky I guess!!  

Hope this helps?
Michelle

[Donnaheaps]

Anything with artifical sweetner in it.

[jsuter69]

What exactly is the vagal nerve? What does "it" feel like when you "aggrevate" it...
And to add to the post....
Bending over
Laying on either side
Caffiene
Stress
Over eating
Alcohol
Sex
Exercise
Laughing(hysterically)
Crying(sobbing)
Breathing in deeply(strange...huh?)
Anxiety
Getting overly excited
Waking up and just being still....maybe I shouldn't wake up...lol...

[sueinns]

Stress and alcohol are the biggies for me.  Will bring them on instantly.  

Other than that, they are just there and I can't really pinpoint any other causes.

[Momto3]

I always forget about this one (it is/was a trigger for me)....LOUD concerts!

Does anyone else notice their HR goes bonkers with the loud volume and vibrations at a concert?  My heart definitely reacts to the "rhythm" of the music!!  

[kim62]

I think the biggest thing is the stress that the PVCs/palpitations cause makes me more stressed out to the point where I have more PVcs which isn't near as stressfull as trying to explain to the doctors how frustrated I am! (oh... caffiene, decaf products and chocolate too)

[BLM_56]

mine were completely idiopathic.  I never found a significant correlation to any environmental factor.  If I got really upset that could set off a bout of PAT but I could have a bout with no discernable environmental trigger.  I did find out recently that I probably got my atrial arrhythmia from my Dad's Mother.  Also it does not appear to be sex chromosome linked.  If you guys have found a strong correlation between palpataions and any environmental factor(s) you are very fortunate.  If you know what can set your heart off, you have a leg up on avoiding the problem.  It's like the old joke "Patient: Doctor! Doctor!  It hurts when I do this! Doctor: Then don't do that!".

Momto3, you have a perfect excuse for banning that kind of music in your house.  Or at least banning it being played out loud.

Bill

[Momto3]

Good one!!  hahahaha!!  

[MistyMum]

First...Hi to everyone.  Great site and a big relief to find I am not alone with this.  I can have them on and off all day for no partcular reason but I can guarantee that as soon as I lie down to go to sleep they start and keep me awake.  They used to be the worst when lying on my left side but now they start as soon as I lie down in any position.
Thinking back over your messages while i am trying to get to sleep help me so much...thank you.
Irene

[Momto3]

Helloooooooooo and welcome to a great community!!

You are definitely not alone and we're here to keep you company : )

I know what you mean about lying down....all's quiet, really tired, ready for sleep........BAM!!  Fortunately, they are almost always benign, just a nuisance.

Please stick around; there are always people to talk to and new people who need to know they are not alone.

Connie

[worried784]

Good post, there are so many things.
-stress
-anxiety
-worried about the high HR, causing higher HR
-deep breathing
-lack of sleep
-too much coffee
-out of the blue---no reason, HR just raises
-certain foods, spicy, sodas, chocolate,
-nervousness
thank you

[Sammie4258]

Hormones
Medication
Conversion Disorder
Bass sounds
Car signal lights-figure that one out.  
Eating

[dannyMH]

~Uncontrolled GERD

Yes..GERD has mimic Heart disease..and if you Google "GERD and Palpitations" or "GERD and Heart attack" you will find many useful links.

I wonder how many people actually have GERD but they go visit heart speacialist instead.

[dannyMH]

~Paying way too much attention to what's going on in my body makes them worse!(psychosomatic)

This is a good one...LOL....I know exactly what you mean! I think we're all been in this situation.

[debola53]

I agree with all of the above-what a great list! It makes me feel like I am not crazy when I tell the doc what wierd things trigger me. I also find ginger,licorice, MSG, soy sauce, autolyzed yeast (in a million things),overheating myself, smoke fumes and very cold weather trigger me. It is such a drag-however, I feel much better having read this list and knowing I am not alone-thanks!

[dannyMH]

I am waiting for some one to mention "hot bath or hot tub"

[iamfaithful]

Hi All,

My triggers are:

Lack of sleep
Excitement-good or bad
Stress
Laughing
Nervousness
Obsessing about body, mainly heart
HORMONES-time of the month-ugh

I hate it when I am having a good time and laughing and getting real excited.  After a couple of minutes of that-bam, I will have a PVC.  It takes my exitement away quickly.

[paige109]

I also get a higher HR when I'm in hot shower and I've noticed that it rises in the morning
right after I get up I'm usually very hot which may be the cause

[Momto3]

Another trigger for me is raising my arms above my head (drying my hair, exercising)

Great thread!!

[dannyMH]

thank you all for the replies... glad many of us found this thread so helpful

anyone else like to contribute?

[allaflutter1213]

I have read all of these triggers and I find the similarites interesting to say the least.
Most of all the ones about food, eating or GERD.
I have been disgnosed with GERD and I take Nexium for that but I still have the PAC's and PVC's.
My triggers that I have noticed are:
Eating
Deep breathing
Spicy foods
Alcohol
Also when I first get up in the morning my heart starts beating really hard like I had just ran a marathon or something, not sure what causes that.
Sodas
Chocolate
And then of course there are the "out of the blue" kind. I am not sure if these are hormone related or not. I had a partial hysterectomy several years ago and I really don't have any indicators to tell me if its that "time" or not.
I go to my GYN today and hopefully she can run some tests that will tell me more but due to my age and when my palps started I can't help but think its possible its hormore related.
Bending over
Stress ( common for all)
Not enough sleep ( I wake up alot during the night)
Alot of mine seem to be centered aroung food and/or eating and I do have GERD so I wonder if there is a connection there as well.

[jkfrench]

here is my list

Lack of sleep - pvc's always
stress - pvc's always
public speaking - pvc's always
doctor visit - pvc's always
laughing - pvc's sometimes
yoga  (certain positions) - always
deep breathing in - pvc's sometimes and sometimes nsvt
hormones - pvc's flutters, tachy, always
eating big meals - sometimes
alcohol - sometimes
chocolate - sometimes
bending over - sometimes
msg  - always
caffiene  - sometimes (figure that one out)
out of the blue (usually when I'm relaxed so go figure again)
empty stomach - bad ones if I am really hungry
twisting - sometimes
This is why it is so hard to figure it all out.  There is no rhyme or reason sometimes.
The most helpful thing is all of you!  Love ya
Frenchie

[Crickett559]

With all these triggers, its a wonder we can function at all.  According to all these posts, it pretty much covers everything we do in life. Wow what great lists :)

[SassyLassie]

Well, think I will add my triggers too, they will be close to everyone Else's.
Dehydration
Stress
Anxiety
Thinking about having them
Low blood sugar
Hormonal change (about a week before menses and during)
Walking in cold, windy weather
Eating
Bending down after I eat
Drinking lots of water and then slouching in a chair or lying down
Indigestion (GERD)  
I have a hiatal hernia and it really makes the "flutters" act up big time.
For no reason at all, they are just there, right out of the blue
Being up-tight and worried over things
Lying down, especially on my left side and especially after I have had a glass of water
Twisting a certain way
Raising my arms up

The list goes on and on, but these are the main ones. In other words, almost ANYTHING can cause mine. Dog-gone things.

[jkfrench]

I get mine when I drink too much water at once too!  They are really pronounced too!
Plus I also get them if I drink water and slouch in a chair or lie down.  
I think I might have a sliding hiatal hernia too.  I take protonix for my reflux but the wierd thing is there are times I can eat and eat and there are times that I feel really full up high in my stomach.  Then I get the problems.  I'm wondering if it is the hernia.
Thanks for sharing
Frenchie

[SassyLassie]

You sound like me, Frenchie. Sometimes I can eat tons and feel ok, and other times, only one bite and I feel sooooo bloated and full in the upper tummy, and bingo, in march the flutters. Ugh, I hate them so much.

I can sometimes tell when they are coming too, for awhile, I will have this uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and sort of like water is swishing around, then a little later, the PVC's start, it is almost like a warning. It could be that I am starting to get anxious about them and that is what brings them on, I don't know, all I know is they make life so miserable.

[SassyLassie]

This is a good thread and I wanted to "bump" it up for any newcomers. I have been re-reading it again, man, there sure are a lot of triggers, sometimes, I do not need a trigger, they just come uninvited. UGH.

[daniiiii]

great post....

we are not alone.

[steelers7509]

Hello,i get these really hard thuds in my chest and then a pause some times when i bend over ,sometimes for no reason,if i drink grape juice, if im stressed......i hate it ! does anyone know what they are called? it makes me very nervous i was put on metoprolol for it but they never really said what it was. thank you

[lasvegasgirl6]

okay here are mine
reading this forum!
anxiety
lack of sleep
fighting or disagreements with spouse
anything medical
coffee
lack of food
not enough food 4 or 5 without food!
positions lying bending
having to use bathroom #2
fear
anger
crying
laughing to hard
some sexual positions
not enough exercise
thinking about when the next one will come
taking my pulse for checking purposes
sugar
white foods bread pasta
anxiety attack
not enough water or too much
I am so glad this post was made it has been comforting but not a cure for my palpitaions I actually got more writing abut them now but I feel better in my mind that Im not alone been in and out of hospitals my whole adult life and the best doctors adice I got was that is your normal heart beat not everyone has the same beat. So differant Strokes theme song was right differant strokes to move the world ! it takes differant strokes to move the wooooorllld! (singing) the best thing I founf to stop them and it's the hardest do something with your mind and don't pay attention easier said than done I know but I am so tierd of these things that you start to give up on worrring about them after a good bout with them thanks great post! Lori

[LindaTX]

I've seen all my triggers in the above posts, except one, the big "O."  Bummer!  I hope, in the name of  science, its ok to include that.  I do still feel the common denominator in all of these  many different areas and the common question as to "why" lies in the Vagus Nerve.

[claytex]

I have had AF off and on for ten years.  Using my arms above my head will trigger my AF.  Swinging an ax, lifting above my head and at times even sleeping with my arms above my head.  Als Tequila will trigger it.. no marguaritas!!!

[LindaTX]

I agree,  for me its not only alcoholic drinks, its carbonated drinks, and I've found after many yrs of drinking nothing but Perrier, its any carbonated water!

[michele1999]

Thank goodness for you guys! All of the above I hate having palpatations but atleast I'm not alone.

[AlwynB]

Before mine disappeared alcohol was the biggest trigger...

[Beachbum27]

It's good to finally find some forums that are up to date.  I've never seen a forum with so many people with so similar symptoms and triggers.  I had a nice exercise induced episode of pvc's today that ruined my whole day so now I've been researching online.  Briefly, I'm 27 and started getting pvc's about 8 years ago.  I don't let it control me, I've been an airline pilot now for 3 years.  It's tough when vacationing though somewhere overseas and getting episodes of these demons.  My triggers include:

alcohol (especially the 24 hours following even just 1 drink)
caffeine
sugar
being in a reclining position after eating
jet lag
crouching position (usually when reading a putt at the golf course)
exercise occasionally
greasy food
cigarette smoke
screaming babies (must be stress related)
thinking about pvcs
out of the blue
fatigue
eating salty or sugary foods after a round of golf or exercise over a long period
nervousness
There are probably more.  At least I don't feel them when I'm asleep!

[lizliz40]

It is so comforting to find a community of people who are experiencing similar things as myself.  I'm 39 and just started experiencing palpitations a year ago.  I seem to have a bad week of pvc's every couple months.  Have had a stress test and worn an event monitor for a week and my cardiologist doesn't seem to think anything is wrong.  The palpitations are so annoying and worrisome though.  I'm otherwise a healthy and active person, so it really has bummed me out/stressed me out that I've started to have this problem.  They've made me afraid of exercise!  I don't know all my triggers yet, because I often feel they start out of the blue, but here are a few:

- yoga positions
- jogging
- gas buildup/burps
- albuterol (maybe?)
- thinking about palpitations

[shannonm75]

What causes mine are other than sometimes they start for no reason here are some triggers:

PMS (big time!)
After eating (because my heart rate picks up)
Tiredness
Physical stress
Anxiety
Sometimes leaning over and back up triggers mild ones.

I have been put on metoprolol or actually it was increased last week by an EP who said I have supra venticular premature beats and they were not dangerous or deadly.
I can feel sensations in my neck and he said some people have that too from them.

I avoid caffeine because it is also a trigger so I cut it out of my diet.

[shannonm75]

Have you seen an electrophysiologist? or EP? He or she might find it is something to do with the electrical part of your heart. My cardiologist alone could not figure it out what it was on the Holter but the EP was really good. he knew what it was and this was my second Holter with the same results so I am convinced they are right.

[Bon-Bon]

Cold.  Rather it is eating icecream, drinking cold beverages or cold temperatures.

[soxfan12]

Great post with lots of good information.  I have been dealing with PACs for about 10 years.  I can go for months with none or at least very few then they come on with frequency.  I have also had a few episodes of A-fib which tend to last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.  I currently take flecanide 150mg 2X per day.  The triggers that seemed most common for my PACs are eating, anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes afterward they can begin.  Some of the A-fib episodes were brought on by drinking any liquid quickly.  My rule now is no matter what I am drinking or how thirsty I am I sip it slowly.  Stress and lack of sleep are also factors.  It has been great to find this site and reading everyone's comments have made me feel better about my situation.