adrenalin

[kl42]

could a chemical imbalance cause . symtoms such as atrial fibrulation, or rapid heart beats on and off. can they test for this and treat this/ kevin

[Zachs]

Sorry that I didn't reply sooner.  Been trying to stay busy and keep my mind occupied.  I don't take any medication, at least prescribed.  I have however taken control of my diet and bad habits.  I was consuming alcohol quite regularly and smoked a lot of cigarettes, and was absolutley on 'didn't care' mode.  I drank alot of soda throughout the day as well.  I'm a little bit overweigt-- or was almost 210lbs 4 months ago. Being only 5' 7" that is a bit excessive. I'm down to 190lbs now, after just taking out soda and fast food away from my diet with no exercise. Quite amazing how much the empty calories keep your weight up.  I guess my body was just done with the constant abuse of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and high sodium foods/saturated fat.  I've had episodes of PVCs in the past but they really didn't affect me as much as they do now.  They just came at a wrong time in my life where I was worrying alot more then usual, and it sparked extreme panic which is essentially scaring me straight.  I guess it's time to take care of my body, if I want to expect to feel good. Suffering from a family history of OCD and GAD, when I don't feel good I tend to let my mind fill with anxious thoughts which more or less keeps me in a heightened state of anxiety all day, every day.  I tend to obsess on how my heart is functioning, and I have extreme guilt since I may have smoked to many cigarettes today, or that I consumed to much alcohol yesterday evening, or does that chicken have MSG, or the gum i'm chewing, does it have aspartame?  Those things have even sparked my anxitey latley because of my PVCs and rapid heart rates.  It hasn't been a easy road to follow these past months, but I can say I've taken control of things that I CAN CONTROL, and I'm trying not to control what I CAN'T CONTROL.  Thats the key in ending the cycle of fear & anxiousness.  Of course eating healthy, taking vitamin supplements, fish oils, omega-3's vitamin b6 & b12, 6-8 bottles of water a day,  Absolutely no caffeine, msg, aspartame (diet sodas/gum), really salty foods (sodium), large amounts of daily sugar i.e refined sugar, HFC (High fructose Cornsyrup), etc...  Just have to be concious of what you eat. It's actually quite theraputic being aware of what your eating, plus after a week or 2 of changing habits, you really notice a difference!  Hope this helps.. Zach

[dancingheart]

Just a quick question...How did you get out of this fear cycle?  Which seems to be my issue.  I have been tested for chemical imbalances, and I struckle with waking up with a very high heart rate 180's at night and have PAC's.  They say it is mostly nerves.  I was put on meds.  for my heart and nerves and don't feel much better. Just curious did/do you take meds. or did you do it on your own?

[Zachs]

Well I'm not a doctor, but in my opinion if you are expereincing Anxiety & Panic, and experience it quite often, your body does become symptomatic to the constant bombardment of adrenalin.  I have found from experience that obessing on bodily sensations in direct result pre and post panic attack can cause a loop, or neverending loop of panic. This scares the **** out of me. It is totally natural as well, but sometimes when we obsess about it, and forget to trust our bodies ultimate instict to survive, we tend to worry and become symptomatic about how we feel, and taking the sensations we feel totally out of context.  This causes high heart rates for me, and palpitations (feeling your heart beat), and it becomes a vicious cycle that can go on for days, or months, or years.  I suffer from PVCs as well, which instantly starts a cycle of fear, but I've since learned how to cope and understand why my body is feeling this way, and I'm not going to die from a result of it. So I less engage the fight/flight trigger and I suffer less from constant panic attacks.  I do have good days, and I have bad days.. But I can say I've come a long way in 12 or so years from suffering from these sensations and obsessing about my heart, and if I'm going to die at a young age.  Hope this helps... Zach

[bundleblocker]

Do you mean an electrolyte imbalance?  I've heard if you are low in potassium that can cause irregular heart beats. I  myself am getting a re-check to see if I am still low in potassium. It was discovered in the ER last week where I went because of Afibs.  

This just involves a blood test.